How to Sew

A Quick Sewing Lesson...

Not having a sewing machine I have to hand-sew all my costumes... but don't worry, sewing isn't as daunting as it might seem; all you've really got to do is master the simple running stitch. 'Tis easy, I promise...

Items Required; material, needle, thread, pins, scissors & (optional) needle threader.

Cut a length of thread c.2.5 times the length of the material you're going to sew. Thread onto the needle, tie the ends together in a double knot and adjust so that the needle is in the middle of your double thread

Fold the material over and pin the two sides together.

Take your needle and thread push the needle through the material and pull all the way til the knotted end stops it from going any further.

Now for the the quick cheat; how to do a very quick running stitch - instead of going in and out, in and out with the needle, 'kebab' the material onto the thread in roughly equal folds...

... once you've got as much on as possible (taking out the pins when and where necessary), grab a hold of the end of the needle and pull...

... and there you are, one seam stitched in double-quick time! Take a bit more time and yours should look neater than my quick effort opposite!

You can tie and cut off here if you want, or double back to give a bit of extra strength and cleaness to the seam. Same 'kebabing' process as before...

Once you reach the end, pull everything nice and straight, stitch once back through and then tie a knot through one of the stitches...

Cut off the remaining thread, store the needle away safely. Then turn the material inside out and there you go, one finished seam.

In a future installment of the FAQs I''ll take you through the assembly of one of my FC patterns.

	Items Required; material, needle, thread, pins, scissors & (optional) needle threader. Cut a length of thread c.2.5 times the length of the material you're going to sew. Thread onto the needle, tie the ends together in a double knot and adjust so that the needle is in the middle of your double thread
	Fold the material over and pin the two sides together. Take your needle and thread push the needle through the material and pull all the way til the knotted end stops it from going any further.
	Now for the the quick cheat; how to do a very quick running stitch - instead of going in and out, in and out with the needle, 'kebab' the material onto the thread in roughly equal folds...
	... once you've got as much on as possible (taking out the pins when and where necessary), grab a hold of the end of the needle and pull...
	... and there you are, one seam stitched in double-quick time! Take a bit more time and yours should look neater than my quick effort opposite! You can tie and cut off here if you want, or double back to give a bit of extra strength and cleaness to the seam. Same 'kebabing' process as before...
	Once you reach the end, pull everything nice and straight, stitch once back through and then tie a knot through one of the stitches...
	Cut off the remaining thread, store the needle away safely. Then turn the material inside out and there you go, one finished seam. In a future installment of the FAQs I''ll take you through the assembly of one of my FC patterns.