Sewing is not a tough task, but only if you know, its basics and one such basic tip of sewing are that it is necessary to end a stitch with a sewing machine. When you start with sewing two fabrics together or hemming your cloth, then it is essential to lock both the start and the endpoints of the stitch. This way, you can prevent stretching and unravelling
of the stitch.
How to end on a sewing machine?
Working with machines can be tricky as every other machine has some or the other difference between them. A home sewing machine works differently from an industrial sewing machine. A home sewing machine might not offer you an option of reverse stitching. In this machine, you may have to change the direction of the fabric instead, to obtain a similar result to that of reverse stitching. Get the manual of your sewing machine for your best guidance.
This is a ubiquitous question that is mostly asked by the beginners. So to answer that, you must do a lockstitch or a backstitch to end a stitch using a sewing machine. These are the two best ways to avoid the stitch to get unraveled.
How can a difference in the fabric affect your end stitching style?
Backstitching is performed on a sewing machine by sewing backward and forward on the top of the seam stitches, at both the beginning and end of the seam. This way, you can prevent the stitch from getting undone. However, if you are working on a fine fabric then, backstitching might not look good on it as it leaves a large amount of thread behind. It will be visible through the fabric, and it might change the way it might look. So, for such situations, it is best to use a lock stitch instead.
In some cases, it is for the best sew the fabric and leave behind a long tail of thread to knot it by hand. As both backstitch or lock stitch might leave an ungraceful lump at the ends of the stitch but just sewing it off at the endpoint allows you to have a smooth look.
How to do a backstitch?
Draw lines with chalk on the fabric to mark your sewing guideline.
Marking is important to get a straight and continuous sew. You can avoid this step if you are a professional.
Place the needle at one end of the drawn guideline.
Once you got the needle placed right above the starting point, press the foot around the needle to hold the piece of fabric in place.
Stitch along the guideline for about 0.5 - 1inch
Press the footer to start your sewing machine at a slow speed. Guide the fabric and the speed of the machine with your hands.
Stitching pattern
If you have an advanced machine, then you can switch the backstitch mode of the machine. After switching it on, run it slowly and go back over the stitch line you made before. And then stop when you are back at the original start point. Otherwise, you can just go back over the stitch line to fix the fabric in place.
Complete your stitch
Once you are done fixing the starting point of the guideline, move forward towards the endpoint. Make sure to run your machine at a low speed to get the stitches in a straight line. But once you become a master in stitching, then you can run your machine at a faster pace.
Follow the same procedure for the endpoint as you did for the starting point.
Switching your machine back to backstitch mode, go over the last section of your stitching. Once you are done, you can disengage your fabric from the needle foot and snip the thread to remove it from your machine.
Now you have a sturdy stitched fabric that won’t wear off for a very long time.
How to do a lockstitch?
- Align the fabric with the seam guide and then place it under the presser foot by aligning it with the back of the foot.
- Reverse stitch to the end of the fabric and then stop.
- Then, sew on the same guideline in the forward direction.
- Once you have sewed to the end of the seam, then stop and sew in the reverse direction again.
- Do multiple stitches in the forward and backward direction.
- Don’t forget to press the seam all the time to get a finished seam at the end.
How to end a stitched embroidery?
Start and end an embroidery thread without knots to get the best possible embroidery results. The embroidery design will look better only if you spend a little time to start and end the stitch. Here is a guide to learn the best way to how to end a stitched embroidery.
End an embroidery thread without knots:
- Take the threaded needle to the back of the fabric, along with your last stitch.
- Then run the needle under the last few stitches.
- Trim the extra thread.
Winding Up:
Whatever way you choose to stitch the fabric, sewing machine, or hand, it is best to start and end with locking stitches to get tough bondage of the fabric. This way, your fabric can handle as many washes as you want. And same is with the embroidery stitch, and it is best to end it without knot to get secured embroidery. However, an embroidery stitch is always started with a temporary knot.