Let's Get to Stitching

There are a good number of stitches, each with their various applications, be they for decorative purposes, to hold seams together or to finish hems so that the fabric does not fray easily. Here are a few of those most commonly used by YouCanDIYers:

Infographic containing various types of stitches categorized by their function
This infographic from Take Lessons categorizes stitches and illustrates the basic idea behind them, as well as providing applications for some

Practice certainly makes perfect with these stitches; perhaps try your hand at embroidering a patch that you could use on a garment of choice, and familiarize with the movements. Eventually you might just stumble upon a new pattern or combination. A whole garment can be hand-stitched as well; stitches can be combined to hasten this process, for example, starting off with running stitches, then occassionally using a backstitch to strengthen the seam (the point at which more than one piece of fabric are connected by stitches).

A hand-stitched purple flower design on a patch with the border still being stitched
A hand-stitched floral patch
Photo credits to The Spruce Crafts