Last updated on March 18th, 2020 at 06:17 pm
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Look into your sewing machine manual, which of the stitches can you boast of knowing? You may be like everyone who are limited to the few ones they use on a daily basis.
If you own a Singer 9980 with over 800 stitches, you sure understand what I meant.
Perhaps you just need to check what you can do with a stitch. You’ll always wonder what the uses of these bunch of stitches on my sewing machine are.
Turns out that some you could easily use and save yourself some stress
I’ve put together the most comprehensive sewing stitch list you can find and would keep updating them.
Here are 75 sewing machine stitches, their function, how they look like and what you can do with them.
Sewing Machine Basic Stitches
Even if you don’t intend becoming an expert in the art of sewing, knowing these basic stitches is nonetheless essential.
They are important to the craft as most sewing task is repeatedly done with these stitches.
S/N Stitch Name Stitch Image Application 1. Straight Stitch All general sewing and topstitching. It can also be categorized for hand sewing machine. 2. Zig Zag Stitch Finishing edges, satin stitching, stretch seam, and appliqueing 3 Triple Stretch Stitch Reinforcement of seams in stretchy and non-stretchy fabric 4. Lock-a-Matic/Tacking Stitch This knot your sewing at the beginning and the end. No need for backstitching 5. Locking Stitch Invisible knotting at the beginning and the end of sewing. 6. Multiple Zig Zag Stitch Multiple short stitches for overcasting, tears mending, sewing toweling, patching and attaching elastics 7. Overcasting Stitch Finishing of an edge 8. Knit Stitch Sewing knits and stretchy fabrics. Sews along the edge of the fabrics with ample allowance 9. Blind Hem Stretch Stitch Sewing of blind hem on stretchy fabrics 10. Blind Hem Stitch Sewing blind hem on medium weight fabrics 11. Honeycomb Stitch Smocking, overcasting and attaching elastic to fabric. 12. Blind Hem Stitch Sewing of hems on stretchy fabrics 13. Arrowhead Stitch Finishing of seams, pleats and pockets. creation of decorative borders. 14 Shell or Lingerie Stitch Shell pattern for overcasting soft fabrics in one step. 15. Feather Stitch Topstitching and attaching lace to lingerie. 16. Four-Point Lingerie Stitch Overcasting on knitted and stretchy fabric. 17. Curve Mending Stitch Utilized for overcasting, patching, mending tears, flat elastic and reinforcement of bulk. 18. Darning Stitch Automatic darning and repair of holes. 19 Hand-Run Stitch Using of invisible thread and increase the thread tension.
Buttonhole Stitches
Aside the utility stitches, buttonhole stitches are considered more likely to be used in most sewing tasks. Basically, buttonhole stitches are meants to secure the edges of the buttonhole due to the knots it makes.
S/N Stitch Name Stitch Image Application 20. Automatic Buttonhole Creating the buttonhole based on the side of the button 21. Sensor Buttonhole By placing the button inside a special foot, the buttonhole is created. 22. Keyhole Buttonhole Stitch Creating buttonhole on lightweight and delicate fabrics 23. Dress Size Round End Buttonhole Creating of Buttonhole on dresses. 24. Shirt Size Round End Buttonhole Creating of buttonhole on shirt. Suitable for medium weight fabrics 25. Rounded Keyhole Buttonhole Creating buttonholes on medium and heavy weight fabrics. Ideal for large buttons 26. Knit Buttonhole Making buttonholes on knitted fabrics 27. Stretch Buttonhole Creating buttonholes on stretchy fabrics 28. Eyelet Creating eyelet holes 29. Button Sewing Stitch Sewing of button into place 30. Tracking Stitch Reinforcing plate where extra strength is required such as pocket and crotches 31. Darning Stitch Repairing of holes and rips 32. Bartack Stitch Repairing of holes and rips on medium weight fabrics
Edge Stitches
These types of stitches are important when you are going to stitch more than one piece together at the edge. More often edge stitches disappear into the seam, being not always visible.
S/N Stitch Name Stitch Image Application 31. Saddle Stitch Sewing the edges of leather 32. Overlock Stitch Create a professional looking finishing similar to a serger 33. Double Overedge Stitch Finishing of edges of fabrics that frays 34. Applique Stitch Attaching of fringes, edgings, couching and applique 35. Shell Tuck Stitch Decorative Edging Stitch 36. Ariel Stitch Edge to edge joining 37. Double Edge Stitch Attaching of elastic to lingerie, couching over narrow ribbon, and yarning. 38. Ric-Rac Stitch Fast finishing of raw edges and a one-step decorative stitch 39 Strong Overlocking Stitch Simultaneous seaming and neatening of fabrics. 40. Ladder Stitch Creating channels for elastics and ribbon.
Satin Stitches (Demask Stitch)
Satin Stitches provides finesse to your sewing. Basically, satin stitches are used in filling or covering a section of a fabric. In a way you can say its also a decoration stitch.
Here are quite a bunch of satin stitches for your sewing task:
S/N Stitch Name Stitch Image Application 41. Crescent Satin Stitch For decoration 42. Half Arrowhead Satin Stitch Decorative purposes 43. Ribbon Satin Stitch Decorative Purposes 44. Wave Satin Stitch Decorative Stitch 45. Walls of Troy Decorative Stitch 46. Domino Satin Stitch Decorative Stitch 47. Bead Satin Stitch Decorative Stitch 48. Tent Satin Stitch Decorative Stitch 49. Sunburst Satin Stitch Decorative Purpose 50. Droplet Satin Stitch Decorative Stitch 51. Royal Stitch Decorative Purpose 52. Solid Scallop Stitch Decorative and Edge stitching 53. Diamond Stitch Decorative Stitch 54. Starburst Stitch Decorative and Border Purposes 55. Honeycomb Stitch
Cross Stitches
A cross stitch is made up of two half stitches, this results into outlining designs and making specific shapes. Majorly, cross stitches are also intended for decorative purposes.
S/N Stitch Name Stitch Image Application 56. Excalibur Dense Stitch Decorative Purposes 57. Argyle Stitch Used in heirloom sewing for decorative trim
Decorative Stitches
Decorative stitches are often confused with embroidery stitches. However, decorative stitches are sewn just like utility stitches. What makes them different is their length and width which is not like regular stitches
S/N Stitch Name Stitch Image Application 59. Arch Stitch Decorative Purposes 60. Random Zig Zag Sewing elastic seams on heavy fabrics. 61. Faggoting Stitch Decorative stitch for sleeves, front of dresses and blouses. Also used in attaching two fabrics together leaving space in between. 62. Chevron Decorative Purposes 63. Castle Stitch Decorative Stitch 64. Block Stitch Decorative Stitch 65. Kite Stitching Decorative Purposes 66. Key Stitching Decorative Purpose 67. Icicle Stitching Decorative Stitching 68. Herringbone Stitch Decorative Stitching 69. Half Arrowhead Decorative Stitch 70. Fishbone Stitch Decorative Stitch 71. Lightening Stitch Inserting patches and decorative embroidery. 72. Rampart Seam Overlapping seams and decorative borders. 73. Domino Stitch Decorative Purposes 74. Diamond Stitch Decorative Stitch 75. Crown Stitch Decorative Stitch 76. Asterisk Stitch Decorative Stitch 77 Serpentine Stitch Decorative Purposes and attachment of elastics 78 Tracking stitch The Tracking Stitch is long stitch that that connect bands of single fabric
Conclusion
Just like every other sewing enthusiast, there will be numerous stitches on your sewing machine. There’s a likelihood that you won’t understand a large percentage of these stitches.
Let’s hope this guide had helped discover the use of these stitches on your sewing machines.
This list is no where exhaustive. I’ll keep updating it. (if you find any error or issues with the stitches let me know!)
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