Hi Friends! If you're looking to purchase any needles or threads I mention in the video, I have links in the description! If you're looking for a one-stop-shop for good hand sewing needles and thread, check out Burnley & Trowbridge - www.burnleyandtrowbridge.com ❤️

BASTING BAES! It's the mockup of the stitch world, 100% recommend!

Fun fact: Pin cushions usually come w/a smaller version of it attached by a string. That small version hanging off a dongle is NOT an extra pin cushion. It's filled w/graphite & its purpose is to sharpen your needles. Just jab it in & out until you reach your desired sharpness! 😊

"Most needles made today are crap." totally agree. I accidentally sat on a needle once, and instead of poking me, it BROKE! It just shattered into like 5 pieces!

I had NO IDEA needles had changed so much! I have been fighting with newer needles thinking that age sure does a number on your ability to hand sew. It never occurred to me that I was dealing with inferior tools. Thanks for the education! Will be purchasing proper needles right away... Getting a thimble too... Had always been told I should use one, but never saw the proper technique demonstrated like you do.... Who says you can't learn new tricks?

Holy crap, that needle close-up. I had no idea there was so much difference in quality. No wonder I have so much trouble threading needles these days. ~glares in betrayal at plastic circle container of cheap needles~

Re: basting instead of pinning; head explode. I thought hand sewing just...always...sucked. "Ah crap, caught on a pin. Ow, poked by a pin. Gah, I'm tangled again." Also, now I'm going to go through all of my needles. Before this video I thought, "it's pointy metal with a hole in it, how can they mess that up?" The decline in quality of literally EVERYTHING over the past few decades really, really, really blows.

Many years ago, when I was young ( back in 1970's small town Australia) every pupil in my school was taught the basics of hand sewing once they entered roughly 3rd class or 4th class, from memory (about 9 or 10 years of age for those non-Australian readers ). We had a lovely teacher who taught us our basic stitches and really encouraged us to focus on improving our stitch quality, as beginners, before attempting anything else. She always said, as you have here, Abby, that getting the basics in place was a foundational skill, and from there all other skills could developed. Just like a lot of things in life, we all have to be able to crawl before we can walk! If we get our foundations in place, then everything else flows from there. Being able to undertake basic sewing projects , such as mending, darning, hemming and minor alterations is, I feel, an invaluable life skill. Shame learning the basics is still not part of our school curriculum anymore, as it's such a handy skill to have. Take care and keep up the great work, Abby! xx

I started teaching myself to sew this year, and I was just ranting to my spouse a few days ago about how hard it is to find good information about basic stuff like what makes a good needle, what we should look for with thread, etc. I'm so glad I found this! Thanks for making it.

Ok, you convinced me. I'll try basting. I'm confused though. At what point do you bring in the big eye dropper thing with the rubber bulb on the end?

Wow. I feel very lucky. I inherited my grandma’s sewing machine and full kit when I was 17. I have beautiful sewing needles in the packet from Sheffield UK, I think my Grandma bought them in the 50’s and never opened them.

Sew, I'm trying to teach myself to hand stitch via youtube, and I really appreciate you explaining the rational behind basting and how it boosts technique and efficiency. I'm halfway through my first ever project and that will really help me on my next few steps. Thank you Abby!

I’m English - live in Yorkshire, England and thrilled to hear you recommend English needles. Thanks.

Note to beginners with low income... Do what you can with what you can get. And as you start to save money, save for better needles, thread, and fabric! (Because she's absolutely right... Yet life is... (Fill in the blank)) Yes, you're going to be frustrated if you need to do this, but if you're really looking to have more a more ethical, independently sustainable, long run cheaper wardrobe, and you can only really start with what you already have or can get on the cheap, think of it preparation for future sewing frustrations as you learn. Also made in China products are crap largely because of the working conditions. So definitely get better products in general when you can manage it and not feed into the system that makes sweat shops the only way to make affordable items. Last point... Recycle. If the crap needles (or anything) you wanna pitch can be recycled, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE do recycle them. **** Edit for new info... Only recycle needles if your local recycling takes them. They will only take them if they mechanically sort the recycling. Safety for workers sorting by hand is extremely important. You can also recycle them into parts of crafts if you're so inclined.

I wish people talked more about needles. I feel like that's the one area I know nothing. I have been working on these felt animal kits during my at home time and it's really helping with my neatness and precision in hand sewing. Also learning how important basting is. Felt stretches and slides all over the place if it's not basted.

I inherited all my sewing stuff from my grandmother. I checked my needles & chuckled when I realized my Gram bought all good stuff- England, all of it. I've been sewing up dog toys and kids pockets with English embroidery needles. 😆

My grandfather found a box of sewing things at an estate sale years ago and bought it for me- all of the needles I use have come from this! Multiple complete books of beautiful gold eye needles, and dozens upon dozens of loose needles. All perfect and sharp and untarnished. I love them.

This convinced me the needles i've been using lately (from one of those plastic circle things) are indeed garbage - they've actually been cutting through my thread as i'm sewing!

I feel like I’ve gotten VERY lucky with my free packs of assorted needles. I couldn’t tell you what brands they are now because they’re in a cushion but I just did a quick inspection and all of my needle eyes are very well finished and have held their points FOREVER. Lol

Thanks so much for this! As an "accidental sewist" this was really useful to me. And please, don't sugar-coat it; tell us how you really feel about cheap needles!

This is wonderful! I'm a historical interpreter for the early 19th century and I do a lot of hand sewing. I've also been sewing since the early 1970s. This FINALLY put things in an understandable manner.

This is sooooooo helpful. I'm currently basing down gathered skirt panels to a waistband because everything was slipping and sliding around so much that no amount of pins would help.

Foolish as it now sounds, I hadn't really thought about the importance of quality needles. Thank you!

fun fact, on sewing machines, the needle's point wearing out isn't what is going to cause the most trouble, it's the eye with the constant motion of the thread. It's why you'll develop tension problems and thread breaks with an old needle on a sewing machine.

I love these videos! I tossed 3 packs of needles I'd bought over the years. I was never taught to hand sew. I was 5 when I sat in a corner and mimicked the motions of sewing that I saw on a Looney Toons episode. In middle school, I took a Home Ec class where we made a quick pin cushion but mostly I was taught to use a sewing machine and a serger. Finding this little corner of the internet has been the best thing ever. I'm so glad that your viral video brought me here. Thank you for this video and the video on metal thimbles. I watched it and Bernadette's video on her leather thimble and I learned so much from both of you. From Bernadette, I learned that leather thimbles were a thing and from you, I learned about how thimbles should fit and that there is a thing as a tailor's thimble. With your powers combined, I was able to make my own leather thimble in the tailor's style. It fits so well and is so comfortable I forgot I was wearing it just around the house. I haven't even done any sewing with it yet. Thank you, thank you.

i gotta say, they were all super helpful (looking at you needles types) but for real, how to hold the needle when you sew was by far the most important for me. Tutorials usually teach the different stitching points, but never *how* to hold the needle!!! Which is also super important if you wanna be able to use your thimble efficiently too!! So yeah. how to how the needle, by far the best part!! Thank you Abby :3

This was very informative had no idea about hand sewing needles. Also you have a hypnotic effect on my kitten she watched you again with me and settled down for a nap. Except when you were actually stitching she was fascinated. I'm guessing in a previous life she sewed. Thanks for all the information you are sharing.

I am fortunate enough to be the only sewer left from a family of seamstresses Because of this I inherited so many supplies I rarely have to buy anything. Recently I was doing some organizing and found an entire box of stuff including never used needles dating back to the 19teens! What a jackpot! Thank you great grandma kite and Johnson. Great great grandma Griffin and grandma Jo. Miss you all so much.

Thanks for tips, Abby, they’re helpful to even this experienced sewist. I’m still not comfortable using an all metal thimble but I love the one I’m using now: it’s silicone with a metal tip (the brand might be Clover). After sewing thimble-free for many years I found I had to, in a way, relearn to sew using a thimble. It was frustrating at first but well worth the extra effort and time in the beginning.

Still getting used to wearing a thimble. But what a difference did wearing one make in the sewing proces. That video came right on time for me.

Can we get a "where to buy fabric"? I´m not living near a fabric district, so I would love to learn about some sellers on the interwebs where I can find good quality fabric, historically accurate or not.

This entire video blew me away! I was always self conscious of my hand sewing technique (or lack thereof) because it always looked messy, no matter how hard I tried. Now I know exactly why and now I'm looking forward to utilizing these tips; especially the basting tip! I hate pinning hems because it takes up so much of my time that I would rather spend actually sewing. Thank you!

I'm enjoying using up the mercerised cotton thread that came in my grandmother's sewing box for hand-sewing, mostly 40 weight, and on wooden rolls (which tells you how old it must be!). Mostly UK made Dewhurst's Sylko :-) (And yes, I'm wearing a thimble while typing...)

To be honest, this video and Nicole’s video about fabric, has collectively increased my knowledge SIGNIFICANTLY. I’ve been sewing for years, although knit and modern wear are more my jam, I am gleaning so much from watching all the Costubers, and my confidence and finishing techniques are getting better. I’m now choosing projects that allow me to practice what I’m learning. Thank you Auntie Abby!!

I'm glad I came upon this channel. I'm learning to sew on my own, because my mom never really taught me (I was a bad student, though. I wanted to hit the ground running). I'm unlearning, learning, and relearning so much. It's a bit overwhelming at times. But I'm also gaining patience in myself and skill level.

I’m starting hand sewing soon and this video was VERY useful. I’m a long time knitter/crocheter and agree that tools make all the difference. Thank goodness you’ve offered that basting advice, because pinning everything is a nightmare. Thank you!

I always wondered why my mom was so specific about her needles!! 🤯🤯🤯 Though, as an avid knitter, it should have occurred to me that all needles are not created equal. Basting, on the other hand, I knew. If you’re using pins while hand sewing, you may as well try sewing cacti together. Technique first!! Yaaaaaassssss!!! All skills are meant to be taught this way...like touch typing, for example! I’m not certain why we forget this when we teach ourselves new skills? Great tips. I’ve recently acquired a gorgeous corset pattern...I’m thinking it’s time for a hand sewing project!! My machine will be grateful for the vacation, I’m sure. Love, light, and blessings to you and all your doggos & peoples.

THANK YOU! I‘d honestly LOVE to get into handsewing more but. just. as a very visual person I feel like there‘s just SO little information out there?? (that isn‘t in old books that make me want to cry) (or i just haven‘t found it yet??) So this is lovely and wonderful and I‘m so happy right now

Dear Costume Auntie Abby, I am going through my needles now and ordering new, actually good needles! Thank you for continuing to help all of us improve our sewing!

Thank you so much for all the information you share. Thanks for taking the time. I'm 55 and still learning.

Couple observations from beginner. 1. Good metal thimbles are hard to find. I can not tell how many shops I have gone trough with trying to find one that is shaped and sized so that it would be comfortable to wear. Prym that is European brand has one that is shaped like pyramid with flat top. I guess the idea is that it fits to as many as possible but that makes it super uncomfortable to wear longer. And seriously who has their finger shaped like that?? The ones that I bought had rim that came out enough to start to rub the next finger. That was easy to solve with pair of pliers to bend it down. Size is still bit a problem with that one but it at least is wearable. The hunt is going to continue with the try to find the good thimble. 2. Number ten needle is effing hard to find!! Apparently Finns doesn't like that size needle. So far I have found it only in one box with assortment of needles. I think there was five different sizes so only couple size ten needles. I think there was only one option from Clover even in the online store that I found in Finland that was specialized to sewing products. As said hard ones to find in this country. 3. Prym needles that are made in Czech republic are descent needles when it comes to quality. I haven't had any issues with them and the eyes are clean. They are carried in grocery stores in here and the embroidery needles that I have a lot, since I do embroidery, are good ones. I haven't had any complains with them so far. But that is European made brand so there is that. edit number 4. Smaller needles are actually better. I had hard time to believe this. I was in belief that the longer needles are somehow better and easier to control. Finally gave up and tried smaller needles and found out that those are for real easier to aim where you want them to go. So believe when it is told you that smaller needles are better lol. And lastly, start with small projects like pouches or masks that will get done in decent time. That makes it feel like it will not take life time from you to get things done and if you are not happy with the stitching quality it will not be a big problem since it is not something that you will wear years from now. It will work as a pouch that hold things that you need it to hold even if the stitches are not as neat as you want them to be.

Me:*basting fabric while watching new video* Abby: Baste your fabric! Don’t argue with me Me: I AM, Abby. I am I swear!

THANK YOU My hand sewing has improved so much just by following these tips!!! I've always sewn by hand but it's been a mess before! I'm shocked by how small my stitches are and how neat they are!

ALL. OF. IT. I am 62 and my mother showed me how to sew when I was a young'un. I was never happy with my machine or hand sewing and gave it up decades ago. Till I found you, Bernadette, Morgan etc on KZfaq. Now I want to sew again and do it right. The info in this video is 100% what I needed to hear, 100% stuff I didn't know (except the thimble info, I just bought me a new leather one) and will be 100% followed. Thank you Abby!

I admit I never thought about basting before with my hand sewing. Thanks for the epiphany!

Abby, you have given me permission to go through the needles and toss them out with wild abandon! Seriously I found several sleeves of assorted needles when I moved. I saved them because well one doesn't just throw out sewing supplies! I'm going to get rid of all but the very best and order better ones. This video was very informative, thank you.❤

I learned hand sewing, crocheting, knitting, and so on as a child. How fortunate was I? What I did not learn is about needles. You have changed my life!!! Thank you, Abby.

About to embark on my first all-hand sewing project and this was incredibly useful. My sewing kit is made up of a lot of hand me downs and there is definitely a lot of garbage thread but the needles are better than what I could buy now because they are 50 plus years old and haven't been out of the packet.

Now I'm going to have to go through my tin box, and weed out the bad needles and taking a good, sharp look at the labels in the back. And hold on to the needle packs from the past. And when I feel like going to antique stores again, look for size 3 thimbles and old needle packs.

Tulip needles (Japan) are also lovely. I’m gutted John James outsourced. That’s just wrong. My packages say made in England. Thank GOD! England, take your skilled manufacturing work back!!!

I was taught how to sew by my Mom a lifetime ago, but I have to admit, that the Costuber community has taught me more than I could have imagined. Many thanks.

Once again! You have given me so much useful information! I hate when I have a needle I'm sewing with and I don't understand why it's so hard to sew with. Thank-you!!! And with so many threads too, you gave us important information to incorporate into better sewing with better superior products. Plus, the hints to "just do it" basting!!! You are helping so many!

Oh wow, I just started resorting to basting a few hours before this! I got tired of being jabbed every time I tried on my pieces and hearing the ominous ting of pins falling off into the abyss.

Learned so much thing today. Thank you! One thing that I learned (you didn't say it, but you implied it) is that you have to invest in your materials (needles and thread) to get that consistent quality. ❤️

Thanks! You're providing useful and valuable information that will change my decisions about the important tools that I purchase and use for hand-sewing. Awesome!

I just found a bunch of random thimbles at the thrift store and finally have a thimble in my size :) so excited to use it properly

Yes on everything you said. My sewing education has been with a focus on quality hand tailoring first and then later for industry sewing. While I can sew good quality without pins or basting, my results are better with pins and BEST with basting. Basting gives you so much control. Why use pins (or nothing) to save time and then need to reach for the seam ripper to fix your mistake...

I'm researching, just about to begin my first historical costuming adventure. So happy I found your channel. I have 20 yo hand sewing needles in the round plastic thingie, all cotton thread, and have never hand basted anything. I think you just saved my dress's life.

This video is super helpful in terms of understanding modern threads and needles. Thanks, Abby!

Absolutely the best sewing advice I've ever had. Confidence is higher. Thank you!

The basting is something i really need to focus on more. Then again, I need actually get back to sewing my cape thats been laying out on the dinner table since March. 😅

Thank you Abby!!! I've always pinned my sewing and I have never felt like I was improving but now I'm all about the baste!!! Xx

Thank you! I'm one of those self-taught types you were talking about and I never learned most of this stuff, so this is great to know. (I even used to think thimbles went on the thumb, since the word sounds like thumb.)

Okay you're the first and only person to convince me that basting isn't a giant waste of time.

This came JUST IN TIME for me! I have recently started learning how to hand sew, but I’ve had so many questions and you just answered a bunch of them! (Time to go buy some proper needles). I learned so much, thank you!!!

Absolutely fabulous. I never knew this about needles and most of what you advised here as a newbie about to take a dress in at the sides. Blessings, Karen, UK.

This is so cool! I learned this stuff when I was in high school "back in the day" when they taught Home Ec, which included cooking classes. I'm ashamed to say that just two days ago I was sewing with my mom's old needle (that was in one of those plastic wheels) because it felt somehow nostalgic. My sore thimbleless finger AND you have taught me to rethink that choice. This was a fun vid to watch. TYFS. 🤗💗🌞 MK

This was so helpful!! Especially about the needles

Definitely going to be going through my needles tonight! I have tried to stay away from the large unlabeled multi-packs, but have some that aren’t with packaging and likely need to go! I also just bought some cotton thread because I only had polyester. I’m likely still going to use it to use it up and not waste, but may need to look for other thread going forward. I’m also getting out of using polyester fabric despite so many pretty patterns and trying to go with natural fabrics so switching the thread to match! I got a thimble after your other video (ergonomic plastic not metal because the only metal ones I found at big name craft store were terrible quality and I couldn’t actually try it on in the packaging) and LOVE IT! THANK YOU! My husband laughs at me because 9 times out of 10 I completely forget I have it on and then I go to cook or something and realize it. It is sooooooo comfortable. I knew basting was used to hold things in place in troublesome areas or to be able to easily see things on both sides of the fabric, but mind blown on the using it instead of pins. I hate pins and the way the fabric buckled under them and thought about getting some of the sewing clips, but basting seems so much quicker than taking pins or clips on and off repeatedly. Wonderful tips for a beginner hand sewer!

Omg what perfect timing! I’m about to start my first real project (a wool cape) and I’m going to hand sew it so I appreciated every tip! Time to get some nice needles and silk thread!!!

Love this. I got a sewing box and machine from my husband's aunt. When organizing the box, I sorted out the needles and pins. I mean, throwing out whole packs of needles. My husband asked why I was doing this. I said "Where do I put my pins?" Pointing to my face. Plus, this was a senior's box. Some of these needles could have been older than me. I used John James needles since it was the only brand besides Clover in my town's fancy enbroidery shop. WHAT A DIFFERENCE! My first needles were dollar store. Now that I know better, I start the year cleaning my machine and clear out my old needles and pins. Then I spend a hefty amount buying new machine and hand sew needles.

You prompted me to finally get me some new needles 😂 I've been sewing too long now to still be using those plastic ring needles... With you 100% on basting!! Also just saves you from so many incidents of getting pricked by rampant needles and it's sooo much easier to hold in a good position vs having to dodge stiff pins left and right.

After the thimble video i went and filed down my nail, this sacrifice better be worth it lol

I recall in one of Stephanie Pearl-McPhee’s books on knitting she made an assumption that she didn’t use her whole hand to knit. When she sustained an injury she found how important her pinky finger was to the whole operation. Thank you for showing this in a sewing format. I don’t think many people realize how much of your hand is involved in the motions.

Thanks for the tips. I am a male over 70. I love sewing. My mother was a dressmaker.,good at every function, embroidery, making dresses, shirts etc,and NEAT.

Thanks, Abby. I will try the silk thread! And my husband has come home with so many amazing estate sale finds in sewing tools, I'll have to check to see if I have any of those needles you recommend. I wouldn't be surprised. So many were packaged in vintage packaging that I never heard of before. And they are waaay better than the needles of "top brands" here in the US.

Fingers crossed I can figure out how to copy your awesome technique left handed!

after a few moons of voraciously consuming costuber videos, I've decided to embark on my first hand-sewing project (i simply must make the shirt Bernadette has previewed) so this video found me in perfect timing, thanks so much for your entertaining teachings!!

Thank you for an awesome video! I love watching another needle and thread snob at work. Such great suggestions! My go to needle has been a 10 embroidery for years. It works for me, and I love it. I love it so much that I order in bulk. My last order was John James; you are right, not as good. I throw out probably one in six, because the eye cuts the thread. The next time I order, I will try Colonial. Thanks for the tip. So very valuable. I hate it when things I depend on change. 😟 Also, basting, so true! Yes the thread gets caught as you sew, but the pins also distort the fabric and cause unevenness in the seam or hem. As for tensioning, I wondered if I actually did it. Since hand sewing is something I’ve been doing since before I can remember (can you say, “passion for sewing?”), I honestly didn’t know. Of course I do! So happy! I never see others breaking thread with their hands and testing the thread’s tensile strength. I thought I was the only one who had to test every type of thread in that way. But you do too. ❤️ I still have much to learn, I’m a sewing machine nerd, and sometimes hand sewing takes a backseat. I can see that I can improve my speed. I’m happy about that. Thank you SEW much for the valuable information!!💕

This was so helpful. Never would have thought that there was a quality issuse re hand needles. I'm going to go inspect my needle now. Thanks!!

Thank you 😊 I really appreciate you talking about how to identify quality thread and needles and basting! I just didn't even know about basting. I'm an absolute beginner so this video was gold. P. S Would love a video on projects you recommend for practising techniques on, especially historical projects.

Thank you for all of the tips and info!!! I’m a wee baby beginner with sewing and know nothing about what brands have quality products. I was frankly shocked to see that the Bohin needles are just as expensive as regular crappy needles from Jo Ann’s - I have zero excuses for my nasty needles now :P I also wouldn’t have known about Gutermann silk thread being kinda rough and meh. I don’t know anyone else that sews so the Internet has been my only resource. I’ve watched this video twice already and have a few websites bookmarked with some of the products. Thanks again, lovely!!!

OMG! The tip about keeping the tension and how to position the fabric is life changing. I’ll be rewatching and pausing and rewinding endlessly!!! Thanks a million!

I couldn’t believe the difference when I first tried Bohin sharps size 10 needles, instead of the random packs of crap. Now all my needles are Bohin, other than my clover sashiko needles.

Those cheap needles with raggedy edges around the hole, they cut your thread while you are trying to sew, and then you think that it's you who is not skilled. In sewing, weather it is hand or machine, quality is always important. Quality of needle, quality of fabric, quality of thread, quality of machine, etc.

I've been hand sewing for many years since I was 6 yes old before I saved up enough to buy my own sewing machine. My dad taught me a few basics on hand sewing & I self taught myself all these 5 tips you mentioned. Hand sewing was the only way I sewed anything since I was a child. I started making my own barbie clothes as a kid & used sewing with my multi media with my crafting & hemming my own clothes and fixing small snags & tears. I too am very picky with kind of needles & thread I use. I have my own fast sewing rhythm & a few other tricks up my sleeve. I had no idea my basic fast rhythm had a name. (basting) lol!! . You did a great job in explaining important hand sewing basics. Good to know I've been doing things right all these years. Not bad for a self taught child that I was. :)

This was a great video, and reminded me of something I learned from my mother. She would always get on me about how long my thread was. She always said to not make your sewing thread longer then the length of your forearm from fingertip to elbow. Only make the thread longer if you work from the middle of the thread going in both directions. Thank you for sharing your knowledge, it is amazing how much basic knowledge and skill has been lost when it comes to sewing.

As to the tips - I have a cool leather thimble a friend made for me. So that one aside, the one that "blew my mind" (so to speak) was the tip on sewing needles! I have been sewing for years - just now getting into hand sewing (love it) - but I did not know this about the needles... thank you!! Also the tip dealing with threads was very informative, including the part as to "why" you want to wax your linen thread. I appreciate how you clarified this for me. Oh, I promise to baste from now on, lesson learned 😁

100% agree with you about basting! I think of it as "Miracle Advanced Flexi-Pins!" (tm). (Dunno why, but giving it a fancy name makes me feel cool like I'm doing an infomercial.) Basting is ten times more secure than pins, stays out of the way of your sewing thread so you don't get hooked up/tangled, it is soft and won't poke you, it lets you try things on for fit without getting poked, it lets you bunch up your project into a carry basket without risk of things shifting out of place, and it doesn't risk sharp points falling onto the floor so you (or your child) can step on them later. I like to baste with a contrasting thread so it's easy to see and pull out later. I say that pins are to hold it while you baste. Basting is to hold it while you sew.

Fully confess to hating hand sewing. UNTIL watching the thimble vid. I’ve been sewing for 20 years using what my granny taught me (thank you, Nanny), but she only knew what she knew, and I’ve been too proud admit I knew even less. So, yeah... thimbles and needles and basting, oh my! what a difference those simple little things make. Thank you. Please keep sharing the useful, concise info with the highly entertaining delivery. 🥰

I will definitely have to revisit this video when I’ve finished scraping my brain back together, it’s been a long week for me. You are super helpful and much appreciated as I am in fact teaching myself to hand sew. Thank you for sharing!

Amazing tips! I have been pin-centric most of my life, but on my Ms.Frizzle dress I finally basted something and it went so much faster. Also, fully agree that modern needles are crap! But I have packets from the 50’s that were never used, so I am still set.

I just started hand-sewing something this is the exact perfect time for this to come out

A fellow Reno-ite! Thank you for making this video. I'm excited to start making things and start my historical costuming journey! I've been binging your channel lately, and it has gotten me seriously hyped -especially knowing that there are people in my community with a passion for historical dress like me.

When you realise how much you didn't know! I actually had never figured out the difference between betweens and sharps and embroidery needles. Thank you!!

In regard to thimbles- I got a metal thimble and it changed my life! Also, I’m currently trying out using two thimbles, with the additional thimble on my ring finger. I found it getting really sore from using it, especially when working with small/narrow pieces. I just use the crappy silicone thimble for my ring finger at the moment, and it seems to be working for me so far. Funny thing is forgetting that I’m wearing a thimble. I tend to do that a lot.

I don't see Nearly enough thread discourse and I'm here for it

Thank you so much! I've always wanted to learn sew well by hand. This is fabulous!

Got some sewing to do and I can't wait to handsew a hem. Love doing tiny tiny near invisible stitches.

It's like you knew I was currently hand sewing a entire garment for the first time!