Sewing by Hand

giving your cushion a very personal touch.

Sewing by hand is an alternative way to sew cushions, this will take longer but the end result is a very special cushion, made and crafted without the use of a machine.
Personalising your cushion covers with patchwork can be done by machinesewing or sewing by hand.
Even when using a machine for sewing cushions there are a few steps that need hand sewing. An example would be sewing on sequins, braid or buttons.
Types of Stitches for Hand Sewing

1. Tacking stitch- This stitch is also known as basting stitch. This is used when two pieces of material need to be held together for a short time while the seam is sewn. This could be used for holding any applique patterns in place to make sure that they do not move.The stitches are usually long in length, usually sewn from right to left, and can be easily removed when the finshed sewing has taken place.
   
   
2. Running Stitch- This stitch is used when material is needed to be gathered up as with frills or ruffles. The stitch is similar to tacking stitch but the stitch length is smaller and neater. This is to get even gathers as if the length was too large or varying then the gathers would be different sizes. This stitch is also usually sewn from right to left.
   
   
   
3. Back Stitch- This stitch is a strong stitch and is good for sewing seams. This is usually sewn from left to right and gives a line of stitches on the top that overlap underneath.
   
   
4. Slip Stitch- This stitch is usually used when two edges of fabric need to be joined such a along a folded corner or when joining patchwork pieces by hand. These stitches are not sewn tightly to allow for a little movement.
   
5. Blanket Stitch- This stitch is a decorative stitch and is usually seen along the edge of a blanket. It is usually sewn from left to right.
   
   
6. Overcasting Stitch- This stitch is used to stop the fabric edges from fraying.
   
7. Hemming- This stitch is sewn on the wrong side of the fabric and small stitches are used with just a thin thread taken from the fabric and then into the hem. This is to make sure that the hemming stitch is not seen on the right side of the item. 
   
   
   
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Cushion Gallery Cushion Gallery Cushion Gallery Cushion Gallery

the showcase for your cushions

Welcome to the Cushion Gallery.

I have created this page for YOU, visitors to my site, so that you can show how creative you have been in making a cushion, cushion cover, or a cushioned item. Be it very simple or complicated everybody's idea of achievement is very different and all will be respected.

Have you just finished a cushion or cover that you may have worked on for a long time. The end result is much better than you thought it would be and it looks fantastic....

Have you just started sewing and you have made your first cushion or cover or any other cushioned item that you are really proud of....

Have you tried to do a more complicated sewing project that looks just great....

When I am building the pages for my site and describing the different ways of making cushions. I make them so I can take pictures at every stage to help with the explanations.

One kind of sewing work I had never done was reverse applique.

This took me a long time to make but when it was finished I was really pleased with the result and the effect cutting away the fabric gave. I made a few mistakes along the way and for me the hardest part was to think of a picture to draw and getting all the layers of material in the correct order.

 

Made a cushion or a cover?

Whether it has taken you days or hours to complete, are you proud of it? Is it the first item you have ever sewn? Are you really pleased with how it has turned out?

Why not show the end result in the gallery.

What did you make?

Click here to see the rest of the form and complete your submission.

View Cushions Other Visitors Have Made

Click below to see contributions from other visitors to this page...

Quilted Cushion  
I made this as part of a GCSE project.

I joined the 3 coloured panels together and sandwiched thin wadding between these and a backing layer.

The ...
Applique Floor Cushion  
Using scraps of tie-dyed materials to make autumn leaves and the tabby cat, I cut out the shapes and used an iron on webbing to attach them to the background....
A Ribbon Cushion  
I made this years ago when I attended a class at the local college.

Basically two different shades of the same colour of ribbon are woven together to ...
Click here to write your own.

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