Unit 3 | Tools and equipment 1

UNDERSTANDING SEWING MACHINE STITCHES

Here is a brief summary of the most common ma- can happen if the zigzag stitch used is wider than a
chine stitches and their uses. conventional zigzag stitch.

Straight stitch Blind hem and stretch blind hem

As the name suggests, this stitch simply goes in a straight Blind hem is used for hemming woven fabrics.This
line. It’s the simplest and most commonly used stitch. stitch is practically invisible from the right side. A
The standard stitch will be aligned in the centre of stretch blind hem is similar, but it is used on knitted
the sewing machine foot. A variation of this stitch is fabrics.
a setting to align the stitch far to the left of the foot -
this will allow you to stitch very closely to the edge Overlock
of a piece of fabric.
This stitch is used to both join and finish two pieces
of fabric, preventing fraying.
Zigzag stitch
The name is self-explanatory. The needle moves Decorative stitches
from side to side as the fabric moves forward. Both All machines come with a vast array of decorative
the width and length of the stitch can be adjusted. stitches, which can be used to add some excitement
A zigzag stitch is often used for making buttonholes to a garment.
and stitching around an appliquè.

Three-step zigzag stitch edge: border

bunch up: to move into tight folds
GLOSSARY
*
This can be used when a wider zigzag stitch is need- fray: to unravel or become worn at the edge
ed - it prevents the fabric from bunching up, which

1 Choose the right meaning. Your answers must be related to the content of the text.
1 Adjust means 2 Hem means 3 Finish means 4 Fray means
a. regolare a. circondare a. concludere a. sfilare
b. ritoccare b. fare l’orlo b. ritoccare b. sfilacciare
c. fissare c. cucire c. rifinire c. tagliare

2 Give opposites for each of the following adjectives from the text.
1 straight ..................................................................................................... 4 invisible . ........................................................................................................
2 wide ............................................................................................................ 5 right .................................................................................................................
3 conventional ......................................................................................... 6 similar . ...........................................................................................................

3 Complete the sentences below with some of the sewing machine stitches mentioned in the text.
1 ............................................... is designed to hem woven fabrics so that the stitches are almost invisible when looked at from
the right side of the garment.
2 ............................................... is the most commonly used stitch.

3 ............................................... is used to produce neat, durable seams and prevent the edges of woven fabric from fraying.

4 ............................................... are referred to as ‘embroidery stitches’. Some modern sewing machines have hundreds of them.

5 ............................................... it is similar to a continuous row of the letter W. It is great for stretch fabrics, finishing edges

and attaching elastic.

P. Gherardelli, E.W. Harrison, In Style, © Ulrico Hoepli Editore S.p.A. 2018