Nearly all sewing projects could benefit from a zigzag stitch. This secures the edges of each seam to keep the fabric threads from unraveling. Sewing machines can quickly take care of a zigzag stitch, but if you are hand sewing a small repair, it may be quicker and more convenient to complete the zigzag stitch with a needle and thread. Make a single straight stitch to anchor the beginning of your stitching. End on the ‘right’ side of the fabric. Continue, with stitches that wrap the edge as you work. This is creating an ‘overcast stitch up the length of the edge. Go all the way to the top of the edge. If you run out of thread, anchor the end of your overcast stitch with a small straight stitch before knotting off and clipping the thread on the wrong side of the fabric. Pull the thread up through the hole of the previous stitch. Continue down the edge of the fabric, making the zigzag pattern shown. For fabrics that are particularly susceptible to unraveling, make sure your zigzag stitches are more narrow than those in our example.
