Most DIY sewing projects, whether it's a simple hem or a full garment, lean on a small set of hand stitches. Learning these five gives a solid starting toolkit for holding fabric together, finishing edges, and making repairs.
Basting Stitch
Basting is a temporary stitch used to hold two or more layers of fabric in place before permanent stitching or a fitting. It's meant to be removed once the real seam is sewn, so it's kept loose and long for easy pulling out.
Running Stitch
The running stitch uses smaller, more locked-in stitches than basting, making it suitable for seams meant to last rather than just hold pieces temporarily.
Beyond basting and running stitch, the tutorial covers three additional hand stitches that round out a practical sewing toolkit — together these five techniques show up in most everyday DIY sewing tasks.
Pairing hand stitch know-how with a basic understanding of sewing machine parts makes it easier to decide when to sew by hand and when to switch to the machine.