Thursday, October 17, 2013

Tips & Tricks: Sewer or Stabber?

Do you sew or stab?

We were recently asked an interesting question about whether more embroiderers are stitchers who sew or stitchers who stab? As my little running stitch example above illustrates, most embroidery stitches can be made by either: sewing across the fabric (as seen on the left above), or stabbing your needle down into the fabric and then back up through it again (on the right).

So we're curious: are you a sewer or a stabber? We've polled the &Stitches team and we are mostly stabbers, though different stitches do sometimes dictate the style. Share your preference in the comments and tell us why your method works best!

27 comments:

  1. Stab usually, and certainly in a hoop or frame as, in order to keep the fabric taut, you really can't sew very comfortably.=)

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  2. I'm totally a stabber and only realised recently that you could sew (doh!)! I sew when I quilt (for speed mostly) but stab when I embroider. I think it's neater and more accurate that way and I agree with Elizabeth. Good question!

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  3. If I could get even stitches I'd be a stabber ~ seems lots faster than the sewing ~ I'd be a sewer!

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  4. Pretty much a stabber here unless I'm do bullions or other Brazilian type work.

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  5. I mostly stab, though sometimes I sew - my grandma makes fun of me for stabbing when I stitch, though. I think I get neater stitches when I stab, though, so I'll keep up with it probably.

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  6. stabber, especially in a hoop. no hoop, sewer. but I soooo prefer hooped

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  7. I think I sew for the most part. My stitches are more even that way. And I do use a hoop

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  8. I find it easier to keep my stitches even and accurate by stabbing. So... I'm a stabber.

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  9. I'm a stabber. And always in a hoop.

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  10. Stabber. I actually didn't know there was another way until recently. I even sew as a stabber. I actually decided it was easier to reverse chain stitch than running stitch tight enough for hand sewing. (Which mostly is because I can't get the hang of "sewing" instead of "stabbing")

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  11. Stabby stab stab. I've tried sewing when using a hoop, but I just can't get the hang of it!

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  12. Same as the majority here. Stabber. Never could get the hang of the sewing method while using tightly hooped fabric.

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  13. I'm a stabber. I'm particular about how stitches turn out. I'm not a confident embroiderist sewing style.

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  14. i both sew and stab depending on what i am doing,

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  15. I am a stabber, but that's really because of how taut the fabric is in the hoop.

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  16. Stabber in a hoop, when embroidering in the hand. Naturally!

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  17. I am most certainly mostly a stabber, but I do stitch every now and then. xo

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  18. Stabber unless I am doing Sashiko or a stitch that requires sewing.

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  19. I mostly stab unless I'm doing running stitches.

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  20. I'm a stabber when I embroider - a sewer when I'm quilting. I think the stabbing gives me more accurate stitches.

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  21. I'm a stabber, for sure. Sometimes I try sewing, but stabbing is so much easier and more controlled for me. I always use a hoop.

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  22. Stabbed because of the hoop. But no hoop with handquilting, so sewer then.

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