Uploaded November 2018 | Updated September 2026, 17 hours ago
Listen to the full episode here::
sewhere.com/podcast/sewing-out-loud/41910
Zede and Mallory are passionate about all things serger and that includes coverstitching. In fact the 3rd or 4th ZigZag member live broadcast was all about coverstitching and it has seemed to help a lot of stitchers. It’s an archived video so if you go to sewhere.com/zigzag you will get to see it.
What is a coverstitch?
Zede says it’s a stitch that involves more than one needle, usually two. There are machines that can do a triple stitch as well. The top threads are needle threads and the lower thread is a looper. The looper takes thread back and forth between the loops of the needle threads coming down from the mechanism. This looper thread makes a serpentine shape.
A coverstitch is more similar to a serger or overlock stitch than it is to your lock stitch made on your sewing machine. It is not a locked stitch. You might find this stitch on the bottom of t-shirts and hems on knit garments. Coverstitching is most commonly used for knit hems. The coverstitch is coming into the view of the home sew more and more because knits are worn more and knit fabric is more available.
Mal remembers first starting out at the shop (about 14 years ago) and being like “eh coverstitch, I don’t know if I need this”.
People are more excited about garment sewing and less afraid of knits. There are more knits on the market and people are wanting to get that ready to wear look at home. The coverstitch is not a stable stitch so it will stretch. This is important for knit hems like on leggings were you need those stitches to stretch and not pop.
Zede says when she hems knits on her conventional sewing machine she uses a zigzag to topstitch it or a stretch stitch. A twin needle can also be used to make a mock overstitch look. Using a twin needle would be the closest to the coverstitch a sewing machine can get. The bobbin thread zigzags between the two needle threads giving some stretch.
Mallory and Zede notes that this is a functional mock stitch and not just for decoration. This stitch will provide some stretch. You can get just the mock look of the overstitch by sewing two parallel straight lines of sewing but there will be no stretch because they are secured straight stitches.
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This weeks Podcast is brought to you by:
My Girlfriend’s Quilt Shop
You know we love the quality of baby lock sewing machines and now their Genuine Collection sewing machines are available for purchase online. That s right, no matter where you are located Babylock quality is at your fingertips. The perfect gift for the maker in your life, the Genuine Collection includes an affordable range of machines that are great for travel or for the creative person who wants to explore sewing. Machines start at just $150 and ship for free. Listeners of Sewing Out Loud will receive a $25 online gift card To My Girlfriend’s Quilt Shoppe with the purchase of a Genuine Collection machine. Use it on sewing supplies, patterns, and notions for yourself or someone you love. Visit mygirlfriendsquiltshoppe.com/podcast to browse the Genuine Collection. And even if you don t need a machine, get a free pattern for a fabulous zippered pouch when you visit mygirlfriendsquiltshoppe.com/podcast.
*************************************************************
The post Coverstitching appeared first on sewhere.com .
Listen to the full episode here::
sewhere.com/podcast/sewing-out-loud/41910
Zede and Mallory are passionate about all things serger and that includes coverstitching. In fact the 3rd or 4th ZigZag member live broadcast was all about coverstitching and it has seemed to help a lot of stitchers. It’s an archived video so if you go to sewhere.com/zigzag you will get to see it.
What is a coverstitch?
Zede says it’s a stitch that involves more than one needle, usually two. There are machines that can do a triple stitch as well. The top threads are needle threads and the lower thread is a looper. The looper takes thread back and forth between the loops of the needle threads coming down from the mechanism. This looper thread makes a serpentine shape.
A coverstitch is more similar to a serger or overlock stitch than it is to your lock stitch made on your sewing machine. It is not a locked stitch. You might find this stitch on the bottom of t-shirts and hems on knit garments. Coverstitching is most commonly used for knit hems. The coverstitch is coming into the view of the home sew more and more because knits are worn more and knit fabric is more available.
Mal remembers first starting out at the shop (about 14 years ago) and being like “eh coverstitch, I don’t know if I need this”.
People are more excited about garment sewing and less afraid of knits. There are more knits on the market and people are wanting to get that ready to wear look at home. The coverstitch is not a stable stitch so it will stretch. This is important for knit hems like on leggings were you need those stitches to stretch and not pop.
Zede says when she hems knits on her conventional sewing machine she uses a zigzag to topstitch it or a stretch stitch. A twin needle can also be used to make a mock overstitch look. Using a twin needle would be the closest to the coverstitch a sewing machine can get. The bobbin thread zigzags between the two needle threads giving some stretch.
Mallory and Zede notes that this is a functional mock stitch and not just for decoration. This stitch will provide some stretch. You can get just the mock look of the overstitch by sewing two parallel straight lines of sewing but there will be no stretch because they are secured straight stitches.
**********************************************************************
This weeks Podcast is brought to you by:
My Girlfriend’s Quilt Shop
You know we love the quality of baby lock sewing machines and now their Genuine Collection sewing machines are available for purchase online. That s right, no matter where you are located Babylock quality is at your fingertips. The perfect gift for the maker in your life, the Genuine Collection includes an affordable range of machines that are great for travel or for the creative person who wants to explore sewing. Machines start at just $150 and ship for free. Listeners of Sewing Out Loud will receive a $25 online gift card To My Girlfriend’s Quilt Shoppe with the purchase of a Genuine Collection machine. Use it on sewing supplies, patterns, and notions for yourself or someone you love. Visit mygirlfriendsquiltshoppe.com/podcast to browse the Genuine Collection. And even if you don t need a machine, get a free pattern for a fabulous zippered pouch when you visit mygirlfriendsquiltshoppe.com/podcast.
*************************************************************
The post Coverstitching appeared first on sewhere.com .
