Hand stitching/couture stitching

[goodnessgraciousgouda]

I am getting into sewing, but don't currently have a machine, or the resources to get one. Plus, sewing machines have always terrified me.

I've been making a quilt by hand, and have been surprised by how easy it has been (so far, maybe it will be a total pile of shit when it's completely finished!).

I'd like to try and make a dress (a kid's dress to save on time and fabric) and was wondering if anyone had any good resources for hand sewing. Everything I have found online has been about super fancy couture sewing, and assumes a high level of knowledge, eg, "I fell stitched in the lining". Okay, I know how to fell stitch, but a bit more information would be nice!!!

I know how useful sewing machines are, but considering people have been hand sewing for literally thousands of years beforehand, I've been really surprised by the lack of resources out there!

Any help or guidance would be received with the gratitude of a thousand suns!

I sewed everything by hand for years for the same reasons as you. I made children's clothes, cushions, bunting...it's not hard. I just stuck to simple stitches and simple patterns. I did do French Seams a couple of times...they're extra strong and look nice. Maybe have a look at those...

Thanks MrsFlannel!

If you have any children's dress patterns to recommend I'd be very grateful, but it's good to know that I'm not the only one to want to sew by hand!

Goodness, you can pick up a hand turn singer for about £20 or even free if you get lucky. They are very unscary (good word) indeed.

I still have the one I learnt on 40 years ago which DD (8) now uses unsupervised. I did buy a finger guard foot and let her use mine sometimes but she goes like the clappers and despite my teachings has no intention of slowing down.

I still get a perfect stitch from my Singer 99, straight and absolutely perfect.

I like sewing certain things by hand too, mainly soft furnishings, it is lovely to be able to admire your own hand stitched work.

I have a bridesmaid dress that my DM must have made in the 1950s. Most of it is hand stitched. The long seams of the skirt are machined (hand or treadle?). I really can't think of any modern books that would help you OP.
It may be worth looking at somewhere like Abe Books for post war sewing books.
Although most girls would have known the basics, there should be some books around to help those who did not have the knowledge. It was a very frugal age...as clothes were still rationed.

Lavender, I'm intrigued by the idea of a hand turn sewing machine for young people. I have a DD (only 5 at the mo) but is very creative, I'm sure she love a sewing machine one day! Does your daughter enjoy using the hand turn machine?

have you thought of buying an old singer like this?
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Antique-Singer-66k-Heavy-Duty-Vintage-Hand-Crank-Sewing-Machine-1922-/351360711279
as long as the tension is ok, they are absolutly brilliant and stitch anything - unlike a cheap modern machine. Just a thought, otherwise a really old sewing book - a modern pattern will tell you where to stitch, so you'd just hand stitch instead.

She loves it lola, she has used it for a couple of years under supervision but it is now permanently out on a desk for her use. If you go for a 99K they are 3/4 size which is good. Obviously it goes at the speed that they turn the wheel at. My daughter uses the ruffler foot too which is great fun and has had a go with the freehand foot which is more tricky but good for her to have a go on.

I love the fact that it was my machine and it is still in use (my 8th birthday present). It was made in 1931 and is still as good as ever. I do give it a once over every couple of months, no issues at all.

I have my DM's 201K Singer. When she bought it, it was hand turned only but she must have added a motor at a later date. I love hand cranking or treadle (taught on treadle at school).
Lola, there is no electricity to worry about and the wee ones can go at their own pace.

Silver, we had a treadle too. My sister sewed through her finger on the treadle, breaking the needle in her finger. You could get quite a speed up! Probably not a good idea.

Lotta, someone gave Dd a JL pink kids machine at 5.5, it came out of the box and went to the charity shop very quickly which was when I got her started on my old Singer. You can buy one for the same price as the toy one which is madness.

Now at nearly 9 she can thread it, hold her fabric in place and turn the wheel. I used to have to either hold the fabric or turn the wheel when she first used it.

I must say OP I was also afraid of sewing machines but I'm fine now....modern machines aren't scary at all. You'd almost have to deliberately stick your hand in the way of it all to get hurt.

How did she get her finger under the needle Lavender, did she leave the foot up?
I'm very squeamish with nails.

I just got a 1915 Jones (like a Singer but has prettier decals) for £11 at a car boot. Took a couple of hours to clean it up (loads of videos/how tos online), adjusted the tension, and it works!

I have a bit of an addiction to vintage sewing machines, though. Got a Singer 28K from 1902, also from a car boot, for £15. If you clean it up yourself, you get to know your way round that machine so it's an ideal introduction.

Spare parts are easy to get hold of, online. And cheap. Handcranked machines are slow enough to feel 'safe' and in control of your work! I know they're not for everyone but I have never seen a contemporary machine no matter how state of the art, I have liked.

I have no idea Silver .... we used to have treadle races which probably wasn't a good idea in hindsight.

I would only have been about 7, it was my Mother's machine and we weren't meant to a) race and b) me be on it unless she was around (I was the younger one).

A great life skill learned though, despite the injury.

Joffrey - me too re traditional machines. I am trying not to buy a treadle right now, I have seen a lovely example of one, which is a Jones, but it would have to go in a summerhouse (lined and insulated) and I don't really need it at all.

Even my new machine is a very traditional model, metal bodied and mechanical - nothing electronic or too clever for me. I know that I wouldn't use the functions of a very swish machine so I prefer to have a really good 'traditional' machine.

I've a question about the hand turned machines - does your hand/arm get tired?

I'm wondering if one of these would be more financially achieveable for me at the mo but my right hand & arm tire quickly

Not at all Lucysmam. It is very relaxing, you can go as slowly as you like, most people I know who have them love them. It was my only machine for a while when I moved overseas and gave my UK electric one away.

Not detrimental to my sewing at all. If you get lucky you get some fantastic feet with them. I have a full set with mine and have adapted an old singer ruffled foot to fit my Bernina at a fraction of the foot cost.

I have pernicious anemia and get lots of muscle pains at times, broke my neck years ago and have muscular issues which stem from that ... It doesn't cause me any grief at all.

If you get one you will keep it forever.

Ruffler, thank you spellcheck.

In that case I'll keep my eyes open for one & start trawling ebay for one local to me, thanks lavender. I'm hoping my dad doesn't want his machine back any time soon but having a back up would be a very good thing right now.

lucys, it's not tiring at all. The only disadvantage is you're sewing one-handed which is not actually difficult (but then like many others, I started on this kind of machine so never knew any different til I got my mum's 1970s' electric Brother machine fixed! You can go at any speed you like, so can go very slowly til you get the muscle memory.

I'd look at information to do with reinactment seeing as they are the people who are still making entire garments by hand, this one was the first that I found:

thedreamstress.com/2013/03/tips-and-tricks-for-hand-sewing-historical-and-otherwise/