Do you sew? Get a needle and thread and give these stitches a try.

First up is the running stitch. It is one of the easiest stitches to learn. 

Push the needle up through the fabric from the back and then down through the front. Up, down, up, down. Keep going in a straight line. You’ve just made a running stitch!

This type of stitch is used for tacking separate fabrics together.

Next: The back stitch. Push the needle up through the fabric from the back. Move a little forward and push the needle down through the fabric again. Move over a small distance and come up from the back once more.

Now go back to the second hole you made and push your needle back through it. Your stitches should form a straight line with no spaces between them. This stitch is often used for fixing torn fabrics. It’s also good for outlining designs in embroidery. 

Here’s a harder one: French knot. Push the needle up from the underside of fabric. Hold your needle parallel to the surface of the fabric, and then wrap the thread smoothly around the needle twice. Hold the end of the thread gently while you push the needle back through the hole the fabric, right next to your first hole. Don’t let the thread loop get tangled! Pull slowly until the loop tightens and creates a tiny rosette shape. 

These types of stitches are used for adding texture to designs on patterns.

With sewing skills, anyone can repair torn clothes, fix other fabric items, and create beautiful designs. 

A woman who sews is called a seamstress. There was a beloved seamstress in the Bible. Her name was Dorcas. (She was also known as Tabitha.)

She was a disciple who made clothes for the poor. One day, she became ill and died. The Apostle Peter prayed and she was restored to life.

And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. — Acts 9:42

For more about sewing, see My Little House Sewing Book by Margaret Irwin in our Recommended Reading.