What better time for hand sewing revelations than now when my sewing machine is in service? *sigh* I have been thinking about this for some time - one type of hand stitch that comes in handy in so many situations! I'll point out the ones I thought about, new ideas are welcome! Known as the "blanket stitch" it can back up your sewing machine in some situations or even go where no sewing machine has gone before!!!! First this is how it's done: I prefer to stitch right to left. Bring the thread to front at desired distance from the edge ( about 2 mm for buttonholes, 4-5 mm for serging). Take the thread over the edge of the cloth and pull the needle back to front through the same point. Make a loop around this thread segment at the cloth edge level. At some distance from the first "entry point" (3-4 mm for serging) and at the same distance from the edge thrust the needle from front to back and pull the needle through the loop formed by the remaining thread....