So you’ve got something to sew, but you don’t have a sewing machine. Or maybe you just like the process of hand sewing better. In this tutorial, I’ll show you step-by-step how to sew by hand for beginners. I’ve been doing it for years. It’s way easier than you think, and I have tons of pictures and a video to help you along the way.

How-To Video: Hand Sewing Stitches

Everyone has different learning styles, so if you’d rather watch a video than look at photos, I’ve got one below. (If you are using an ad blocker, you may need to turn it off to see the video.)

Sewing by Hand for Beginners

Step 1: Gather Supplies for Sewing by Hand

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Hand Sewing Supplies:

• fabric – Most any fabric will do! You can start out with some scraps if this is completely new to you, or just go for it! The great thing about sewing is you can always take out stitches if a mistake is made.
• needles – For basic hand sewing I just have a few sizes of “sharps” or all purpose sewing needles on hand.
• thread – I use an all purpose sewing thread for this. It’s 100% polyester. Choose a color that matches your fabric if you don’t want the stitches to show. I’ll be using a contrasting thread so you can see my stitches.
• scissors – You want a sharp pair of fabric shears for cutting the fabric, and I also like to have a smaller pair of embroidery scissors for snipping thread.
• pins – Straight pins aren’t necessary for small jobs, but come in handy when you are sewing something large. Use them to hold your fabric in place while you sew.
• ruler and/or measuring tape – Use this to measure seams and mark lines.
• fabric marking pen – Any disappearing fabric marking pen will work.
• seam ripper – You’re going to make mistakes, and a seam ripper makes it easier to remove stitches.
• needle threader – Only necessary if you feel like you can’t thread a needle without it.
• iron and ironing board – An essential for large projects, but you can probably do without it for something small.

Step 2: Thread Your Needle

Before you can even think about sewing, you’ll need to thread your needle. This can be trickier for some than others, so I have a few tips for you.

How to Thread a Needle when Sewing by Hand

1. Take a piece of thread the length from your fingers to your shoulder (about 20-25 inches). Make a clean cut on the end of the thread with a pair of sharp scissors.
2. Wet the end of the thread with water or lick it (gross I know, but everyone does it!)
3. With the needle in one hand and the thread in the other, line up the thread with the hole in the needle and push it through.
4. Pull the thread through about 5 inches and make it so it goes the same direction as the longer end of the thread.
5. Tie a double knot at the end of the longer side of the thread. Now you’re ready to do some hand sewing!
6. If you can’t get the thread through the hole, try a needle threader. I have a review post on needle threaders for embroidery here, but some of it still applies to regular hand sewing.

Step 3: Hand Sewing a Seam

How to Hand Sew a Seam with a Running Stitch

Running Stitch Steps:

1. Bring the needle up near the top of your seam and make sure the knot catches on the back.
2. Go forward one stitch length and push the needle back down into the fabric.
3. Bring the needle up one stitch length from the back to the front.
4. Go forward one stitch length again and push the needle back down into the fabric.
5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 until you get to the end of your seam.
6. Once you get to the end, turn your fabric over to the back, run your needle under the back of an existing stitch, leave a loop and pull your needle through it to make a knot.

How to Hand Sew a Seam with a Backstitch

Backstitch Steps:

1. Bring the needle up near the top of your seam and make sure the knot catches on the back.
2. Go forward one stitch length and push the needle back down into the fabric.
3. Bring the needle up one stitch length from the back to the front.
4. Go back one stitch length and bring the needle down in the hole that the previous stitch went down in. (This is what gives this stitch the name backstitch.)
5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 until you get to the end of your seam.
6. Once you get to the end, turn your fabric over to the back, run your needle under the back of an existing stitch, leave a loop and pull your needle through it to make a knot.

Step 4: Sewing an Opening Closed

A lot of times in sewing, you’ll stitch around all sides of your fabric and leave a small opening. You turn it right-side-out using that opening, and then you have to hand sew it shut. This is done frequently when sewing things like pillows and stuffed animals.

Hand Sewing an Opening with a Slip Stitch (Ladder Stitch)

Slip Stitch (Ladder Stitch) Steps:

1. Fold the raw edges of your fabric inside the piece you’re working on and press with an iron for best results.
2. Bring your needle up inside the opening, along the fold line, and make sure the knot catches inside.
3. Push the needle down on the opposite side of the opening into the fold line. Push it to the left about 1/4-inch and bring the needle back up on the fold.
4. Take your needle back to the side of the opening you started on, and push it down into the fold line. Push it to the left about 1/4-inch and bring the needle back up.
5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 until you get to the end of the opening.
6. Once you get to the end, run your needle under an existing stitch, leave a loop and pull your needle through it to make a knot.
7. Push the needle through the seam and snip the excess thread as close to the fabric as possible.

Step 5: Hand Sewing a Hem

How to Hand Sew a Whip Stitch Hem

Whip Stitch Steps:

1. Bring the needle up inside the fold and push it through the top. Make sure the knot catches on the back.
2. Bring the needle to the left at an angle and grab a small amount of fabric from above the fold. (This stitch will show on the front, so make it very small, only grabbing a couple threads from the fabric.)
3. Push the needle through the back of the fold just below where you grabbed the fabric.
4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 until you get to the end. When you get the hang of it, you can do the grabbing and pushing through the fold in one motion.
5. Once you get to the end, run your needle under an existing stitch, leave a loop and pull your needle through it to make a knot.

Hand Sewing a Blind Hem Stitch

Blind Hem Steps:

1. Bring the needle up inside the fold and push it through the top. Make sure the knot catches on the back.
2. Bring the needle straight up and grab a small amount of fabric from above the fold. (This stitch will show on the front, so make it very small, only grabbing a couple threads from the fabric.)
3. Bring the needle back down to the fold, close to where you first brought the needle up. Push it through the fold, travel the needle along the fold about 1/4-inch to the left, and bring it back out through the top of the fold.
4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 until you reach the end of the hem.
5. Once you get to the end, run your needle under an existing stitch, leave a loop and pull your needle through it to make a knot.

How to Hand Sew a Blanket Stitch Hem

Blanket Stitch Hem Steps:

1. Bring the needle up inside the fold, on the bottom fold line. Make sure the knot catches on the back.
2. Bring the needle to the left at an angle and push it through the fabric above the fold. Do not pull the thread all the way through, leave a loop at the bottom.
3. Bring the needle around to the front, through the loop and pull gently until the stitch is secure.
4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 until you reach the end of the hem.
5. Once you get to the end, run your needle under an existing stitch, leave a loop and pull your needle through it to make a knot.

Step 6: Practice, practice, practice!

I know it’s cliché to say, but practice really does make perfect! Try not to get frustrated because making mistakes is always a part of the learning process. Also, don’t expect perfection because you aren’t a machine. Your stitches will be a little wonky, but that’s how you tell that a lot of love went into your project.

Hand Sewing Stitches FAQ

If you liked this tutorial, you might also like my How to Embroider for Beginners post!

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