How to sew a Cross Stitch by hand - I can cu at work / meditation
As hard as editing in detail is as much calmness it spread in this case.
While I am sewing I am not thinking. And if a thought comes up I usually make an error. And I love this. The best results come from an empty mind just in flow with a rhythm. So in this state this movie was created and while editing I had to bring myself back to cutting and not drifting away in a cross stitch. This movies explains How to sew a Cross Stitch (Herringbone Stitch), from start to finish, involves loops, knots and continuation with a new thread.
I hope this film helps using this fantastic stitch, for mending, creating or just an eye-catcher. Thank you for watching. If you liked it, please don't forget to share it! Thanks again.
An easy DIY sewing-project to make Hand stitched Knickers and the pattern to reproduce them again
This is to complete the movie that you might have watched.
and NEW: choose Lycra for some swim pants and make your Bikini Top aswell...
. . . tools . very good material like Bamboo/Cotton Jersey with some elastane . knickers elastic band . Buttonhole thread in colour(s) of your choice . Sharps needle No4
. thin pins
. tailor's chalk
. pattern paper or similar . pencil & paper scissors . a plastic ruler . iron . and your favorite pairs of knickers ... preparation You do not need to ruin your favorite pairs of knickers! I did it to make an accurate pattern and it is easier to demonstrate how to do so. But it is also possible to trace around your favorite knickers without cutting into them, just more fiddly. Cut open or not, trace around your knickers and transfer the shape to paper. Cut the template out using your paper scissors, fold it in half and see whether it is symmetrical. If not, average it and transfer the half again onto paper, this leaves you with your pattern. (As the fabric will be folded in half you only need the half pattern) Half your fabric along the grain line, and trace the outline of your pattern using tailor's chalk. Cut it out on the inner side of your chalk line. . . . construction Right sides facing each other pin both side seams, 1 cm away from the edge. Thread your needle. Make one single knot close to the edge and make a double knot about 7 mm further up. Start sewing with making a loop (up through the fabric, around the edge and up through the fabric again right next to the previous hole) and continue in a straight line a straight stitch, try to stay about 1 cm from the edge and keep the stitches even. When you reached the end run your fingers along the stitches finding the right tension between fabric and thread. Finish with a loop and knot off, first make a double knot close to the fabric using your nails to gently push it there and a single knot a bit further away, trim. Repeat on the other side. Turn the knickers to the right side, separate the seams and fold them to each side and pin. Repeat on the other side.
Thread your needle, make the single and double knot and loop your thread through both seams around both edges, basically make a loop on each side and come up again to start the first bottom part of the cross stitch. The top part of the cross stitch is exactly the same but moved to the right. You always come up again where the last stitch ended. Down and through the fabric for the bottom part, come up again to finish the bottom part where the last top stitch ended and move to the top part and through the fabric again, up and so on. Finished one side, make the 2 loops and the knots, trim and repeat on the other side. Keep the top and bottom part of your cross stitch in a line, so the stitch looks regular. If you have to restart with a new thread make your knots and continue. For more details see also my cross stitch blog post. Turn the knickers to the wrong side and fold 1 cm for the leg seam over and pin. Do this for both legs and repeat the cross stitch. Iron the seams, thread the needle, make the knots and start with the cross stitch. Finished with both legs there is only the elastic band to attach. Use as much elastic band as comfortable and add about 2 cm for overlap. Start pinning at the back, half the elastic band and pin again, and so on till you have pinned all the way around. Thread your needle, make the knots and start sewing a cross stitch next to the overlap (so you go over the overlap in the end).Stretch the elastic band while sewing the cross stitch all the way around, carefully to keep it aligned. Finished!
This project has waited a long time now to be realized. I always wanted to make my own knickers facing the problem that I could never find the favorite pairs of knickers again. I don't know why but I always thought knickers are too demanding to make yourself but the reality is much more pleasant: Easily done, easily repeated over and over again and soooo comfortable! But see for yourself!
You never know when you will need this gorgeous cross stitch - it might be very soon ;) So if you have a moment give it a try.
To sew a Hand stitched top or to mend jeans this cross stitch is versatile and an eye-catcher and stretchy!
You need:
Material of your choice pinned, a needle (sharps#4), buttonhole thread and embroidery/fabric scissors.
THE KNOTS
Take about 2 arm's lengths of your thread or whatever length feels comfortable and thread your needle.
Make 1 knot at the very end (about 2mm away from the edge) to prevent fraying. And then about 1cm higher make 2 knots in the same place to fixate your thread at the start and end. (The double knot in the same place might take a bit of practice) For the cross stitch create 2 imaginary lines and let the cross stitch run along them. I usually choose to hold the fabric like shown below, with the seam folded upwards. (If you sew from the edge start with making a loop around the edge like shown at the infinity scarf project here: http://icancu4more.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/diy-hand-stitched-infinity-scarf.html)
THE CROSS STITCH
Come up on the top (after the loop if you sew from the edge) and make the first bottom part of the cross stitch while moving a cross stitch width to the right.
The top part is exactly the same as the bottom part but moved to the right and then the next bottom part is again exactly the same as the top part moved to the right, the rhythm is determined by the width of your stitch.
Keep your top and bottom parts of your cross stitch in a line so your stitch looks regular with a nice rhythm.
KNOT OFF End as you started (if you sew from the edge end by creating a loop from the back, around to the front and back again right next to the last stitch) and knot off using first the double knot. Slide the first knot of the double knot with your nail close to the fabric but do not pull the thread while doing this. Repeat for the second knot of the double knot. Followed by the single knot about 1cm away, trim.
Sometimes it can take a while to create a nice rhythm but start at a non prominent place.
And now you can watch The movie to learn the Cross Stitch:
If you enjoyed watching this movie, please don't forget to like and share it, thank you!
