An overlock machine can be expensive and take up more space than you have. Instead, you can just buy an overcast foot and use your regular sewing machine! You can buy an overcast foot for a few bucks and use your sewing machine, even if you don’t have a special overlock foot, you just need a zig zag stitch. You can create cute lettuce hem, nice finished edges, a rolled hem or even decorative fringe!
Your overcast foot may look slightly different from mine, depending on your sewing machine, but they will all function the same. Your sewing machine is capable of using an overcast foot as long as it can do a zig zag stitch, but many sewing machines also have a few overcast stitches, you should check your manual to see what your machine can do, but this is what my sewing machine looks like:
Finished Edges
This is the easiest way to use an overcast foot. Set your sewing machine to your preferred overlock stitch, or use a zig zag stitch. If you use the zig zag stitch, make sure that your needle won’t hit the bar, since that would break the needle. Line your fabric up to the guide bar and sew like normal.
Lettuce Hem
A lettuce hem is a wavy hem with a finished edge, its a cute/trendy way to finish off a shirt. For this hem, you will need to use a stretchy fabric, usually it looks best on a ribbed fabric. You will need to choose a smaller stitch for this, line up your fabric to the guide bar and as you sew, stretch your fabric, the more you stretch, the more ruffled the fabric will look.
Rolled hem
A rolled hem is a cute way to finish off your projects. Rolled hems finish off the fabric by encasing the edge in thread, so they are a decorative look. You will use a zig zag stitch for this edge. Shorten the length and width of your stitch so the thread fully covers the edge of your fabric and sew like normal. Make sure your zig zag won’t hit the bar on your overcast foot before you start (I made this mistake and didn’t check and broke a needle!)
Decorative fringe
This is one of the coolest things you can do with this presser foot! First you will need to decide where you want the fringe. I chose to place it in the middle of my fabric in a straight line, if you’re choosing a shape, you will probably want to lightly mark where you want to sew so you can follow it. Choose an overlock stitch that is close together, and set your stitch length short so there is lots of thread to make a nice fringe. You’ll also want to make the stitch wide. Sew where you want your fringe and make sure to use your guide line. Last step is to get small, sharp scissors and cut along the edge of the thread to make the fringe.
If you are interested in learned how to use other types of presser feet, here are the rest of the presser foot tutorials in my series:
