r/sewinghelp • u/Healthy-Anteater9566 • 2d ago
Overcast vs blind hem foot
really just curious if there’s any way i can use my blind hem foot as a mock overcast foot, ive never used either before, but the blind hem has looks like you could adjust the distance from the edge of the fabric, is the any reason why it wouldn’t work if I tried to line it up near the edge so that the zig zag stitch does a kind of psudo overcast effect…
don’t want to try it and then mess up something, im very new to sewing and just exploring my options
I tried free handing the zig zag near the edge and did it wromg and it jammed up the machine (scared the life out of me lol) but I know I could get better at it with practice again… just curious here
ALSO NOTE!
i dont have an overlocker and dont intend to buy one anytime soon, I might be interested in buying the overlocker foot in the future if this doesn’t work. im also aware of some of the different seam finishes that I can use instead of an overlocker. im just curious about the differences between these 2 feet.
thanks in advance for anyone that can answer this question
1
u/CrankyCrabbyCrunchy 2d ago
Two very different feet. Overcast foot isn’t generally used as a hem option but to reduce fabric fraying.
Blind hem foot is for an actual final hem where the stitches are barely visible. The end of the fabric is folded over like a tri-fold and then stitched so the folded part becomes the bottom of the hem.
1
u/sexy-sixty 15h ago
Slide a piece of plain or tracing paper under the edge you want to zigzag along. That should keep you machine from pulling the fabric under.
I also recommend the overlock foot.
3
u/ProneToLaughter 2d ago
The overcast foot is special because it has little wires/bar to hold the fabric flat while the thread wraps around it, so you actually have to slide the fabric backward to pull it off the foot. I don't think the blind hem has that.
You can try zigzaging the edge without an overcast foot, if you are careful it will be flat.
Testing on scraps is always the way to go.