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Okay, we've got to talk......
There's no hiding it anymore.............or at least trying to.
I have ridiculously short and stubby thumbs. No more cropping my thumbs out of the pictures or trying to bend them out of the way, avoiding the camera lens. They are lovely in their own little way.
And just for the record, no they did not get cut off, get stuck in a door, or trimmed down to use the skin and bone to graft to other parts of my body. (Yes, all those things are questions I've had since childhood....) Hahaha!
Ridiculous that I'm even wasting space talking about my thumbs. But, now I can feel better. ((wink))
And I know there are more of you out there. (Who have realized with me that they will never be a hand model!!) Come on, embrace those little stubs.
Whew, onto the tutorial for today. (And a LOT of thumb pictures!!) :)
I have had several questions about hand stitching, shortcuts, etc.
I figured I would share this with all.
When I was a little girl, my mom taught me how to knot thread. I don't know if other people do it this way or not, but I find it to be the quickest way to put a knot in the very end.
Wrap the end of the thread around your moistened (yes this helps) forefinger one time. See how the thread lays across your finger 2 times? (The rest of the thread is draped across my middle finger and is hanging down behind my hand. You just can't see it.)
Now, you'll roll those 2 parts of the thread together by sliding your thumb across your forefinger. This should twist the thread around itself about 4 or 5 times. If not, try again.
Then slide this twisted part between your thumb fingernail and your forefinger and pull the other end with your other hand.
Keep pulling.....
Until it knots itself.
Okay, try it a few times and you will see that this is a true time saver. Thanks mom! And whoever really discovered this technique.
Then, take your first stitch on the inside of your project, to hide the knot.
Do you know how to do a quick whip stitch? (I think that's what this is called. If not, tell me.)
This is such a quick, I'm-not-concerned-if-it's-noticeable, type of stitch. I use it on some of my own stuff or to mend something of the kids' real quickly. Just take a little bit of each side of the fabric that you are trying to close, with the needle, and pull your needle through. Then take another bit of your fabrics a little ways up and push your needle through and pull the thread through. Repeat until your fabrics are closed together. Always move up the same amount each time so that your finished stitching looks uniform.
How to tie a quick and secure end-knot? Another quick technique from my mom.
Loop your needle through your fabric right at the spot where you'd like to end your stitch. Try to grab some fabric and some of the thread that is already in place. Pull the thread all the way through, except for a little loop.
Then bring your needle under and through the loop.
Pull the thread through, except for another little loop. (Which is below the first one.) Now you have 2 loops.
Then, put your needle through this second loop from underneath and pull slowly.
Keep pulling slowly until your looped thread pulls tightly down to the fabric and creates a nice little knot.
Always do this twice.
At least that's what my momma always told me!! It just secures it extra well.
Then stick your needle back into your fabric and exit an inch or so away.
Pull your needle and thread out and pull all the way through so you can't see anymore loose thread by your knot. Then snip off this end, really close to the fabric, and the string will disappear. That will help hide that little loose end and then you don't have to cut it too close to the knot.
What do I use to nicely finish a project.......or items that I sell?
Well, this hidden stitch or blind stitch.......whatever it's called or whatever you like to call it.
And, Rose sent a great link HERE to another tutorial that explains it well. Then I don't have to. :) (Thanks Rose!)
I start this hidden stitch the same way and finish it the same way, except I am really careful about making the knot towards the inside of the seam. (The stitching on the left.)
(See? It just disappears. So nice.)
Anyway, I hope that helps some who wonder, "what in the world is she talking about..." when I say to just whip it closed with a hand stitch.
And now you know my funky thumb secret too. ( I know my sisters and childhood friends are laughing......)
Enjoy your day!
There's no hiding it anymore.............or at least trying to.
I have ridiculously short and stubby thumbs. No more cropping my thumbs out of the pictures or trying to bend them out of the way, avoiding the camera lens. They are lovely in their own little way.
And just for the record, no they did not get cut off, get stuck in a door, or trimmed down to use the skin and bone to graft to other parts of my body. (Yes, all those things are questions I've had since childhood....) Hahaha!
Ridiculous that I'm even wasting space talking about my thumbs. But, now I can feel better. ((wink))
And I know there are more of you out there. (Who have realized with me that they will never be a hand model!!) Come on, embrace those little stubs.
Whew, onto the tutorial for today. (And a LOT of thumb pictures!!) :)
I have had several questions about hand stitching, shortcuts, etc.
I figured I would share this with all.
When I was a little girl, my mom taught me how to knot thread. I don't know if other people do it this way or not, but I find it to be the quickest way to put a knot in the very end.
Wrap the end of the thread around your moistened (yes this helps) forefinger one time. See how the thread lays across your finger 2 times? (The rest of the thread is draped across my middle finger and is hanging down behind my hand. You just can't see it.)
Now, you'll roll those 2 parts of the thread together by sliding your thumb across your forefinger. This should twist the thread around itself about 4 or 5 times. If not, try again.
Then slide this twisted part between your thumb fingernail and your forefinger and pull the other end with your other hand.
Keep pulling.....
Until it knots itself.
Okay, try it a few times and you will see that this is a true time saver. Thanks mom! And whoever really discovered this technique.
Then, take your first stitch on the inside of your project, to hide the knot.
Do you know how to do a quick whip stitch? (I think that's what this is called. If not, tell me.)
This is such a quick, I'm-not-concerned-if-it's-noticeable, type of stitch. I use it on some of my own stuff or to mend something of the kids' real quickly. Just take a little bit of each side of the fabric that you are trying to close, with the needle, and pull your needle through. Then take another bit of your fabrics a little ways up and push your needle through and pull the thread through. Repeat until your fabrics are closed together. Always move up the same amount each time so that your finished stitching looks uniform.
How to tie a quick and secure end-knot? Another quick technique from my mom.
Loop your needle through your fabric right at the spot where you'd like to end your stitch. Try to grab some fabric and some of the thread that is already in place. Pull the thread all the way through, except for a little loop.
Then bring your needle under and through the loop.
Pull the thread through, except for another little loop. (Which is below the first one.) Now you have 2 loops.
Then, put your needle through this second loop from underneath and pull slowly.
Keep pulling slowly until your looped thread pulls tightly down to the fabric and creates a nice little knot.
Always do this twice.
At least that's what my momma always told me!! It just secures it extra well.
Then stick your needle back into your fabric and exit an inch or so away.
Pull your needle and thread out and pull all the way through so you can't see anymore loose thread by your knot. Then snip off this end, really close to the fabric, and the string will disappear. That will help hide that little loose end and then you don't have to cut it too close to the knot.
What do I use to nicely finish a project.......or items that I sell?
Well, this hidden stitch or blind stitch.......whatever it's called or whatever you like to call it.
And, Rose sent a great link HERE to another tutorial that explains it well. Then I don't have to. :) (Thanks Rose!)
I start this hidden stitch the same way and finish it the same way, except I am really careful about making the knot towards the inside of the seam. (The stitching on the left.)
(See? It just disappears. So nice.)
Anyway, I hope that helps some who wonder, "what in the world is she talking about..." when I say to just whip it closed with a hand stitch.
And now you know my funky thumb secret too. ( I know my sisters and childhood friends are laughing......)
Enjoy your day!
22 comments:
I have been checking your blog very often because I am a stay at home mother who has the drive to learn how to do new things. I love your ideas!! THey are brilliant! I am not a sewer by any means, but your posts have helped me learn so much! THank you! As for your thumbs, be proud of those babies! I lost my right thumb in a potatoe harvest accident and talk about an ugly thing now! Ha Ha Ha! Thanks again! I am looking forward to your next great idea!!
Thanks for a great tutorial. I never did figure out the rubbing your fingers together thing when my mom showed me! Oh well!
Love your ideas as always!
your thumbs rock! And so do your tutorials... :) Thanks again for yet another awesome post!
Ooooh Lacey, that sounds like it was an awful painful day. Ouch!
Touch of country, darn it. Hope the pictures helped a bit.
Rachel, hahaha about my thumbs. Thanks.
Holy Crap we have the same thumbs!! Not too many people that have toe thumbs! Love your blog!
Melissa.......OH MY WORD!! I have NEVER heard them called that. But that's exactly what they are. HAHAHA!!! :o) It's like when we were little eggs and our cells were dividing, the information got mixed up and the cells were told to go form a toe where the thumb should have gone.
Hilarious!! Maybe we should start a support group. :)
Aww, I like your thumbs, they make amazing things! Hand sewing is one of my favorite things to do, it's so relaxing. These tips are great, I'll be linking.
Don't feel bad, I have 'man hands'. Seriously, they are huge-as big as my brothers and I'm only 5'6" and they're all over 6'. Once I got my nails done and my hands totally looked like a drag queen. Oh well. All the better to craft with, right? I love all your ideas! Thanks so much!
I love your stubby thumbs Ash! It is unique about you! Love ya! Thanks for the sewing tips! i will be using those soon since i am now a sewer!
Great tutorial, thanks for sharing! I would rather have short stubby fingers than super long fingers like mine! My fingers are soo skinny, long, and double jointed they're as big as a man's hands!
My sister happened to be visiting when I read this entry, and I couldn't stop laughing. I made her read it. She has the very same thumbs as you! She of course has a great attitude about it like you, despite all the weird comments she gets (and all the teasing from her big sister!).
She was very happy to know she is not alone in her stubthumbdom!
Thank you for posting this, I am a beginner and I have tried several of your ideas! Knowing these different stitching techniques will be helpful!
You have a very smart Momma!! Thanks for sharing.
I never knew!! Honestly, I've never noticed, before. How crazy is that? See, the things that bug us the most about ourselves, most people never even notice...
AT least your thumbs match. My sister only has one of the stubby thumbs, and the other is normal. She's always teasing about "thumbing" for only half a ride! And we recently discovered that my little brother has them, too. He's VERY proud of them, though! And so should you be, as talented as they are! (I know I'm a stranger. I hope that doesn't weird you out that I'm commenting. I love your stuff, though!)
I just found your site and LOVE it! thanks for all the great project ideas...so excited to give some of them a try! BTW...my mom taught me the same tricks that your mom did. :) Thanks for so much inspiration!
You're hilarious! There is nothing wrong with your thumbs, and rest easy, I was so intently focused on the thread knot that I wasn't really looking at your hands. Thanks for the shout out! Glad ou found a use for the link, I love that tutorial, I didn't know how to do that before. Ahhhh, blogland, how I love you.
HAHAHA!! i love it. Totally know how you feel about your thumbs. I have just one short and stuby one...the other is normal. I dont know which is worse having two or just one. :)
My husband has one thumb that looks identical to yours =) the other one is just "normal" but I like his little thumb, I think its cute!
I knew it! I knew there had to be some secret I didn't know about as to how you could possibly be so talented... it's the thumbs. Maybe if I had super thumbs too I'd pick up a needle and thread and not just the glue gun. But my rotton luck, I have perfectly normal, boring thumbs. So people get all the luck....
I meant some people get all the luck...not "so" people get all the luck. Maybe if I had your thumbs I'd be able to type a bit more accurately too???
that's exactly how my mom taught me to tie a knot in thread and to end my stitches! :) it's so cool to see someone else who was taught the same way by their mom.
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