| Satin Stitch | |
| Transforming A Regular Zig Zag Stitch |
You see "Satin Stitch" referred to but do you know what it is? A Satin Stitch is nothing more then a shortened zig zag stitch. A zig zag stitch that causes the stitches to take on a satin appearance because they are so close together. The most common use of a satin stitch is in applique work. Appliquing a raw edged piece of fabric is easy using a close satin stitch. It eliminates the need to turn the edges of the applique.
As you can see in the diagram below, changing the length of the stitch, causes the side by side threads to come closer together. The smaller you make the stitch length, the less fabric will show between the stitches, creating a satin appearance of the stitches.
The stitch width is another spot to change the appearance of a satin stitch. Large, bold lines of stitches can be created by using the widest setting your machine is capable of. Decreasing the stitch length creates finer lines and can be decreased in most cases, until it almost looks like a line of straight stitches.
The many threads that are available today make your decorative possibilities endless! Experiment with the many embroidery threads for a truly decorative touch. Sewing the applique on to a garment can be achieved in many ways. If you are using a satin stitch, test your stitch on scraps of the fabric you will be using on the finished item, until you have the machine settings where you want them. There is a way to have perfectly turned edges on any applique, no matter how many curves it has. By having turned edges on your applique almost any decorative stitch can be used to attach the design. Learn more here. Do you have all kinds of decorative stitches built in to your machine that you never use? See other decorative stitch examples that are available on many of today's sewing machines here.
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