LilRay Report post Posted December 28, 2011 Hey everybody! Few quick questions to help me improve my hand sewing. First things first I'm a southpaw so my stitching may or may not need altering from that. I use a clamp, and I face the finished side to the left (grain right). I stab the holes with my awl like is recommended in Stolman's hand stitching guide (///////) and stitch toward myself. Being a lefty, would I have more uniformed stitching if I stab the holes like this (\\\\\\\), or stitched away from myself? Probably a silly question but, I'd rather learn. :D God Bless, Ray Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kevin Report post Posted December 28, 2011 In would say just keep doing it the way you are. Stitching toward yourself is a matter of ergonomics I think and Germans angle their stitches the other way, not lefties, lol. I am right handed with my awl and left handed with my stitching, it's a little slow, but I'm happy with the look. The biggest thing is consistency. Good Luck, Kevin Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LilRay Report post Posted December 28, 2011 In would say just keep doing it the way you are. Stitching toward yourself is a matter of ergonomics I think and Germans angle their stitches the other way, not lefties, lol. I am right handed with my awl and left handed with my stitching, it's a little slow, but I'm happy with the look. The biggest thing is consistency. Good Luck, Kevin Thanks Kevin. Consistency with the awl is where I'd bet I make the majority of my errors. Try stitching with a hand that won't always do what you'd like. LOL! :D God Bless, Ray Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TwinOaks Report post Posted December 28, 2011 Handedness doesn't matter, consistency with the awl, and more importantly, consistency with the stitching is more important. On small cases like tool pouches, I'll occasionally run \\\\\ on the left side and //// on the right side. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
katsass Report post Posted December 28, 2011 Hey everybody! Few quick questions to help me improve my hand sewing. First things first I'm a southpaw so my stitching may or may not need altering from that. I use a clamp, and I face the finished side to the left (grain right). I stab the holes with my awl like is recommended in Stolman's hand stitching guide (///////) and stitch toward myself. Being a lefty, would I have more uniformed stitching if I stab the holes like this (\\\\\\\), or stitched away from myself? Probably a silly question but, I'd rather learn. :D God Bless, Ray FWIW from the old grumpy -- southpaw; OK, I've done a bit of stitching in my time, and frankly I don't care which way you poke your awl, as long as the hole ain't too damned big.The main thing is to be consistent, The first needle goes through from the same side each time, pulled tight, then the second needle goes through. If you notice, as the second thread gets close to being pulled tight, it will be laying either above or below the first thread (makes no difference which) but ensure that ALL remaining stitches are as that one was. Alternating above and below the first thread will produce a ragged stitch line. I was taught that every stitch is done in EXACTLY the same way as it's predisesor. JMHO. Mike Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LilRay Report post Posted December 28, 2011 FWIW from the old grumpy -- southpaw; OK, I've done a bit of stitching in my time, and frankly I don't care which way you poke your awl, as long as the hole ain't too damned big.The main thing is to be consistent, The first needle goes through from the same side each time, pulled tight, then the second needle goes through. If you notice, as the second thread gets close to being pulled tight, it will be laying either above or below the first thread (makes no difference which) but ensure that ALL remaining stitches are as that one was. Alternating above and below the first thread will produce a ragged stitch line. I was taught that every stitch is done in EXACTLY the same way as it's predisesor. JMHO. Mike Mike, I've noticed that ragged line, going through pictures of things I've stitched. Is there a way of guaranteeing uniformity without pulling the needle back out? I mean should I kold the first thread a .certain way or push the needle a certain way or what? Gotta learn someway. God Bless, Ray Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
katsass Report post Posted December 28, 2011 (edited) Mike, I've noticed that ragged line, going through pictures of things I've stitched. Is there a way of guaranteeing uniformity without pulling the needle back out? I mean should I kold the first thread a .certain way or push the needle a certain way or what? Gotta learn someway. God Bless, Ray Well. the simplest way I can describe it is to say look at your stitch as you pull that second thread through. Just at the end of pulling your thread you will see that you have a loop of thread, look where that first thread is laying --- inside the loop or outside the loop. Again, it doesn't really matter (I keep it outside the loop) just as long as you do it the same way for each stitch. If the first stitch has the thread through the loop and the second is outside ---- just thread the first back into the loop, and, of course, vicy-vercy -- just pull it out as necessary, then pull both ends tight. It should look something like this. Mike Edited December 28, 2011 by katsass Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LilRay Report post Posted December 28, 2011 Well. the simplest way I can describe it is to say look at your stitch as you pull that second thread through. Just at the end of pulling your thread you will see that you have a loop of thread, look where that first thread is laying --- inside the loop or outside the loop. Again, it doesn't really matter (I keep it outside the loop) just as long as you do it the same way for each stitch. If the first stitch has the thread through the loop and the second is outside ---- just thread the first back into the loop, and, of course, vicy-vercy -- just pull it out as necessary, then pull both ends tight. It should look something like this. Mike Thanks Mike! Back to learnin'! God Bless. Ray Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
