![\"2017-5-bg-slip-n-fell-ft-2\"](\"https:\/\/thedailysew.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/2017-5-bg-slip-n-fell-ft-2.jpg\")
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Although you could sew most garments entirely by machine there are many times and many construction techniques that you could sew more accurately, with more beautiful results, and maybe, in the long run, sew it even faster, if you turned off your sewing machine and stitched by hand.<\/p>\n
This is a tale of two hand stitches, the Slip Stitch and its twin the Fell Stitch. At first, they may appear to be identical but if you give them a moment more of your attention you will notice they’re not; not in looks, not in instruction and not in purpose. Yet both are worth getting to know better.<\/p>\n
Invite them in for 15 minutes and one day when you\u2019re sewing a garment and the pattern instructions say to \u201cmachine stitch\u201d you will recall that meeting and you will think, “I know a better way.”<\/p>\n
And all you\u2019ll have to do is call, Slip or Fell, and they will be with you in an instant for they are both eager to help.<\/p>\n
![\"2017-5-bg-slip-stitch-7\"](\"https:\/\/thedailysew.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/2017-5-bg-slip-stitch-7.jpg\")
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Slip stitch is a popular stitch frequently used for hems but useful any time you need an \u201cinvisible\u201d seam, for instance, making a rolled hem on delicate or sheer fabric and for attaching bias binding to the inside of a neckline when you don\u2019t want the casual look of machine topstitching.<\/p>\n
The slip stitch gets it name from the way the needle \u201cslips\u201d into and travels along the fold of the fabric. Because the traveling thread is sandwiched in the fold for most of the seam it is not seen from either side of the garment.<\/p>\n
However, the sewing thread will show on the outside but only very slightly so match your thread or go a shade darker if you can\u2019t match exactly for truly invisible stitches.<\/p>\n
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