How to Straight Stitch On a Sewing Machine? Step-by-Step Tutorial

Sewing machines could only make one stitch when they were originally invented. Since the dawn of time, sewing machines have been able to incorporate a wide variety of stitches. There are times when going back to basics and learning simple stitch patterns is a good idea.

It’s easy to sew a straight stitch on most sewing machines if you turn the dial to straight stitch pattern and press the foot pedal. It’s as simple as that. There are a few things to keep in mind when working with this stitch.

If you want to learn more about sewing a straight stitch, please read on. There are no difficult lessons to learn, and the straight stitch is one of the simplest stitches to master. This is an important subject, so take your time and learn more about it.

What is a Full Straight Stitch?

 

You don’t need any experience to work with this stitch pattern. To sew as a pastime, you’ll need to learn how to make a basic backstitch. This stitch pattern’s name speaks for itself. It is a simple row of stitches that sews a straight line.

To sew, all you need to do is press the needle through the back of the fabric at the starting position and you’re good to go. This method is repeated from beginning to end until you’ve completed the hem and seam, and so on.

Your stitches will look wonderful, be simple, and be completed quickly as long as you have a straight line. It’s a good stitch design to use as a starting point before moving on to more complex patterns.

First-time sewers should be able to get the hang of this pattern in no time at all. Make sure you’re going in a straight line.

What Should a Straight Stitch Look Like?

 

Elegance is in the simplicity. While the simple may appear boring and unappealing, there is something about it that helps it stand out amongst the other ornamental patterns.

It should look like this when it’s done correctly. If you’re going for a simple, straight style, you don’t want it to be overly decorated. The straight stitch should likewise appear as a straight line of thread, although it may take some practice to perfect.

Straight stitch has no complicated twists, bows, or even a decorative design. A straight line drawn on paper should look like the end result of your work when you’re done.

Even though it’s as uninteresting as a pencil line, this stitch needs to hold the fabric in place while you work on other sewing projects. In addition, you don’t need a large stitch length to get the best results from this stitch design.

If you want to obtain the perfect look, you’ll need something small enough to hold the fabric in place.

How to do Straight Stitch On a Sewing Machine – Step-by-Step

This option is as simple as hand-stitching a straight seam. Because many sewing machines only have one stitch pattern pre-installed, this is a reasonable assumption to make. The straight stitch is the pattern used in that design.

Then there are those who, despite having a plethora of stitch patterns at their disposal, choose to stick with the straight stitch. This is supposedly the best stitch pattern out there. To sew a straight stitch using a sewing machine, follow these steps:

• Tie your machine’s threads and needle in place. Check to see that the ends of the top and bottom threads are pointed toward the machine’s back.
• Replace your present presser foot with a straight stitch presser foot before proceeding to the next step This accessory has a smaller hole, which makes it easier to get a perfectly straight stitch.
• Put your fabric beneath the presser foot and get ready to sew! The foot pedal can be used to make a seam, etc., once everything is in place
• Step 4: Using the reverse function to go backward after moving forward is an option. You can use this method to finish the hem at any point in the process.
• In order to have a straight stitch, you must sew all the way to the end of the fabric. Once you’ve let off of the pedal and turned off the machine, all that’s left is to clip the loose thread.

What Tension for Straight Stitch

 

Having the perfect tension on your upper and lower threads can have a negative effect on even your straight stitch, making it look sloppy and uneven.

The precise stitch and stitch pattern should be easy to achieve if you use the proper tension on both needles. Most sewing machines are set at 4 to get the correct tension for a straight stitch. This is a typical value; individual models may necessitate varying amounts of tension.

However, many individuals set the stitch length to 2 millimeters or 12 stitches per inch, which is too large. It gets tricky when you have to sew on several kinds of fabric.

On heavier or lighter materials, this stitch length may not be appropriate. To accommodate the fabric’s weight, you’ll need to make a few alterations to your pattern. To adjust the bobbin thread tension, look for a screw to spin rather than an indicator dial.

Use your sewing machine’s owner’s handbook to guide you through this process because no two machines are exactly same.

Brother Sewing Machine Straight Stitch Settings

Incredibly, the straight stitch design has its own set of specific settings. You needn’t worry, though, because these settings take just a few seconds and won’t slow you down.

Instructions for this brand of sewing machine are as follows (based on the Brother support pages):

• Stitch length should be set at F-4.
• The stitch width should be set to 0
• For single-needle systems, you can select M for middle, L for left, or R for right when setting the needle position. When using a sewing machine with two needles, the setting you want to use is M.
• The zig-zag presser foot must be installed.

Set up your Brother sewing machine for a straight stitch and you’re done. Check your sewing machine’s owner’s handbook to be sure these instructions are applicable to your model.

Singer Simple Sewing Machine Settings for Straight Stitch

The instructions for this kind of sewing machines may be even more easy than those for Brother models. Because each brand of sewing machine has its own distinct design, this is not a big surprise.

When using a Singer sewing machine to topstitch a straight stitch, setting the stitch length to 3 or 3.5 mm is all that is required to achieve the desired look and precise thread. Sew 1/4 inch in from the edge with a topstitch needle, such as a 90/14 for medium-weight fabrics.

As a general rule, you should use a 100/16 needle for heavier fabrics. In order to use a Singer sewing machine, you don’t need to worry about having a wide or narrow stitch width. A 0 setting is acceptable.

Adjustments may be required for various Singer sewing machine models and fabrics in order to achieve the perfect stitch length and width. Make certain that the straight stitch setting is selected on your stitch pattern selection dial.

Straight Stitch Sewing Machine Symbols

 

We studied a Janome stitch pattern’s symbol sheet. Most individuals are baffled as to which stitch symbol they should use for a straight stitch, which is understandable. At times, even the graphs themselves are a bit hazy.

Numbers 1 through 4, as well as 20, appear to be straight stitches on that chart. In this case, we say “could be” because there is no stitch pattern legend to refer to. Straight stitch is not mentioned in any of the section headings.

The Brother sewing machine’s chart is considerably easier to read, more concise, and even includes additional information so that you can acquire the correct settings for more than just the needle.

Unlike the Janome chart, which does not even name the straight stitches, the chart shows them as numbers 1 through 4. First 8 stitch patterns under “Bridge” name may be straight stitches as well, according to Janome chart.

Can You Straight Stitch With a Serger?

A serger sewing machine has no bobbin, therefore straight stitches may be tough to sew with this type of machine. If the pattern does not include any topstitching or inverted corners, you may be able to sew a straight stitch on an overlocker serger, although there may be complications.

When only two threads are being used, certain machines offer a combination stitch pattern. A zig-zag and a straight stitch are used to create this pattern. However, the sort of serger you have will also play a role in the outcome. Before you buy, check to verify if the model you’re interested in has the same stitch patterns.

A serger is a sewing machine that does not require a bobbin thread for its stitching. In comparison to a standard sewing machine, the stitches on this one will be different.

Make sure the serger you’re considering has the stitches you’re looking for in the owner’s handbook. A serger may not be right for you if you sew a lot of straight stitches.

Can You Use a Straight Stitch On Stretch Fabric?

You can use a straight stitch on stretch fabric, but the hold may not last very long because the stitch pattern is stressed when these clothes are utilized in particularly energetic activities. With stretch fabric, a straight stitch can be used to bind two pieces of fabric together. It won’t last long.

The stretch straight stitch is a stitch pattern made specifically for use with stretch textiles. It’s a more durable design that repeats the same stitch three times for a stronger bond and longer hold.

You may easily spot the stretch straight stitch sign on the charts we referred to above by looking for three lines of dashes next to each other. The general strength of this stitch makes it an excellent choice for sewing medium to heavy fabrics.

Is Straight Stitch Strong?

 

Stitches can be made with the right thread if you use the right needle. Backstitching over the straight stitches strengthens the grip even further.d. That’s a tough one to get rid of.

Using a polyester thread for a straight stitch will ensure the strongest grip. This fiber is extremely hard to break and will cling to the fabric with an iron grip. It’s also weather-resistant, which means it won’t wear out as quickly as other types of thread.

This stitch pattern’s flaw is that it does not allow for any stretch. Despite its hardness, it may break more easily when used in stretch textiles since it resists that movement.

It’s easy to see why this stitch pattern is so popular with sewers; it can handle a wide range of sewing projects.

Will a Straight Stitch Stop Fraying?

The word “stop” may not be appropriate here because it is difficult to stop fraying without employing a variety of procedures. However, using a straight stitch in conjunction with other techniques can help decrease fraying.

Immediately following the cutting of the raw edge, a straight stitch should be used to secure the threads. Stitch 1/4 of an inch from the edge and use pinking shears to snip the edge to create a fray-resistant design. ”

To achieve the same result, you can use a seam sealer like fabric glue, to stop fraying, and a straight stitch. Fraying may occur if you don’t take these extra precautions because the stitch is placed so close to the edge.

The kind of fabric you’re working with makes a big difference. Each fabric’s fraying rate varies, therefore a straight stitch can be used with confidence on a variety of fabrics.

Sewing Machine That Does Straight Stitch

If you merely want a machine that can sew a straight line, you have a plethora of possibilities. Size is an important factor to consider. However, portable sewing machines are typically limited to straight stitching due to their small size. Different companies’ portable sewing machines may, of course, have different stitch patterns.

Power is the next thing you’ll need, and the correct motor will let you straight stitch through heavyweight materials just like you can with a less powerful motor working on lightweight fabrics.

Finally, have a look at the sewing machine’s intended use. It would be a waste of money to get a sewing machine that has different stitch patterns built in if you only sew with a straight stitch or if all your tasks require this stitch.

Those are the most important characteristics, and they are included first because nearly every sewing machine manufacturer has a straight stitch-only model. Finding the proper brand and type of sewing machine is all it takes.

Some Final Words

Straight stitching is the most common sewing stitch design, and it’s easy to master. You can either use a straight stitch only sewing machine or turn the stitch pattern dial to the straight stitch sign on your machine to do it.