Sewing

Sewing is the age old craft of fastening or attaching objects using stitches made with a needle and thread. Sewing is one of the oldest of the textile arts, arising in the Palaeolithic era. Before the invention of spinning yarn or weaving fabric, some archaeologists believe Stone Age people across Europe and Asia tried to sew fur and skin clothing using bone, antler or ivory needles and "thread" made of various animal body parts including catgut, and veins.

For thousands of years, all sewing was done by hand. The invention of the sewing machine in the 19th century and the rise of computerisation in the later 20th century led to mass production and export of sewn objects, but hand sewing is still practised around the world. Fine hand sewing is a characteristic of high-quality tailoring, haute couture fashion, and custom dressmaking, and is pursued by both textile artists and hobbyists as a means of creative expression.

The first known use of the word sewing was in the 14th century.