Fundamentals of Clothing Construction

FUNDAMENTALS OF CLOTHING CONSTRUCTION 3(1+2)

Lesson 5 : Basic Hand Stitches

General guide lines for basting

1. Basting should always start with a knotted end.
2. A contrast color thread should always be used for basting for easy recognition and removal.
3. Correct basting is essential in good garment making and considerable time is saved by careful basting. All fitting, alteration, and irregular lines are to be basted.
4. Cotton thread is used for basting on all materials but silk, satin or velvet require a silk thread.
5. A little larger needle than for ordinary hand sewing is advisable.
6. Basting should be done after carefully matching all notches.
7. When basting a straight edge and a bias edge together, baste with the bias edge upwards.
8. Baste a short distance away from the sewing line so that the basting stitches will not be sewed into the garment.
9. Clipping the basting thread every few inches and drawing from the knotted end removes these stitches.