Sewing may seem like one of those quaint, old-fashioned household chores that most people outsource today. Yes, having a good tailor is a wonderful thing, but there are certain clothing repairs and adjustments that are probably easier to do than you think. If you’ve popped a button on your shirt, worn down a hem on your pants or busted a seam in your dress, these five hand sewing techniques can help you fix things in snap.
Running stitch
The running stitch is the most basic of all hand sewing stitches and it’s what all other forms of sewing are based off of. In the video above, Lauren Bradley from the expertvillage YouTube channel explains the easiest way to join two pieces of fabric. While running stitches running stitches may seem simple, they can still be incredibly effective for repairing clothing. This stitch can be used to:
Sew patches onto clothing (like when the knees go out in your pants)
Repair a hem at the end of a pant leg or the arm of a jacket
Re-attach a strap or other piece of fabric back to the main piece
All you need is a needle and some thread. Once you have your needle double threaded, be sure to knot the end and you’re ready to sew. When you’re done, a running stitch will have the same appearance on both sides of the joined fabrics.
Back stitch
The back stitch is an advanced variation of the simple running stitch where you constantly take one step back and two steps forward along your stitch line. As Dawn Anderson explains in the video above from the MonkeySee YouTube channel, the back stitch is very strong and flexible stitch for repairing areas of high wear and tear. A back stitch is ideal for:
Re-attaching zippers where the seam has come undone
Repairing tears or places where the fabric is starting to unravel
Generally, anywhere a running stitch would do the job, a back stitch can be used. It’s stronger and will probably last longer, but it takes longer to sew (especially if you’re new to sewing). With a back stitch, one side will look like a simple running stitch, but the other will have a line of overlapping stitches.
Whip stitch
The whip stitch is a little more complicated, but may be even more useful than the simple running stitch. In the video above, YouTuber Wendi Gratz demonstrates a whip stitch on a small stuffed pillow, but the technique can be used to fix other things like:
Busted seams on pants, shirts and jackets
Pockets that have split open
Hems that have split open at the bottom (not at the actual hem stitch)
Of course, as demonstrated in the video, you can also use the whip stitch to fix pillows, pillow cases, couch cushions and any other item that’s busted open at the seams. Again, all you need is a needle and some thread, but it’s best if the thread’s color matches the fabric you’re sewing into because the thread will be visible.
Slip stitch
The slip stitch can close up seams and holes just like a whip stitch, but the stitch itself won’t be visible. Unfortunately, it’s also the toughest stitch to master on this list. In the video above, YouTuber Professor Pincushion demonstrates the slip stitch method while explaining the finesse the procedure requires. This type of stitch is useful for repairing holes in more visible areas where the thread of a whip stitch would be too apparent.
Keep in mind, however, that it’s also not going to be as strong as a whip stitch, so it should only be used to repair small holes and tears. Also, it’s best if you use a thread that’s colored to match the fabric you’re working with. If you have the patience to develop your skill, the slip stitch can make clothing issues literally disappear.
Sewing on a button
Last, but not least, knowing how to sew a button back on, or add an additional button, can be pretty handy. We’ve featured it before, but this video from the ThreadBanger YouTube channel explains the process in the simplest way possible.
It doesn’t take long to learn, and once you know how, it will stick with you. If you’re having trouble with it, you can use a toothpick to help you sit the button properly. Now there’s no need to go buy new clothes because you know how to replace buttons on your clothing and jackets, fix undone hems and repair tears or busted seams.
This story was originally published on 8/11/15 and was updated on 7/16/19 to provide more thorough and current information.