How to Overlock on Your Brother Sewing Machine (Step-by-Step)

Do you want professional-looking seams without spending hundreds of dollars on a separate serger? If you own a Brother sewing machine—whether it’s the popular CS7000X, the beginner-friendly XM2701, or a similar model—you likely have a built-in feature that solves this exact problem. This guide will help you understand the Overlock Stitch On Brother Sewing Machine.

After my last general tutorial, I received a flood of questions specifically asking about the Brother sewing machine overlock stitch. Readers were confused about which symbol to use and why their fabric was bunching up.

The secret usually lies in pairing the right stitch setting with the correct foot—specifically the Overcasting Foot (Foot ‘G’).

I’ve replied to many of you individually, but I realized you need to see exactly how it’s done. If you’re looking for the quick answer, here it is:

To overlock stitch on a Brother sewing machine, attach the Overcasting Foot (marked with a letter ‘G’), select the overlock symbol on your stitch menu (often stitch #06 or #14 depending on your model), and guide the raw edge of the fabric against the inner bar of the foot.

For those who want to master the technique, avoid jammed thread, and see exactly which settings apply to your specific machine model, keep reading for the full step-by-step guide.

Overlock Stitch Brother Sewing Machine Overview And Benefits

To master the Overlock Stitch On Brother Sewing Machine, attach the Overcasting Foot (marked with a letter ‘G’), select the overlock symbol on your stitch menu (often stitch #06 or #14, depending on your model), and guide the raw edge of the fabric against the inner bar of the foot.

The overlock stitch on a Brother sewing machine is one of those features that instantly gives your projects a professional, store-bought finish. I’ve used it for everything from hemming knits to finishing raw edges, and it’s honestly worth it.

Here’s a quick overview and why I recommend it:

1. It trims, sews, and finishes the edge all at once.
2. The stitch moves with the fabric, making it ideal for jerseys and activewear.
3. You can join and finish seams in one go, which cuts your sewing time in half.
4. Most Brother machines let you adjust the width and tension easily to match different fabric types.

If you frequently sew, mastering the overlock stitch on your Brother machine is definitely beneficial. It’s quick, long-lasting, and adds a professional, factory-finished look to every project.

Where to Find the Overlock Stitch Symbol Brother?

On a Brother sewing machine, the overlock stitch symbol is usually printed right on the stitch selection panel, sitting among other decorative and utility stitches. On most Brother models, you’ll find it:

1. On the front panel: Near the LCD screen or stitch chart.
2. In the manual, the stitch guide at the back or front of your user manual clearly shows the overlock symbol and its corresponding stitch number.
3. On the quick-reference card

If you’ve got one of those computerised Brother machines, you just scroll through the stitch options until you see the little “overlock-like” graphic, almost like a diagonal ladder on one side.

Overlock Stitch Brother Sewing Machine?

To use the overlock stitch on a Brother sewing machine, follow the steps below,

1. Choose The Right Overlock Stitch Symbol On Brother Machine
2. Attach the Brother Overlock Foot
3. Place The Fabric
4. Adjust The Overlock Length
5. Press The Foot

First things first, turn on your Brother sewing machine and look at your stitch options. Now scroll through the stitch settings and find the overlock/double overlock stitch.

The overlock stitch symbol on a Brother sewing machine typically resembles a zigzag or comb-like pattern, with a straight edge on one side and a looping edge on the other. This kinda reminds me of a blanket stitch sewing machine.

Brother sewing machine stitch symbols!

It’s meant to imitate the clean, wrapped-edge finish you’d get from a serger. That’s why it’s perfect for sealing raw fabric edges and preventing fraying.

This part matters a lot. For the overlock stitch to work properly, you’ll need the overcasting foot. It typically features a small bar in the center to guide your fabric and prevent it from curling.

On Brother machines, this is often the one labeled with a “G”. A Brother overlock foot with a cutter, also called a side cutter foot. It is a handy sewing machine accessory that trims the fabric edge as you sew.

It helps you achieve a neat overlock or overcast finish all in one go. Just snap it on like any other presser foot if you’re unsure how, check your machine’s quick setup guide or flip through the manual.

Now lay your fabric under the foot, lining up the raw edge with the guide on the foot. That guide helps keep the stitch right along the edge so it looks clean and prevents fraying.

I like to do a test stitch on a scrap piece of the same fabric first to ensure the tension and placement are correct.

Most Brother machines auto-set the stitch width and length when you select the overlock stitch. However, you can still adjust it if your fabric requires it.

1. For thin fabrics, go with a narrower stitch. I do it for zigzag sewing machine too.
2. For thicker ones, widen it a bit.

Use the +/- buttons or dials, depending on your model.Just like you would do for a Juki blind stitch machine.

Press that foot pedal and let the machine do its magic. The needle will move side to side, wrapping the thread around the edge. Go steady, not too fast. So, the stitch grabs the edge just right without bunching.

Keep your fabric aligned with the guide. If it shifts too much inward, you’ll lose that clean finish.

Brother Cs7000x Overlock Stitch

The Brother CS7000X sewing machine doesn’t perform a true overlock stitch like a serger. However, it can achieve a similar effect by using an overcasting stitch with the included overcasting foot

This gives your fabric edges a clean, professional look and helps prevent fraying. It is perfect when you don’t have a serger on hand.

How to Sew an Overcasting Stitch on the Brother CS7000X:

1. Attach the Overcasting Foot (G) You can use it for a whip stitch sewing machine, too.
2. Choose a stitch designed for overcasting. The CS7000X offers several options, including a wide zigzag and built-in overcasting stitches.
3. Place the raw edge of your fabric against the guide on the overcasting foot.
4. Sew at a slow, steady pace.
5. Keep the edge of the fabric aligned with the guide so the stitch lands right where it needs to.
6. Once done, gently pull the fabric backwards to release it from the foot and snip off any loose threads.

This method gives your projects a neat, serger-like finish without needing an actual serger pretty handy, right?

Frequently asked questions

Done

And just like that, you’ve got a beautifully overlocked edge. Perfect for finishing seams, especially on woven fabrics that love to fray.