Sewing originated in the Stone Age using bone needles and thread from animal parts. It has evolved over thousands of years from exclusively hand sewing to the invention of the sewing machine in the 19th century. While modern machines are prevalent, hand sewing still provides high quality finishes and is used in tailoring, couture fashion, and artisanal work. The document describes various hand stitches like running stitch, backstitch, and slip stitch used for hemming, as well as sewing machine stitches including straight stitch, zigzag, and blind hem stitch. It provides instructions for finishing techniques like applying bias tape and topstitching.