Hand sewing vs machine sewing, which is better? We’ll answer it for you in this article!
Machine Sewing
While the fundamentals of, machine and hand sewing are the same, both require a needle and thread. However, machine sewing has significant differences.
For starters, there are two threads used in machine sewing: a top thread from a spool and a bottom thread from the bobbin. Some sewing machines include a needle threader, whereas others require hand threading.
Machine needles are not the same as hand sewing needles, and some machines require specific needles to link to the mechanism.
Benefits of Machine Sewing
1. Time saving
Stitching by machine, without a doubt, takes far less time than sewing by hand. Machine sewed seams can be finished in a matter of seconds.
2. Convenient
Once you’ve mastered the basics of using your sewing machine, such as threading the bobbin and using the presser foot, machine stitching is incredibly convenient and a fantastic technique to finish projects of all sizes. You just must first master the setup.
3. Professional
With stitch length and width, sewing machines provide a level of professionalism that is difficult to reach when sewing by hand. A straight lockstitch, for example, is the most common mechanical stitch that can only be done on a machine.
While hand sewing may be preferable for small, precise jobs such as buttons, machine sewing will ensure the most precise straight line imaginable.
Disadvantages of Machine Sewing
1. Expensive
New sewing machines can be rather costly, while there are also lower-cost, lower-quality models available. A serger, a machine that generates locking stitches to complete seams and fabric edges, can add to the cost for more advanced and professional sewers.
2. Difficult to learn
Learning how to use your sewing machine can take some time. It takes some work to master machine sewing techniques, from trying out different stitches to threading the machine and learning to manage both the spool and the bobbin thread.
Taking a lesson or having a friend or family member show you the ropes is a fantastic option!
3. Limited control
While you can create professional-looking stitches using a machine, controlling your stitch placement can be a little more challenging.
Advanced sewers who have worked with their machine for years have unquestionably more control than beginners, but mastery on a sewing machine often requires a lot of effort.
Which Projects Are Suited for Machine Sewing?
- Garment sewing: Sewing machines allow you to use the zigzag stitch to finish off seams and a neat straight stitch to offer your item the greatest appearance.
- Quilting: In quilting, seam allowances, or the distance between the seam and the fabric’s raw edge, are critical because all of your patchwork triangles and squares will line up correctly with a constant seam allowance.
- Buttonholes sewing: Because of the precision, small size, and exactness of the stitches necessary, sewing a buttonhole by hand is an unnecessarily tough task. Buttonholes made using sewing machines, on the other hand, are neat and precise when calibrated properly.
Hand Sewing
It’s an excellent option for accurate and artistic stitches!
Benefits of Hand Sewing?
1. Beginner-friendly
All you need is a single thread and a needle to sew by hand. It requires no advanced technology, expensive machinery, or specialized knowledge. It’s an excellent way for beginners to learn about stitch building while sewing.
While there are more sophisticated by-hand stitches, all a simple running stitch requires is threading the needle and tying a knot at the end.
2. Portable
If you’re traveling or just want to get a few extra stitches in on your morning commute, you can carry your sewing with you for many hand-sewing tasks. It’s practically difficult to carry your sewing machine. But, hand-sewing crafts, such as embroidery, can be carried.
3. Accurate
Because hand sewing provides you the most control, it’s ideal for little projects, decorations, and repairs. You have complete control over where the stitches travel, how long they are, and how you wish to attach the fabric.
You can also use various hand stitches, ranging from whipstitch diagonal stitches to the ornamental edge stitch blanket stitch.
4. Therapeutic
Taking up a needle and thread and sewing by hand has a peaceful and contemplative quality to it.
Disadvantages of Hand Sewing
1. Inconsistent
There’s no way to make hand threads of the same length or space apart, and while hand sewing can often provide better precision, the stitch precision will never match that of a machine-sewn product.
2. Time-consuming
Hand sewing takes a long time. When done by hand, what takes a minute on a sewing machine can take hours.
Which Projects Are Suited for Hand Sewing?
- Repairs: Sewing by hand gives you a lot of control, so it’s the way to go if you need to fix a little rip or reattach a button.
- Cross-stitch and embroidery: Back stitch, whip stitch and chain stitch are decorative stitches that can only be done by hand. While many sewing machines include embroidery abilities, many sewing enthusiasts enjoy doing needlework by hand and love the fun that comes with it. You can enjoy a cup of tea while working on a hand-sewn embroidered project.
- Patching: Whether you’re replacing a patch on your backpack or trousers or putting a decorative appliqué, hand stitching is the ideal alternative because it gives you the most control over how the item is attached.
- Invisible sewing: Putting by hand can help you produce the most flawless and invisible stitches, whether you’re attaching a lining, sewing on a quilt binding, or just hemming.
- Fixing zippers and buttons: While machine sewing is required for buttonholes, buttons are typically added by hand because it’s simpler. Using a special foot piston, you can sew zippers on a machine, but hand-sewing ensures that the zipper is positioned precisely and that the seam is concealed.
- Fabric basting: It’s the process of temporarily adhering two fabric parts. While a basting sew can be performed on the machine by extending the thread length, a simple continuous stitch can simply baste pieces of cloth together when done by hand.
Verdict
There’s no specific answer to, ‘which is better between hand sewing vs machine sewing?’ According to experts, both skills are vital.
Hand sewing may definitely suffice if you don’t plan to sew extensively but want to learn basic sewing for clothes maintenance and modest projects. However, if you need more than that, you should consider investing in a dependable sewing machine!
