How to sew

Learning how to sew some basic stitches is an important life skill you can pass on to your children. Why not spend a quiet afternoon showing them these two simple stitches to teach them how to sew.

What you need:

• a needle and thread
• a piece of felt or fabric

Number of players:

Activity:

There are two simple stitches that are a great starting point for how to sew. You can watch the how-to video tutorial to find out how to do a running stitch and a backstitch. Both stitches are very useful for a wide variety of craft projects for kids.

1. Running stitch

A running stitch is the most basic in-and-out even stitch.  It is used for gathering, hand darning and fine seaming and tucking.

Secure the thread either with a knot or a backstitch.  Bring the needle up through the fabric. Insert the needle through the fabric to make a 5mm stitch.  Now come from the back through to the front, 5mm along.  Make another stitch along the top of the fabric. That’s it.

Notice that if you pull on the thread the fabric gathers together.

2. Backstitch

A backstitch is a very strong secure stitch that can be used at the beginning of your stitching to secure your thread instead of knot.

Stitches are even and evenly spaced along the top of the fabric. On the underside they overlap and form a chain-like look.

Begin by securing the thread. Bring the needle through to the right side of the fabric. Make a 5mm stitch from front to back.  Now with your needle at the back of the fabric, bring it back through to the right side, leaving a 5mm gap along the front of the fabric.

Now stitch backwards, meet up with the end of the last stitch to form two even stitches, placed side by side.

Keep going like that.  Backstitching is a good basic stitch when you’re sewing along edges.

Once you’ve mastered these two stitches you can try making your own sock monkey here.

• Thanks to our sister company Kidspot Australia for creating the instructional video.