When you are making a project, even if you are using a sewing machine, there are times when you need to hand sew little parts of it. Personally, my least favourite thing to do is hand sewing. I find it much easier just to stick the fabric under the machine and let the mechanisms in it do the rest. But, sewing patterns don't agree with me, so here is a list of the four most useful hand sewing stitches.

1. Running Stitch

This stitch is mainly used when you need to baste something and roughly hold it together, when making ruffles, or I use it to make the flower for the baby's headband.

• Bring the needle up, from the wrong side, into the fabric.

• Push it back down through the front, a space ahead of where you started (you have now made one stitch).

• Repeat this process on the back and front of the fabric, for however long you need it to be, making each stitch approximately the same length.

2. Back stitch:

Back stitch is used whenever you're sewing anything together. For a hem it gives the same look as a sewing machine, but only on one side. It is also securer than running stitch.

• Bring your needle up (through the wrong side of the fabric) and make one stitch as you do in the running stitch.

• From the back, bring your needle up through the fabric a space away from the first stitch.

• Push your needle back down through the end of the first stitch you made, so that you are going back on yourself.

• Repeat this till the end.

3. Blanket Stitch:

This stitch is used to finish raw edges. Or, if you have a non fraying material like felt, as a substitute to a back stitch.

• Bring your needle through the fabric just below the edge and push it back through a space ahead just as if you were going to make one stitch, but don't pull the needle all the way through.

• Wrap the tail of your thread around the needle and then pull it through the fabric completely.

• Repeat until the end.

5. Ladder Stitch:

Last but not least is the ladder stitch, which is only ever used as an invisible way to close holes.

• Bring your needle through the wrong side of the fabric and then push it back down into the other side (the adjoining fabric).

• Bring it back up on the same side you just passed the needle through, across a little and then repeat the steps, travelling from one side to another until you come to the end (make all the stitches quite loose for the moment and not tight).

• Once you come to the end, pull the thread - gently, otherwise it will rip - so that the hole closes and the stitches become invisible.

For extra help, you can watch this video: