Hey y’all, today I’ve got a video tutorial showing how to sew flatlock seams and a flatlock hem. I used both techniques to add details to this Rivage Raglan I sewed up for myself.
Flatlocking is a type of seam you do on a serger or overlocker machine, and it creates a seam that is flat on both sides, can stretch, and adds a decorative element to the garment since both sides show the thread.
This outfit is one of my favorites for working from home, running around, or even going to the gym. I paired my Rivage Raglan with a pair of cropped Skye Joggers.
You can even hem using a flatlock stitch, as you can see on my sleeves and hem on this top.
To learn all about flatlocking, watch the video below. Or, if it won’t load for some reason, you can also watch on YouTube here.
As I pointed out in the video, there are 3 different types of flatlock stitches my machine (a Baby Lock Imagine) can do. The picture below compares all three. One of the fun things about a flatlock stitch is that you can decide which side of the stitch you want facing out for different looks.
With flatlocking, TENSION is the most important thing to figure out. Your machine manual should have starting suggestions, but it’s important to sew a few samples on scraps of your fabric to get the width and tension right for your project.
You can also try wooly nylon with your flatlocking; this can be particularly effective when used in the looper. However, I just used regular non stretch serger cone thread for mine. The fabric I used for my Rivage Raglan is a rayon jersey blend, and the Skye Joggers were made with a cotton/poly blend interlock.
Barbara Alsko
Thanks for another informative and succinct video!
Liz
Question: Would it work to flatlock 8 – 10″ squares of fleece together to build a quilt? I have lots of fleece in less than 1 yard cuts that I would like to make into blankets or quilts to donate but I am not sure how to do this. I have often wondered if flatlocking would be strong enough for this purpose. What do you think?
Thank you.
Liz