Hand sewing with cotton
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| 1 | This is further to my questions about washing a piece of needlework stitched for a friend's birthday. I've ironed the backing fabric onto an iron-on fabric stiffener. The next step is to hand sew this onto the Aida cloth. I have some cotton thread made by Gutermann, but for some reason have found this difficult to sew with. (I have used it successfully before). For those of you who hand sew - do you use cotton or polyester thread? How long is the thread you use? If the cotton thread is about 8 years old would this make it more difficult to sew with? Are there any helpful hints you can suggest to make this easier? (apart from give up needlework altogether -which I am seriously considering). TIA calista - 2021-07-25 19:27:00 |
| 2 | What exactly do you find difficult about using it? Does it keep knotting itself up? Use a shorter length, and don't let it find it's own way, if you know what I mean. Use your thumb to hold the moving part of the thread against the fabric as you pull it through. That will prevent it curling up as it approaches the fabric and knotting. The shorter length helps keep it taught also. 2bit - 2021-07-25 19:41:00 |
| 3 | I agree with what 2bit said. Another thing l find useful is, when threading the needle, pull the thread through to almost the end of the length you've cut , rather than just pulling through enough to just keep the needle threaded. This takes some of the turns out of the thread and stops it becoming twisted on itself so easily. Also, if you explain what problems you're having it would be easier to give you tips. bella95 - 2021-07-26 05:29:00 |
| 4 | the only hand sewing I tend to do is when I'm closing the gap on a toy, and with that I tend to let the cotton 'hang' from the needle & stroke down to get rid of kinks first urbanrefugee54 - 2021-07-27 07:57:00 |
| 5 | bella95 wrote:
Going with the spin instead of against it helps... oh_hunnihunni - 2021-07-27 08:02:00 |
| 6 | I tend to use the same thread for hand sewing that I use for machine, either Guttermain? or Molynuke? [horrible spelling, I know]. voyager4 - 2021-07-27 09:46:00 |
| 7 | oh_hunnihunni wrote: bella95 - 2021-07-27 21:55:00 |
| 8 | Are you using single thread or doubling it over? If a single thread, are you threading the needle with the twist going in the correct direction, as I have read somewhere (I think it may of been something to do with embroidery), that if the twist is going the other way it can cause all sorts of problems when stitching. brouser3 - 2021-07-27 22:44:00 |
| 9 | I hand sew a lot, usually embroidery but more recently hand quilting. As a leftie I find the thread tangles and I think it's because I am going against the spin (like how hunni-hunni describes it!) Every so often I hold my sewing upside down and dangle the needle and thread to let the needle spin back to a neutral place. This helps quite a bit. Also, my length of thread is usually from my hand to my elbow length so not too long and not too short. Hope this helps :) kiwimade64 - 2021-07-28 07:53:00 |
| 10 | Sorry, I thought I had posted thanking people for their suggestions. I used a shorter thread which worked better, and didn't tangle as much. calista - 2021-08-01 14:49:00 |
| 11 | The member deleted this message. calista - 2021-08-01 14:51:00 |
| 12 | calista wrote:
This (above) plus I was taught to thread it from the reel before cutting it. This was to help with the spin. shanreagh - 2021-08-01 16:22:00 |
