Welcome to Machine Sewing!Home & Careers 7

VocabularyIdentify following hand stitches:

• Blind stitch: • A stitch that is practically invisible on the right

side of the sewn item. It is made by picking up a tiny stitch on the outside fabric surface and passing the thread under the seam.

• Hem stitch: • A blind hem stitch consists of 3 straight

stitches in a row and then one zig-zag stitch. You will barely see small tacking that is holding your bottom hem in place.

• Slip stitch: • Also known as a blind hem stitch. The hem is

sewn with very little to no visible stitching on the front of the fabric.

• Overcast (whip) stitch:• A whipstitch on the raw edge of fabric, used

to finish the edges neatly and prevent fraying.

• Blanket Stitch: –• An ornamental stitch used on the edge of

fabric such as on a buttonhole or a blanket.

SEWING MACHINE PARTS:

• Needle stitch plate: plate under presser foot with stitch guide lines

• Feed dog system: feeds the fabric through the machine

• Presser foot: raises and lowers, puts pressure on the fabric.

• Bobbin case: holds the bobbin

• Spool pin: holds thread in place

• Upper thread tension: guides the upper thread, if not adjusted properly, stitching will appear uneven and puckered

• Presser foot lifter: raises and lowers the presser foot

• Thread take-up lever: moves the thread through the upper thread tension discs

• Foot pedal: controls the speed at which the fabric moves through the machine

• Hand wheel: (which way do you turn it?) turn it towards you. Allows you to manually move the needle up and down.

• The flat side of the machine needle goes which direction when being replaced? towards the back of the machine