.
Sometimes all it takes is a visual picture to understand what some of these sewing terms and words are.
Basting, stitch length, zig-zag, double needle…….do those words sound like crazy talk?
Yes? Well, let me explain. And then you won’t get nervous when seeing those words in the future.
.
First of all, a straight stitch and a zig-zag stitch are very common stitches on sewing machines. If you have a very basic machine (or sometimes an older ones), you may not have a zig-zag stitch. Or you may have a fancier machine with tons of other options and stitches. Those are exciting too.
First of all, a straight stitch and a zig-zag stitch are very common stitches on sewing machines. If you have a very basic machine (or sometimes an older ones), you may not have a zig-zag stitch. Or you may have a fancier machine with tons of other options and stitches. Those are exciting too.
But these two stitches are controlled by the stitch width and stitch length. You should have some sort of knobs or buttons on your sewing machine to control these 2 functions.
If you are using the straight stitch and adjust the stitch length, you will produce different looking stitches. The largest stitch length (shown on the left) is also called a basting stitch and can help you with temporarily holding fabrics in place or to use to gather fabric (gathering tutorial here). If you adjust the stitch width of the zig-zag stitch, you’ll get wider zig-zags…….and if you increase the length, you will increase the distance between each zig-zag.
Play around with some scrap fabric and adjust your settings. See what you can come up with.
Now, have you ever needed to sew two stitches right next to each other……and hate how your stitches aren’t perfectly straight?? Oh, you’re not sure you would ever need 2 stitches in a row? Well, if you look down at your clothing, you may see 2 stitches right next to each other. (Yes, the stitches below are done with a serger……but you can mimic the look with a double needle.)
Or maybe you are quilting, making a bag, or sewing some hot pads…..and would like 2 straight stitches next to each other. Well here’s how to do it. Easy, easy.
.
.
.
.
Now, let me explain something. I have had a double needle for a couple of years and rarely pull it out. You need (or so I thought) 2 mini spools of thread to fit on the top of your sewing machine, to thread into the 2 needles…..and I rarely have 2 of the same color……..especially in the color I need. And I always grumble while sewing 2 seams next to each other, wishing I was using my double needle. The other day, someone commented about using a double needle for something and I laughed it off, knowing I didn’t have enough spools in the correct color. And then I realized I could just load up a bobbin and use it as a spool of thread. Oh, that seemed obvious? Oops, it took me a while. Dang.
So after 2 years of loving my double needle but rarely being prepared……..my double needle and I are now great friends. I love those 2 straight lines.
To begin, you need to purchase a double needle for a few dollars. There are different sizes, and that just means the distance between the 2 needles. I use a 4.0 size needle. Works great for me. (Make sure that whatever size you get isn’t too wide for the opening in your plate. You can’t go any wider than your max zig-zag stitch.)
See how the top post of the needle is just like your regular needle? Take out your single needle and slide in the double needle. Secure it in place. You don’t need a special machine to use the double needle.
Then, purchase 2 mini spools of thread or 1 spool and load up a bobbin. Put both spools where you would place your single spool of thread.
(UPDATE: Some of you have had troubles loading the two colors on one pole because of twisting and tangling. If that’s the case, try separating the two spools more and take a look at this updated tutorial.)
Now, grab your two thread ends and begin winding them through your machine, as if it were one thread.
Then at the end, separate your threads……..
……..and thread each end through a needle.
Then begin stitching with your straight stitch, just like normal. You can adjust the stitch length (just like explained above), to help with your different projects. You can also backstitch, just like normal.
When done, you have a perfectly straight set of lines.
Aren’t they lovely?
And because of that zig-zag in the back, it helps while sewing with knits. I tend to increase my stitch length just a bit, just so it doesn’t pull so much and can skip over more of the knit fabric in one stitch. Looks great as the hem of those knit projects.
And again, from the back.
And just so you can see, the double needle stitch allows for a bit of stretch.
(Animated image tutorial here.)
Isn’t that double needle fantastic?
I will be using my double needle more often……now that I realized that there is a solution to my lack of thread spools in the same color. Yay.
Now hurry to the store and pick one up.
UPDATE: And again, here’s another updated tutorial with a few more helps.
Thanks for checking out my Sewing Tips: Basic Stitches (plus the Double Needle) post. Check out my full collection of DIY Sewing articles. Find even more sewing projects, patterns, and tips for beginners and advanced sewists by Liz Call, Mariah Leeson, Randi Dukes and Tauni Everett.
Je n'ai jamais essayé de me servir de cette bête mais après avoir vu tes explications je sens que je vais me lancer!
Grand merci
This was EXACTLY what I needed! I have been needing to do some hemming and this double needle sounds perfect!! Thanks for sharing!!
that is awesome! I will have to try it out!
It's a wonderful blog.
Congratulations!
www.atelierartedecor.blogspot.com
Wow thankyou, after all these years of sewing I never knew that about the double needle, I am going to blog about this and link back to your post :) thankyou so much!!!
I absolutely LOVE my double needle! One thing to keep in mind, not everybody's machines will load both spools (or bobbin & spool) like yours. Mine has a separate attachment that sticks in a hole on top of my machine for the second spool.
Some machines also have to be threaded separate, like my Bernina I have to thread one thread on either side of step 2 (I think) when you bring the thread to the front there is a disc and a thread goes on either side of it.
It's posts like this that make me realize why I LOVE LOVE LOVE your blog. You're genious.
wow, i am so excited to go to the store to buy myself a double needle! yay!! i've mimicked double seams for so long now and i did not know there was an easier way. thank you soooooooooo much!!! yay!!!
GENIUS! I'll be getting one of these babies. I'm picking up my serger soon, so… more tute's on those little jewels would be AWESOME! Best. Blog. Ever.
Thanks so much for this info! I had no idea it was so easy :) Just saying double needle intimidated me…haha! I will have to get one the next time I'm at the store and whip up some great knit stuff!!
Holy MOLY!! I have been hankering for a double needle for some time now but really unsure of how to use it properly. I really, really want to double stitch on some of the clothing I make for my children. Thankk youuu (feeling all empowered and stuff)
I have never loved you as much as I love you right now. I realize you don't actually know me, but I check your blog every day. (And I promise I am not a scary stalker type.) I have been sewing for years and just kept winging it with all the BASICS you explained since I am totally self taught. THANK YOU!! I feel like less of an idiot now. Again, LOVE you!! :)
Katiemusic@bellsouth.net in NW Georgia
thanks! ive been trying to come up with a good way to hem knits that looked nice- and i think a double needle is the least expensive option ive seen! and super easy! thank you! :)
I think I love you. You just opened up a whole new world of sewing for me!!!
Thanks for sharing! I had never tried to backstitch with the double needle because I was in fear of breaking it! I would always just loop around and sew on top of the first few stitches. Thanks for the tip!
(Love your blog in general, though – I must say your Almost Too Much Chocolate Cake has been done twice and is a m a z i n g. x)
Oh stop showing off…. all I have is an ancient machine that still goes forward and backwards and has one zigzag button. =0o
Thank you thank you!! I have been afraid of my double needle because I've never seen anyone use one but now I'm excited to use it on my knit projects! You are fabulous. Thanks for sharing your talents!!
Thank you! I have used a double needle a lot. My old machine had a separate place for the second spool of thread but I have always had trouble with my new machine. I couldn't figure out where to put the extra thread. Now I feel a little silly, but mostly happy that I won't have to fight my machine next time I used a double needle.
Excellent tutorial, thank you! I am trying to get better with sewing knits.
p.s. your animated photo was messing with my head for a second.:)
So informative!
I'm just begining to sew and your tips are so helpful.
Thank you
I just want to say that I was lucky enough to have Kristen Duke photograph my wedding and the pictures are fantastic!
oh thank you! thank you! thank you!!!!!!
WOW that looks so awesome! Gonna have to get one now… :)
Wow serious this just revolutionized my sewing. I've been wanting to use mine since we moved overseas but I always buy my thread from random places and never remember to get two of the same color and welp nothing is coded here. I'm so breaking out the double needle this weekend. Thanks for sharing.
You are awesome! Thank you! :)
i think it'd be super fun for you to do a post about the making of a post. you know… how you take the pics and stuff (a pic of you taking a pic just sounds like fun to me) :)
This blog rocks! Loved the tutorial, teaching my daughter to sew over the summer and got some great ideas. I've never used a double needle, and would never have tried b/c of the thread issue…thanks!!!
so simple (and obvious! LOL never thought of it!) but so awesome.
Zaira @ Living, Loving, Learning Naturally
Thanks for demystifying the double needle! It's now on my to-buy list. :)
I just checked, and a double needle came in the little "pack" of tools that came with my machine. I had no idea! Other's might realize they have had one all along too!
Thanks for a great tutorial…I would have never dared to try this out before!
Oh my gosh!! I have been sewing almost my whole life and never knew there was such a thing! I have been wanting a serger or a more advanced machine for years, but with this nifty little tool, I can do so much more, more easily! Thank you!
So helpful! Thank you!
I had no idea about the double needle! Love it! Can't wait to try it out! Thanks!
Wow, that was easy, wasn't it? I just hemmed a new top for my daughter yesterday and was SO mad at the wonky lines! :-) Thanks so much for sharing your know-how!
so simple, thank you!
I have always been stumped on how to thread 2 threads through one machine – – this is like a new revelation, just thread them as if they're one – – I think I just stepped into a whole new sewing world….
You are an angel! What perfect timing! I just bought 6 different knit fabrics to make some flowy dresses for my daughter and myself for summer. I have a serger for seams, but those hems have been making me nervous! I've never learned how to use a double needle, and now I feel dumb because it is apparently so easy! Thanks so much for the tips!
My sewing machine came with a double needle and had no idea what I would use it for, and was a little intimidate by it. No problem now! Your tutorials are great.
Oh my gosh, that is a really good trick. Now to see if my cheap-o Brother machine will make such nice lines …
Thanks for the tips. I have never tried my double needle… just intimidated by it. I'll have to dig it out now and see what I can do.
Great post! I've seen the double needle in my bag of goodies a few times, but it's kind of intimidating looking!
amazing… I never even heard of a double needle. Will it work with all machines, like should my machine actually say "double needle"? I just don't understand how a straight stitch will allow the bottom bobbin thread to connect to both needles on the top…..
seriously, this may have been obvious for other sewists – but this just rocked my world. Thank you for the tip!
Thank you so much for your sewing tips!! I have referenced your blog many times in my sewing adventures. And I have GOT to try this double needle thing! So awesome!!!
Maybe in the future you could do some sewing tips with different sewing machine feet. There are so many out there and I don't know what half of them are used for!!
Thanks Ashley! You are amazing!
I totally want a double needle now. I didn't even know they existed!
I didn’t know they existed till this blog. I just got one today (hard to find around here) and am anxious to try it out.
I love my double needle! I only thought of using a bobbin a few weeks ago when I accidently bought the wrong kind for my machine and I was trying to figure out what to do with them. They work perfect and I use it ALL the time to trim up my blankets, bibs, car seat covers and nursing covers…makes them look quite sharp when finished.
Thank you! I find your sewing tips along with the pictures so helpful. I recently got a serger and have been looking back at that post. Thanks for teaching me :)
Thanks for the redirect from your site Crystal! This tutorial is exactly what I needed!! I didn’t realise my old machine could do it!