How evil is slipstitch?

[Millie Fillmore]

I have not come across a period term nor instructions for what we now call a "slipstitch". I have also not found any evidence of it in original garments (though I have not had much time dealing with originals).

However, that is my favorite handsewing stitch! It's so clean and neat. Has anyone seen it on an original garment anywhere, or will I have to continue to oversew?

Thanks,

Katie Guslick

[ElizabethClark]

Hand felling stitch is very similar in formation and utility.

What sort of seam are you finishing off? Perhaps it doesn't need an additional seam finish at all! Many firmly-woven fabrics do not: mid-weight cottons, well-fulled wools, tightly-woven silks... all do quite well without further seam finishing.

For a fast overcast (whipstitch, etc) finish, be sure to anchor one end of the seam to something... then you have the tension you need to really whip along. I find I can go fastest left to right, exactly contrary to the right/left sewing pattern for most stitches.

[Millie Fillmore]

I'm hemming the bottom/sides of my apron.

[ElizabethClark]

The most common I've seen for that is actually just a teeny running stitch, shorter on the good side, and a tad longer on the back. It's durable, invisible, and quite tidy.

[Millie Fillmore]

Thanks, I'll do that. It's quick, too. I like quick. :regular_s