Another way to create a guideline is to mark the stitching line with chalk. You can also use a twin needle if you want to topstitch two perfectly parallel rows of topstitching. Just remember to always stitch on the right side of the fabric when using a twin needle as the underneath side of stitching is a zigzag stitch. An good hint to remember is to keep your eyes focused on your guide line and where you are going and not focus your eyes at the needle since the needle is not going to move left or right…it is just going to go up and down as always.
I hope these added suggestions help. Thanks Jane! That is all really great advice. When I taught sewing classes I would always tell students that if they kept staring at the needle they might make themselves motion sick.
Focusing on a fixed point is so much more helpful! I teach sewing. This year was the 3rd year working with a year-old girl in 4-h. There was a lot of top stitching necessary. Using the Brother presser foot with the guide blade helped her so much with excellent work. BTW she received a blue ribbon on her first every entry.
From the quilted pillow top 3 years ago to a beautiful halter dress with lined bodice, zipper, ruffles on neckline and bottom of skirt and two different fabric prints. Excellent work. I am an experienced sewist and topstitcher, and I still learned a few things from this post and from the great comments. Thanks, both to you, and to your loyal following. Jane pretty much covered everything I would have added. Another very useful tutorial.
Coming from an area that offers no sewing classes or expertise, I am learning so much from Internet sites such as this one. Thank you. Who knew topstitching could be so interesting? What a great article. Loved the comment about muscle memory. I am a very accomplished sewist, and yes, you can always learn something new. Great article. I do that on other arts projects but never thought of it for sewing. Testing, yes, but a real warm up will be so much better. This article was really good—I find that topstitching on canvas can be challenging to master, and I appreciated the tips here.
One thing I would add is that sometimes topstitching thread is not available in the color its needed! There are also fabulous stitches on some machines that double or triple sew the same stitch so the top stitching is thicker and will be more visible and not fade into the fabric.
WorKs really well for jeans and heavier fabrics. Thanks for the helpful tips and the equally helpful comments. Stitch length resonated with me! This is right on time! A good length is usually about a 4 on the dial. For really thick fabrics you may go all the way up to a 5. It is especially important when topstitching something like a knit neckband or sleeve hems to use a really long stitch.
This will allow the seam to retain some of its stretch capacity. If a short stitch length is used here, you may not be able to get the garment over your head, your fabric may stretch out and you risk popping stitches while wearing your garment. One drawback to using a single needle topstitch is that it can cause bottom shirt hems to fold up on certain fabrics.
Single needle topstitching is also essential for pockets. This can be kangaroo pockets on sweatshirts, pockets on the back of jeans, welt pockets or simple slat front turn and topstitch pockets. You will always need it. Put it to use on our Anna Button Up Skirt! A double needle is another way of using a basic sewing machine to create a more professional finish. Double needles leave a two-thread stitch on the right side and a zigzag on the wrong side of the fabric.
Because of the zig-zagged bobbin thread on the wrong side, this stitch can leave even more stretch in your topstitch. Affordability says these can be a great tool for beginners.
However, there are some difficulties that you may encounter with a double needle. You may find it hard to find just the right tension setting on your machine resulting in the fabric tunneling between your stitch. A word of advice from me is to double up your fabric. If your pattern calls for a single fold hem, be sure to modify it to be a double fold. If you are topstitching the neckline seam down, make sure not to let one of the needles stitch over a stand-alone layer of fabric.
Stitch directly over the seam. More fabric equals less tunneling. Also, press your seams with an iron before stitching. This will help immensely and will result in a much cleaner finish. How do they work? Double needles share one shaft. To use one you will insert the shaft into your machine the same way a single needle is installed. You will thread BOTH spools of thread through your machine together.
Using a topstitch thread: If using a topstitch thread, be aware that you should use a topstitch needle. These are needles designed with a larger eye to accommodate the bigger, thicker thread. Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Pinterest. Your email address will not be published. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed. Facebook Instagram Pinterest.
Active Time: 5 minutes. Total Time: 5 minutes. Difficulty: Easy. Materials Thread Topstitch thread Fabric.
Tools Sewing machine All-purpose sewing foot Straight stitch foot optional Adjustable guide foot optional Quarter inch seam foot optional Topstitch needle - if using topstitch thread. Instructions Raise the sewing machine needle to the highest position and lift the presser foot.
Install the desired foot. Thread your machine with the desired topstitch thread. See the notes below for more information. Set the stitch length. Generally, 3.
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