STITCH LAB Sewing stitches, Stitch lab 1 min read

Straight Stitch, Topstitching, Basting & More | Stitch Lab Episode 1

Stitch Lab Straight Stitch header
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|Sponsored| Welcome to Stitch Lab, a brand new video series brought to you by the hosts of Sew & Tell Podcast and our partners at Singer. We like to think of this series as an extension of the podcast, with all the helpful sewing tips and tricks, sewing puns and antics you’ve come to expect from hosts Meg Healy, Kate Zaynard and Amanda Carestio.

In each episode of Stitch Lab, we’ll explore essential sewing techniques followed by inspiring experiments (and the occasional hilarious fail!).

Straight stitch techniques collage

First up in Episode 1, we’re experimenting with the straight stitch. The straight stitch is heavily used for construction in garments, home décor and bags, but this stitch has lots of decorative potential as well.

Follow along as Meg, Kate and Amanda discuss:

  • Stitch length and fabric considerations
  • Seam allowance basics
  • Basting stitch
  • Staystitching (Tell the truth: do you always staystitch?)
  • How to topstitch
  • Gathering with the gathering foot
  • Pintucks with the pintuck foot (We are in love with this foot now!)

Watch Stitch Lab Episode 1: Straight Stitch + More


It’s hard to believe, but we have been creating the Sew & Tell Podcast for almost three full years. As we thought about creating this video extension of that show, we were excited about the opportunity to share visuals and demos in real time. Let’s be honest: it can be hard to talk about some sewing topics without seeing them and showing them. Stitch Lab gives us the opportunity to experiment and share our results, try out our (ahem, dusty) specialty feet and amazing Singer machines, and generally geek out about sewing . . . now in video format!

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Thank you to our series sponsor for making Stitch Lab possible!


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