Each Saturday I plan to introduce you to the many of stitches
used in embroidery.
It was in years gone by the women and especially women of
good breeding to know how to be accomplished at embroidery or also known as
needlework. It was not uncommon for women to spend any a day spending their
free time working on exquisite works of art with their needlework. She was also
required to be able to do the more dull aspects of sewing required for the
family. A woman of notable breeding would of course contract out the best part
this work out to seamstress.
A married woman however would be required to take care of
her husband’s shirts, cravats, and minor family mending.
This week we are looking at the simplest of the stitches,
the running stitch.
Running Stitch Instructions
Step 1: Thread
the needle and make a knot at the end of the two strands to keep them together.
It is advisable to take a thread of your arm length to avoid tangles and knots.
Re-thread the needle whenever you run out of thread. This does not spoil the
embroidery.
Step 2: Insert
the needle into the fabric and pull it through the backside, using the knot at
the end of the thread to anchor it to your fabric. See the following diagram to
understand how to begin the first stitch.
Step 3: In the
next step, you need to insert the needle tip back into the fabric, about ¼ inch
from the spot where you pulled your thread for the previous stitch. Push the
needle through the fabric and pull it out again instead of pulling your needle
through your fabric at once.
Step 4: Continue
working in the same manner, pulling the needle through your fabric to make
consecutive running stitches.
Step 5: If using the stitch for making gathered sleeves or a
gathered skirt, pull on your thread once you are done stitching the complete
length of the fabric. Hold the end of the fabric near the very first stitch and
gently pull on the thread to gather the material smoothly and avoid tangles. It
is advisable to make a knot after few inches of interval to make sure that the
gathers remain in place.
1 comment:
Wonderful Sandie - :) wish I was lady of leisure like these women. Back then they had more time. I have beautiful linen waiting to be embroider. Dotage I suppose.
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