USEFUL

STITCHES, SEAMS,
AND SEAM
FINISHES
 Hand stitching is an essential part of
home projects. For example, in curtain
making, hand stitching ensures a good
drape and a good fit.
There are different kinds of stitches,
seams, and seam finishes. Why is it
important to use appropriate stitches,
seams, and seam finishes
for home products?
 USEFUL STITCHES
What stitches and seam finishes are
used in making home textile products?
Remember the quality of the product
will depend on how the stitches are
done. The cost of the finished products
will depend on the quality of the
materials and stitches applied.
Observe beauty and neatness in making
hand or machine stitches.
The stitches are classified into two,
plain and decorative. Plain stitches are
used to join together two pieces of
fabrics while decorative stitches are
applied for ornamentation.
 PLAIN
Here are some plain stitches used for
STITCHES
household linens, soft furnishings, and
pajamas.
 1
A running stitch is used to hold a
seam and the edge of the fabric. Hold
the needle and let it pass over and
under the fabric. Make the upper
stitches of equal length. The under
stitches are half the length of the upper
stitches.
 2
A back stitch is used as a substitute
for machine stitching. Hold the needle,
bring thread through the fabric, taking
a regular stitch. Then take a small
backward stitch through along the line.
Bring the needle through again, a little
in front of the first stitch. Take another
stitch inserting the needle at the point
 3
A catch stitch is used to hold hems
and to hold pleats in linings It helps
fasten fabrics such as wool and velvet
in place. Make a short stitch on the
fabric just below the hem. Take the
next stitch parallel to the cut edge of
the hem. The thread crosses itself with
 4
A gathering stitch is used to make
small folds on the bias or crosswise
thread of fabric. Double your thread
before doing the gathering stitch.
Make one row of running stitch. Pull
the thread to obtain the small pleats on
the wrong side. Fasten with tying
 5
An overcasting stitch is used to
prevent fabric from fraying, as in the
cut edges of the seam. From the right
to the left of the cut edge, insert the
needle from the back of the cut edge to
the fullest part of fabric.
 6
A slip stitch is used to fasten a folded
edge to single thickness of fabric.
Insert needle through folded edge of
hem. The stitches should be
inconspicuous on both right and wrong
sides.
 7
A blanket stitch is used as an edge
stitch or appliqué or decorative trim.
 
Bring needle out over the thread loop,
pulling it to the right to form a loop at
the hem edge.
The buttonhole stitches are sewn the
same way the blanket stitch is done
but the difference is that the
buttonhole stitches are sewn closer as
shown in the illustration.
 USEFUL
Seams SEAMS
are finishes used to prevent
raveling of raw fabric edges and to
make neat the inner part of any
household textile product. A useful
seam is the line formed by stitching
two pieces of fabric or cloth.
 Kinds of
Seams
The plain, French, and flat
felled are the three kinds of
seams.
1. A plain seam is the most common
machine sown seam. It joins two
pieces of fabric with the right side
face-to-face.
2. In a French seam, the raw edges of
fabric are joined and the new edges are
then enclosed. This seam is commonly
used for pillow cases. This is not used
for curve lines.
3. A flat seam joins two pieces of
fabric at their selvages. This seam is
used for pajamas.
THANK
YOU
VERY