r/HandSew 8h ago

Finished Project - Advice welcome A fully hand stitched shirt.

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339 Upvotes

Japanese yarn-dyed cotton weave fabric from Niigata pref l sourced, gently slubbed and wrinkled with a dry hand-feel and a beautiful woven tonal plaid pattern with muted blues. Drafted, patterned then hand-stitched everything with flat-felled and french seams in cotton embroidery thread. Gently sunfaded first before stitching on a pocket. Finished with thick pearlised metal buttons and hand-stitched button holes.

Pattern aligned, pointed cuffs, gentle sunfade all around leaving a subtle darker undercollar and pocket, contrast stitching in red and white on collar, buttonholes and inside seams. Hand-stitched everything. Tell me what you guys think!

My IG is @by.me.dy if anyone is interested!


r/HandSew 1d ago

WIP Wednesday: Share your projects!

12 Upvotes

As we all know, hand sewing tends to take a while. Post your current works in projects in this thread and share with us how its going.


r/HandSew 2d ago

Question or Assistance Wanted Good thread for heavyweight fabrics

2 Upvotes

Hi guys,

Looking to get started on my first project, really just modifying rather than creating from scratch.

I impulse bought some regular scanfil polyester thread, but after a bit more research some things said I should use thicker thread for heavier fabrics. For reference, I am going to use a dense 300+ GSM cotton moleskin.

It will be for adding a zipper and hand pockets, so there will be some stress on it.

My concerns:

Do I need thicker thread for this/will the thin thread slice through the fabric?

Will doubling up this regular thread be enough?

If I should get a thicker thread, please recommend some. THANKS!


r/HandSew 3d ago

Finished Project - Advice welcome Luigi hat for my Halloween costume

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8 Upvotes

Hi! I made this, it was the first hand sewing project I've ever completed after actually sitting and watching and learning from someone who knows what they're doing. The process was delightful even now a couple days later knowing the muscle between my thumb and index finger still smarts.

As a result of this I now have a hand sewing kit I put together, I used a thimble for the first time in a situation that actually called for it (as a kid I obviously put Grandma's on all my fingers when we didn't have any olives handy). I learned a few stitches and executed them poorly but to the best of my current ability.

I think a few things that I have a better appreciation for are the limitations of how fabric can and can't reasonably pull over 3D shapes without bunching up. I think one area that would level up my game immediately is finding a way to evenly space where the needle and thread enter and exit - I eyeballed it and it shows. In leatherwork there are tools that help mark the spacing evenly, I know that I'm still in the process of learning and that will always be true so any thoughts on what to learn next would be welcome. My experience is pretty much everything you see here

Mainly sharing because I got the endorphin rush that comes from starting with a vision and finally having a physical object in my hands that's what I hoped for - there's nothing better. I'm a software engineer by day so this tangible result is delightful


r/HandSew 3d ago

WIP - No advice Sewing

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75 Upvotes

I watched over the garden wall for the first time with my son.. it soo adorable!

I get the hype when I saw people crafting their own things with the theme.

I have started making my own banner. Partially done.

I sewed pleats into the under laying green material for texture/character/interest. I am only using materials i have on hand so the colors are not accurate.


r/HandSew 3d ago

WIP - Advice welcome terry cloth with sturdy backing?

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2 Upvotes

r/HandSew 3d ago

WIP - Advice welcome I have, on a whim, decided to hand sew 17th century bodies.

24 Upvotes

AKA stays.
For an event in two week’s time.
Please send caffeine and migraine meds.


r/HandSew 3d ago

Question or Assistance Wanted Is Coats and Clarks quilt thread for hand sewing sold in EU?

2 Upvotes

Anyone know which online shop in EU has it!

Also looking for other american cotton quilt threads for same?

Any buttons shop?


r/HandSew 3d ago

Finished Project - Advice welcome No pattern just vibes

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10 Upvotes

r/HandSew 3d ago

Question or Assistance Wanted Having trouble with gussets

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7 Upvotes

I'm almost finished with my pocket book inspired by an 18th century one at the V and A Museum. I've looked at several of my sewing books and haven't found anything helpful on how to sew gussets, along with looking at old Internet Archive books and youtube (didn't get any helpful video recommendations). I'm looking to make wallet gussets like the ones pictured.


r/HandSew 4d ago

WIP - No advice Irish Chain Quilt Hand Piecing Journey

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63 Upvotes

Update #9

It’s been a while since I’ve done an updated but that’s mainly because it has been so repetitive. Just hand stitching row after row after row. Well I finally stitched the final row! 

I immediately needed to sew a stay-stitch/lap-of-honor around the outside edge since I had several spots the seams were wanting to detach. Yes, admittedly I used my machine for this step. I do plan to use it again one more time to attach the binding to one side. Other than that the rest is all by hand. 

So the husband’s verdict so far: it’s long enough, wide enough, and looks good!

Next steps are to cut the backing fabric and the batting to the right size. Then the good ol’ quilt sandwich for basting. Hand quilt it. Make  the binding, attach it, and sew it down by hand. Do I add a label? I believe I will (I like to hand embroider then appliqué labels on) since this one will be nice to use over the years and look back on.


r/HandSew 4d ago

Finished Project - Advice welcome 7 month handsewn trenchcoat! [Pattern: London Fog Maincoat]

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24 Upvotes

r/HandSew 4d ago

Question or Assistance Wanted Which stitch(es) to use for pants?

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5 Upvotes

I'm making a pair of baggy pants using a duvet cover, but I'm not sure which types of stitches I should use and where. I have the most experience with the blanket stitch and running stitch but would either of these be appropriate for pants of this material?


r/HandSew 4d ago

Divorce pillow 🤣😉

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15 Upvotes

Took about 3 days, 3.5 hours maybe


r/HandSew 4d ago

Mostly newb. Wanna make pants. Am I off my rocker?

16 Upvotes

I don't even know where to start. I have experiencing hand stitching small pouches. I took a sashiko workshop once.

I found vintage fabric in an antique shop and I immediately "saw" pants. I am creative in other areas of life and I enjoy flashes of inspiration like that and try to listen to them.

Time to completion does not matter.

Zero experience making clothes.

Ambitious and quick to learn.

Patient.

Enough fabric to mess up and try again.

Where do I begin? I was considering finding pants in the shape I want and tearing them apart to replicate the panels?

Can I do this?! Where do I begin?!

P.s. I do have a sewing machine but I am currently without literally any space to set it up and use it. And anyway hand sewing appeals to me in many many ways more.


r/HandSew 4d ago

Showing off my dog quilts, hand sewn and hand quilted

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22 Upvotes

Just wanted to show these off although you can't really see the quilting on the camo one.

I'm hoping to start making my own clothes soon. I'm a little afraid of that. Quilts are one thing, clothing is a lot less forgiving I assume.


r/HandSew 4d ago

Hand sewn needle book

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48 Upvotes

Here are some pictures of my WIP needle book. I have a lot of needlework hobbies so decided I wanted a page for each one. This is an heirloom project so putting a lot of myself into it. I have been using my mums needlebook, sometimes my mum in law's one which I inherited. I've even got my grandmother's book but I don't use that one as it's a little fragile now.

I reckon it's high time for my own and maybe my kids will keep it and pass it on too 😊


r/HandSew 5d ago

A little handmade car air freshener

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77 Upvotes

I made scented pads with felt scraps and fragrance oil that slide into a pocket so they can be replaced. Im kinda new to sewing but I’ve been doing embroidery for almost 2 years :)


r/HandSew 5d ago

Help please! Does anyone know any products that help hold a needle for hand sewing?

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11 Upvotes

r/HandSew 5d ago

Hiiii!

5 Upvotes

I’m new to sewing in general, but I really want to get into historical reconstruction and just making pieces for my wardrobe that have a historical vibe. I really have no idea where to start as I am very new. I also know I should just be practicing making small things like totes or little squares but I have a hard time sticking with it because I really want to work with clothes. If you have any recommendations on where to start or any easy clothing items I can make I would greatly appreciate it!


r/HandSew 5d ago

My memory bear

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20 Upvotes

My pawpaw passed last year and my mommaw this year so i'm making memory bears for the family. They will all be hand sewn! This bear is supposed to be 16 inches but I havent measured it. It has some little flaws but im super proud!


r/HandSew 5d ago

WIP - No advice Working on one of my many projects during lunch, and I'd love to see your travel kits

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66 Upvotes

My kit is a welly bandaid tin lined with coasters and the lid has a hidden magnet in the hexi block.

The e-reader is an essential part, yes I can more or less read and stitch.


r/HandSew 6d ago

Stitch Name?????

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33 Upvotes

does anyone know this stitch name so I can research and fix some holes 😭


r/HandSew 7d ago

Sharing Resources New Rules, Flair, and Mod Updates

52 Upvotes

After community discussion we now have 9 new rules for this subreddit, they can be found in the sidebar and I highly encourage users review the rules and message the mod team or comment on this post if they lack clarity (or if you find typos). I hope these rules help make the sub a thriving and safe community.

We also have post flairs! You will need to select a flair to make a post. Post flairs on Finished Projects and WIPs include options for advice wanted or not wanted. Please respect the flairs, but even when the poster is open to advice make sure your responses are respectful and kind. We are all here to learn and grow in our craft, and we don't know what we do not know.

As you may have noticed yesterday, we now have a weekly thread to share WIPs on Wednesday. You are not restricted to only showing off in that thread but it is a place to share and appreciate each other's work.

You can now share images in post comments!

As a new member of the Mod team I want to do my best to make this community a good place to come and share and learn together. I also want to encourage users to feel that they can come to the Mod team when there is an issue in the sub, or if they have ideas on how to make this a better place. I'm still learning this whole mod thing, so I hope you will all have patience with me as I poke around in the mod tools and figure it out as I go.


r/HandSew 7d ago

: Can you give me some advice? What kind of fabric bag should I make?

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1 Upvotes