Sewing curves, circles, and corners with an overlocker: If you know how it's done, perfect corners and curves with an overlocker are totally easy. I'll share my tricks on how to sew curves and corners with an overlocker!
The most important things at a glance
- There are a few tricks that make sewing curves and corners with an overlocker completely trouble-free
- Even sewing beginners can sew beautiful curves, circles, and corners
- I will show you how to sew outward-curving edges, inward-curving edges, tight curves, outer corners, and inner corners with an overlocker
- Sewing curves and corners with an overlocker using non-stretch fabrics is more difficult than with jersey or other elastic fabrics, as those are more flexible
Round, in circles, and around the corner – tricks for the overlocker
As a sewing beginner, at first I didn't dare to sew corners, circles, and curves with my overlocker.
And even though there was really no reason for it, I was always a bit afraid of sewing with the overlocker. Maybe because it's so incredibly fast. It certainly isn't the threading – my Babylock Enspire* does that automatically. :)
Bit by bit, however, I picked up a few tricks that make mastering corners and curves with an overlocker easy. For example, when sewing the Yoko children's dress or sewing other clothes:
By the way, the sweater is also available in a set with harem pants and a neckerchief!
Incidentally, I used this tutorial to break in my wonderful new cutting mat*. It comes from Olfa (to match my favorite rotary cutters*) and it's truly a classy piece! I found it at Stoffe-Hemmers.
And while we're on the subject: Do you already know my post about rotary cutters?
Sewing curves, circles, and corners with a curve foot
Have you ever tried sewing practical makeup removal pads? You reach your limits very quickly with a standard overlocker foot – often overlocker feet are simply too long and too wide.
However, there are so-called curve feet for many overlockers. They are narrower and shorter than conventional feet, and make it much easier for you to sew curves with the "ovi". With one of those, you'll be able to sew perfect makeup removal pads in the future, want to bet?
Overlocker: Sewing outward-curving edges
This is the easiest of the four methods. These curves appear, for example, on collars or bags. If you master these curves, it will give your sewing project a particularly professional look.
For the outward-curving edge, you need both hands on the fabric!
Place the start of the seam under the presser foot and begin sewing slowly.
The left hand guides the already-sewn fabric away from the presser foot in a rotating motion.
The right hand picks up the rotation and guides the unsewn fabric edge towards the presser foot.
Do not sew too quickly and feel free to stop every now and then to guide the fabric.
That was easy, wasn't it?
Now let's find ourselves a new challenge:
Overlocker: Sewing inward-curving edges
Now for the inner curve. This is a bit more demanding to sew.
But don't worry. After this little sewing course, you'll manage it perfectly in minutes!
Because we're going to use a little trick:
We make the round straight.
With this technique, you can also sew tight curves with the overlocker!
Here's how:
Grab a few fabric clips.
Then begin at one end of the curve by folding the fabric into pleats along the edge you want to sew.
You see what I'm getting at, right?
Make enough tiny pleats so that the edge you want to sew is nearly straight.
Then it's time to sew!
Start as if you were going to sew a straight fabric edge.
And that is how you sew the entire fabric edge. All in one go.
Afterward, you can release the fabric and admire your work.
Isn't that great? ;)
Overlocker: Sewing outer corners
We find the outward-pointing corner on bags of all kinds. I'll show you a variation where you don't have to cut the thread and can sew the corner cleanly.
Sew the fabric edge up to the corner.
The needle is up.
Lift the presser foot.
Pull both threads until they have about 2 centimeters of slack.
For this, I use my anatomical tweezers*, which you've surely seen before here on the blog... :)
Pull the fabric backward from under the presser foot.
Turn it so that the fabric edge to be sewn lies under the presser foot.
Lower the presser foot and start sewing.
It should look like this now:
Overlocker: Sewing inner corners
This also sounds like a sporty task at first - but it's really quite simple (if you know how it's done!). ;)
For this variation, we need a pin.
The principle is similar to that of the inward-curving edge.
However, here we only fold the fabric once to straighten out the edge we want to sew.
Fold the fabric into a kind of waffle cone.
The tip that meets the edge to be sewn must be as narrow as possible.
Then you sew along the fabric edge as if you were sewing a straight line.
When you have reached the tip of the fold, pull the fabric apart a little.
Here you can clearly see the spot where the fold met the corner.
After ironing, it disappears completely.
What remains is a cleanly sewn inner corner. :)
Overlocker: Sewing corners and curves with jersey
In the instructions, I show you the sewing technique on a woven cotton fabric, because this is the more difficult variant. Jersey or other elastic fabrics are more flexible. You can also use my techniques very effectively with those.
Experience shows that you have to make fewer pleats, for example, to straighten out a curve, as jersey "gives" with the movement. You should make use of this property!
Well, learned something new? Then start your new overlocker project right away!
Want even more tips & tricks for sewing with the overlocker?
Happy simple sewing,
your Sabine
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