Sewing is a type of craft that has been around for centuries. Before the invention of the sewing machine, people used to sew by hand. Hand sewing was popular in those days, and people would do all the basic stitching by hand. Nowadays, after the invention of sewing machines, hand sewing is still used for some special purposes. Each method has its own positives and negatives. Let’s discuss the difference between hand sewing and machine sewing and their pros and cons. Nowadays, sewing machines are being used more frequently. But, we will discuss where to use the hand sewing to get the best result.
What Is Hand Sewing
Hand stitching is the most traditional method of stitching. A thousand years ago, when there were no sewing machines, people used to sew using just a needle and thread. Let’s discuss what are the advantages of hand stitching.
Advantages Of Hand Stitching
- Hand sewing is a meticulous process and emphasizes precision. It provides you with all the control. Here you can decide the stitch length and direction of the stitches. It is very good for embroidery and intricate work.
- It provides you with portability. As you do not use any machine in this, you can sit anywhere and start stitching. It is the best choice for travelling.
- It has versatility. Hand sewing can be used in various applications like simple repairs, appliques, and embroidery.
- Hand sewing is great for beginners. Anyone can sew by hand. It doesn’t require any technology. Beginners start from this. You do not need any heavy machinery for this. Just a needle and a thread and you are good to go. There are not many complicated stitch types in hand sewing. Just the basic running stitch is required in hand sewing.
- Hand sewing increases concentration. It is also a type of meditation.
Disadvantages of Hand Sewing
- Hand sewing is a time consuming process. It takes too much time. It is not suitable for business purpose. You can not finish your project on time if you solely depend on hand sewing.
- Sometimes the seams sewn by hand are not that much strong. If you sew by hand on heavy duty fabric then seams will be weak.
- You can control the stitch length, distance and direction of the stitches. But, you can’t guarantee that all the stitches will be same length and the distance of spacing is same. The stitch length will not be consistent like machine sewing.
What Is Machine Sewing
Machine sewing is basically done by a sewing machine. Sewing machine is a mechanical device that does stitching using thread and needle.
Advantages
- Sewing machines made the work easy and quick. With the sewing machine you can finish the project faster than hand sewing.
- Sewing machine provides uniform stitch length. It gives a professional finish and straight seam.
- Sewing machines are versatile. You can use various types of stitches. You can adjust the stitch length with sewing machine. You can embroidery, quilting, buttonhole, button sewing and many more things using a sewing machine.
- Unlike hand sewing, sewing machines can handle many types of fabrics. With a sewing machine, you can sew from cotton to heavy weight fabrics like denim and jeans.
- Sewing machine gives a professional touch to the garments. There are various types of sewing machines available which fulfill all the needs in sewing.
Disadvantages
- Sewing machines cost more than the hand sewing. As machine sewing requires a sewing machine. This can vary according to the type of sewing machine. You can also earn from a sewing machine by doing business.
- To sew on a sewing machine, you have to learn it first. There are many techniques to learn on a sewing machine. Basic repairs are also needed to learn on a sewing machine. Learning a sewing machine requires a lot of patience and time.
- Maintaining a sewing machine is also required. To ensure the sewing machine is running smoothly, you have to do proper care of the machine regularly like cleaning, oiling the machine. Regular servicing in a service center is also required.
- Stitching on a sewing machine is not portable unless its a portable sewing machine. You can’t take the sewing machine everywhere you want. It is a bulky device which is not feasible to take everywhere.
When To Use Hand Sewing
Hand sewing can be used in many application where it outperforms the machine sewing. These are :
- Embroidery is one of the important work that can be done better in hand than machine. Your design will look more clean, authentic. In hand embroidery you can choose and type of stitches. It gives a unique look.
- In basic repairs, hand sewing works good. Basic repairs take less time. So, it can be done without a sewing machine.
- Applique work can be done by hand. It looks good and gives a finishing touch and have unique design in attaching patches. It is true that, hand applique will take a lot of time.
- Hand sewing is best for soft, delicate fabrics. It works better for light weight fabrics.
- Hand sewing can also be used for button hole making and button sewing. Zippers can also be attached by hand. Although zipper can be attached by machine with a special presser foot, but with hand you can use invisible stitch to the zipper.
- It is good for invisible stitching. While attaching lining invisible stitch is required. For hemming hand sewing is better.
- Basting is important before making the final stitch in the sewing machine. Before the final stitch, basting is done to attach the fabric temporarily. It is done to prevent the fabric from slipping. In tha place of hand basting you can also use sewing pins.
When To Use Machine Sewing
In most of the cases, now a days sewing machine is used.
- A sewing machine is faster than hand. You can finish making a garment with hand. But, it will take a lot of time. Sewing makes it easy. You can finish it in a day.
- Sewing machine gives a professional look to the garment. The seams are straight and perfect. Various types decorative stitches are also available in sewing machine to give the garment a beautiful look.
- Machine embroidery is faster than hand embroidery. Hand embroideries are unique in design, but machine embroidery is computer based and can be done in very less time.
- Hand quilting has its own charm, but quilting in a sewing machine is faster and will be finished in less time.
- Making buttonholes in sewing machine is easier than hand. Buttonhole foot and button sewing foot are available for sewing machine. Using them you can make buttonholes and sew buttons in less time.
- Using a sewing machine, you can earn a living. As you finish the sewing projects on time and gain more potential customers.
Conclusion
Now you got to know about both the hand sewing and machine sewing. The advantages and disadvantages both of the hand and machine sewing. The applications on which these can be used. based upon those things, you can decide when to use hand sewing and when to use sewing machine. You can also use both the hand sewing and machine according to the need of the project.
