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This archived content is from Mary Wilkins’ sewing and
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From: katya313
Date: 04-02-2006, 11:22 AM (1 of 3)
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Hello, I'm a complete beginner at sewing and I've been trying to figure out the difference between built in stitches and stitch function. I always see something like : 10 built-in sewing stitches. 25 stitch functions. What's the difference?? Thanks so much, 
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User: katya313
Member since: 04-02-2006 Total posts: 1 |
From: dmoses
Date: 04-02-2006, 12:32 PM (2 of 3)
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Hi! Welcome to the discussion boards! The built-in stitches are usually the ones on your sewing machine stitch selection dial. Built-in stitches can have more than one function(depending on how you adjust the length, width, and tension). For example, a straight stitch can be lengthened to be used as a basting stitch, or the tension may be tightened when 'easing'; a zigzag stitch may be narrowed for seaming on knit fabric, or widened to be used as an 'overedge' stitch, or shortened and narrowed to create a satin stitch. If you tighten the tension on an overedge stitch, you can achieve a 'picot' stitch. There are many possibilities. The manual should have some information on the different stitch functions for a particular machine, and a good sewing book will have a lot of good general info as well. Hope this helps. Take care,
Donna |
User: dmoses
Member since: 02-22-2002 Total posts: 964 
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From: bluebirdie
Date: 04-02-2006, 06:40 PM (3 of 3)
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Hi Katya, I have a sewing machine with 22 built-in stitches (and 45 stitch functions). There's a knob on the machine allowing you to select one of built-in stitches A to T for example zigzag, satin, blindhem, shell, double, honeycomb, overlock, rick rack, etc. Exactly as Donna said, When you adjust length/width/etc, a built-in stitch turns into multiple stitch functions. For example, I use mostly Built-in stitch A. It produces two stitch functions: A1. straight stitch when width is set to 0, and A2. zig-zag when width is set to greater than 0. Hope this helps! - Robin
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User: bluebirdie
Member since: 03-12-2006 Total posts: 139 |
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