Interlock is a Fabric safety stitch. Just like interlock, in general, it is used as a safety device; also, its use in clothes is the same. The purpose of an interlock is to maneuver a stitching system to a safe state. In garments, an Interlock stitch is used to tuck the clothes safely. The hem and the borderline of the clothing will stay in place and gives out a clean finish to the garment. The interlock will also prevent any hem from going loose and dangling to avoid a wardrobe malfunction.
What is an Interlock?
Interlock is a secure type of stitch that is ideal for stitching clothes and other fabric items that are prone to wear and tear. Even though people think of it as a complicated stitch, but eventually, you will discover that it is a straightforward and interconnecting stitch, used to knit and lock the fabric without tearing the fabric.
Triple Interlocking Stitch
While we come across single, double, and triple interlock, one might not understand the essence of the three types of stitches. While we visit a boutique with our mothers, we often hear them saying the cloth was double interlocked. It means they used two threads to do the Interlock Stitch, and the triple interlocking is the same thing done by using three strands. People might use a chain stitch and call it interlocking. The upside is interlocking can be done with the chain stitch too. If you happen to have a sewing machine that does not have an interlocking feature, then you can use the basic chain stitch to interlock the cloth. Generally, there are three threads used in the case of the interlocking of the fabric with the chain stitch method. To start with, people generally use this stitching technique in the cut-and-sew fabric projects to ensure their capability of interlocking the clothes. It is preferred to use this technique on a test cloth using the Interlocking Guide given below.
Difference between interlock and overlock
It is essential to know the difference between Interlock and Overlock before you start knitting the test cloth.
Interlock
It is a running stitch hemmed on the edge of the cloth in a cross-thread fashion. As the name suggests, it is an internal stitch running through two pieces of clothes. Here you anchor the thread on the underside of the garment and proceed with sides as done in a running stitch.
Overlock
It is a stitch hemmed on the edge of the cloth in a looping thread fashion. As the name suggests, it over locks the fabric by maintaining a looped stitch over the two pieces of material. Here you anchor the thread on the underside of the garment and hover the thread on the other side, creating a loop between two pieces of clothes to sew them. Now that you have an underlying hint of interlock and overlock, let us know how to do an interlock stitch of cloth by hand and with a sewing machine.
How to sew an Interlock Stitch by hand?
You can always perform hand sew to a finished edge to avoid any wear and tear of the clothing. Many times when we buy readymade clothes or get tailor stitched clothes, the interlocking might be in a proper way, which might cause the fabric to tear off easily. To prevent this malfunction, follow the steps to interlock the fabric by hand sew:
- Anchor the thread on the base or hem end of the cloth and stitch it to the top.
- Make sure to place the seams on the top side of the cloth and lining it together.
- While you interlock, pick only a few threads of the seam so as not permanently damage the clothing.
- Sew one stitch for at least six inches long.
- Keep the stitch pattern from the underside of the clothing to the top.
- In the end, tie the thread and bury it in the stitches.
How to sew an Interlock Stitch in a Sewing Machine?
Interlocking can be done with a regular machine and a sewing machine. If you choose to sew an interlock stitch with a regular machine, you can always use a chain stitch to do so. It does not require a bobbin like the regular interlock machine. A chain stitch is also a lock and has equivalent strength to prevent the cloth from tearing. While a proper sewing machine meant for interlocking will help you to do a lock stitch. But when it comes to the use of threads, the number of threads will not affect the strength of an Interlock Stitch. The number of threads is simply a myth, and triple interlocking cannot hold the cloth for long if the quality of the thread is not good enough. You can always place the hem of the clothing in the face of the sewing machine and sew it using a pedal and the interlock or chain stitch set in your sewing machine. In case you have to sew it with your hand, then use a thread and an anchor on the underside of the cloth sewing it to the top, as mentioned above.