Basics: The Secret Overlock Stitch

The Secret Overlock Stitch

 

Seam finishing—do it right, and your garments will be one step closer to looking professionally sewn. It’s a vital step that, regrettably, is often overlooked. Most pattern directions don’t mention anything about it. Those that do, usually tell you to serge or zigzag the raw edges. The trouble is, not all dressmakers own a serger. And using a zigzag stitch to finish your seam allowances is almost worse than leaving them raw! (Not only does it look terrible, but it won’t do much to prevent your seams from fraying.)

Zigzagged Seam Allowance

Zigzagged Seam Allowance

 

There are several other types of seam finishes, including French seams, mock-French seams, and flat-felling. (For instructions, see: “Basics: Seven Seam Finishes.”) These can be time-consuming, however, and labor-intensive. For a quicker option, why not try overlocking your seam allowances?

Most sewing machines possess an overlock stitch, but not everyone realizes what it’s for. Until a couple of years ago, I thought you needed an industrial sewing machine to perform overlocking. I was thrilled to discover my mistake!

Overlock Stitch

Overlock Stitch

 

What is the Overlock Stitch?
The overlock stitch is a combination of a straight stitch and a zigzag. It sews backwards and forwards in a straight line, but between every set of straight stitches, it sews a zigzag. If done correctly, this resembles serging, which is how most store-bought clothes are sewn. Therefore, it lends a professional finish to your handmade garments.

Overlocking

Overlocked Seam Allowance

 

Overlock Presser Foot
While the overlock stitch can be sewn with a standard zigzag presser foot, it works best in conjunction with an overlock or overcast foot, which is specifically designed for this stitch.

Overlock Foot

Overlock Presser Foot

 

Why the special presser foot? An overlock foot has a guide bar that allows you to sew right up against the edge of the fabric, so the zigzag portion of the stitch swings off the fabric, enclosing the raw edge. This is what makes it look professionally sewn. Without the overlock food, your stitching will run parallel to the edge of the seam allowance—not enclosing it. You can cut the excess fabric off, but no matter how close you trim it, it won’t look the same as if you’d used an overlock foot.

Overlocking

Overlocking: With & Without Overlock Foot

 

Tips

  • Line up the edge of your fabric with the overlock foot’s guide bar and sew slowly, so you have more control.
  • If you’re sewing a curved seam, stop every few stitches to pivot slightly, realigning the edge of the fabric. It’ll take longer to complete your seam this way, but the results are worth it.
  • When you finish sewing, don’t pull the fabric to the left to cut it, as you’re probably used to doing. There’s a small bar on the underside of the overlock foot, which stabilizes the zigzag stitches. If you pull the fabric to the left, the last few stitches will catch on this bar, where they might get mutilated. Your fabric might even tear! Instead, pull the fabric toward the back of your sewing machine to free it. Then you can pull to the side and cut your threads, as usual.
  • It can be difficult to overlock lightweight fabrics, such as chiffon, batiste, voile, organza, and so forth. If your fabric is too thin, it’ll get pulled into the feed dogs, which will chew it up. Here’s one solution—instead of pressing the seam open and overlocking each seam allowance separately, overlock your seam allowances together, as one layer, and then press them to the side. Another remedy is to stabilize the fabric with spray starch alternative before sewing. Or you could use a stabilizing agent, like tissue paper, underneath the seam while you sew.
Open Seam Allowances

Open Seam Allowances

 

  • Overlocking is more visible than a normal straight seam, so pick a thread color that closely matches your fabric. If you’re working with a busy print, try to match the most prominent color. If you want a surprise pop of color, you can go with a coordinating or contrasting thread, but sew a sample first, just to be sure it comes out the way you want.
  • Ripping out an overlocked seam is no fun! Don’t overlock until you’re positive the seam won’t need to be adjusted. Likewise, don’t overlock a mockup’s seam allowances, since you’ll probably need to make fit alterations.
  • Trim your seam allowances before overlocking them. The industry standard for home sewing patterns is a 5/8-inch seam allowance, which is considerably wider than the default setting for an overlock stitch. For a more professional-looking seam, trim your seam allowances to ¼-inch, then overlock them.

I hope you’ll give the overlocking stitch a try. It definitely deserves more recognition than it gets!

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Looking for more sewing tips? Our Basics menu contains plenty of beginner-friendly articles! You might also find our Tutorials and Articles helpful.

14 Responses to Basics: The Secret Overlock Stitch

  1. Seth Hensley says:

    Awesome write-up! I’m relatively new to sewing and found this funky looking stitch in a book. Your guide really sells it! Now to find that special presser foot!

  2. Veronica says:

    Great instructions! Thank you. I do not have an overlock stitch choice on my machine (mine is a Singer 237 Fashionmate). Can I still do this on my current machine-sort of, with the special foot?
    Thanks! Just found your site. I am just new to sewing and trying to learn.

    • Sandy says:

      The secret is the presser foot. I have an old and very basic machine and found a shell tuck stitch that resembled the overlock stitches but missing the back stitches. After experimenting with the overlocking presser foot, I discovered you can make even a plain zigzag finish look very nice. Just be careful and use the hand wheel for the first couple of stitches to make sure your needle is missing the center bar of the presser foot. My narrowest zigzag stitch hits the bar.

  3. Zoe Reh says:

    I have not sewn for 57 years!! Now it’s my late InLife hobby and this article is a big help in finishing off the edge of facings.

  4. Helen says:

    I have been making curtains and soft furnishings for 20 years and struggled with a cheap overlocker as I couldn’t afford an industrial one. My overlocker is temperamental and threads would forever break if fabric too thick. To say its nearly been thrown out the window is an understatement. This article has been my life saver and (I know its sad) but has made my day. Ive found the stitch on my machine and have ordered the over edge foot. Am really excited to get going with this, my cushion covers will now look smarter than using the zig zag stitch which I had to revert to. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

  5. Susan Shapiro says:

    I’m overlocking a piece of flannel and Terry cloth together and am having difficulty finding the best settings for tension and stitch length. I’m new to sewing. Any helpful hints you can throw my way? Thanks!

  6. anni says:

    overlocking is the stitch wrapping around the fabric . this is overcasting.

  7. Pauline Smith says:

    Love your website and the information. I am a novice sewer and have a ‘very old’ metal machine which is called a ‘New Home’ and of which I believe is now part of Singer.. love the machine as it is good for a novice but I am about to embark on reupholstering 2 armchairs (new dog likes the arms!) and I was wondering how to make up the cushion covers if I didn’t have an overlocker….. now you have given me the information and I have ordered a universal overlock foot. Thank you

  8. Sandy says:

    This article was very helpful to me because of my very basic machine. Thank you!

  9. Kimmie says:

    I discovered the overlocking stitch on a tiktok video and have been trying to figure out whether or not my machine had it for like a week this Web page has been so helpful in helping me understand the stitch and I can’t wait to go home and try it. Thank you so much this article was very helpful

  10. Marie says:

    Using my new overlock foot for the first time, I was experimenting on different zigzags to use. Thankfully, I came across your site which gave me the answer. I would never have thought to use this stitch otherwise. Many thanks for your help.

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