2. Cut the end of the thread on a slant, this will make threading the needle easier.
3. Wax and press your thread by drawing it under a hot steam iron to make sure your thread is straight and tangle free.
4. If you are right-handed, always sew from right to left. Left-handed people will sew from left to right.
5. All thread has a 'twist'. Your thread will knot and kink much less if you work with the twist rather than against it! The twist of the thread runs in the direction from the loose end of the spooled thread toward the spool.
6. Thread the needle with the end that comes off the spool and knot the other end.
Here is a real couture tip for the serious hand sewer: If you have cut your thread and are unsure of the direction of the twist, thread the end that's pointed like a flower bud and knot the end that flares open.
7. The small strawberry shaped bag attached to the red tomato shaped pin cushion is filled with very fine sand for sharpening hand sewing needles. Sharpen your needle frequently by running it once through an emery bag to keep it shiney and free of burrs that can catch and pull fabric threads.
8. For very fine fabrics, knotting your thread end is not recommended. Backstitching should be substituted for a knot at the beginning and end of your work. When working with light-weight fabrics or very small pieces, either keep your knots very small and inconspicuous or use the backstitch to prevent an impression from the knot showing through on the right side of the fabric when it is pressed.
BACKSTITCH
Recommended reading for the serious sewer:
Couture Sewing Techniques by Clair B. Shaeffer
Click on the book to purchase.
