First Stitch

Hand Sewing

A needle and thread will take you further than you think. These guides teach the small set of hand stitches that handle almost everything — the running stitch, backstitch, whipstitch, slip stitch, and a secure knot — with clear, from-scratch explanations of when and why to use each. You will also learn the everyday repairs that save clothes and money: sewing on a button, closing a popped seam, mending a small tear, and fixing a fallen hem, all by hand.