‘Can I do a stockinette stitch pattern in sewing?’
One of my sewinginspo students asked me this question. So I fell off the ground. Cause i never thought of that before. I come home, sit down and start researching about the whole thing.
Stockinette is a classic knit pattern, usually created with yarn and needles, but that doesn’t mean we sewists have to miss out on the look!
stockinette pattern
To do a stockinette stitch pattern in sewing, you can mimic a stockinette stitch pattern by using a zigzag or stretch stitch on knit fabric to recreate the smooth, V-shaped knit look.
I did it on my jacket & it looks so good. So I thought, ok, I’ll teach this today in my class. So you go.
Table of Contents
What Is The Pattern For The Stockinette Stitch?
The stockinette stitch pattern refers to the smooth, V-shaped texture seen on knit fabrics.
Since it’s a knitting pattern, you can’t create it exactly with a sewing machine. But you can imitate the look by using a zigzag or stretch stitch on a jersey or knit fabric.
The goal is to sew closely spaced rows that mimic those tiny “V”s on the fabric’s surface. It gives the fabric that signature stockinette-style finish.
Steps To Do Stockinette Stitch Pattern In Sewing For Beginners
To do a stockinette stitch pattern in sewing, follow the steps-
Getting Everything Ready For Stockinette Stitch Pattern
I’m using a small piece of jersey knit, about 8 by 8 inches, just for practice. You can use any stretchy fabric you like. That fabric is best for making a tie, too.
I’ve got a ballpoint needle in my machine and polyester thread because it stretches better.
Now, make sure your edges are neat so they don’t curl up. That’ll help you sew smoothly.
Setting Up the Machine
I’m choosing a narrow zigzag stitch, but if your machine has a stretch or knit stitch, go for that. It gives a more realistic stockinette look.
I set my stitch length to around 2.0–2.5 mm and width to about 1.5–2.0 mm.
If your fabric starts to pucker, don’t panic. Just loosen your tension a little. You’ll see how it relaxes nicely. It’s like purse making.
Marking My Rows
Before sewing, I like to mark a few horizontal lines on my fabric about half a centimetre apart. It will make the effort like Seaming stockinette stitch vertically.
You don’t need to go crazy with measuring. Just enough to keep your rows straight. You can use a fabric pen or tailor’s chalk.
Alright, once that’s done, we’re ready to start stitching.
Sewing the First Row
I’m going to start from the left edge and follow the first guideline. I do this for crocodile pattern making in sewing, too.
I keep my hands relaxed, letting the fabric feed naturally. Don’t pull it, just guide it gently. It’s like the Stockinette stitch pattern in sewing straight needles.
As I stitch, see how the zigzag starts forming those tiny “V” shapes? That’s what we’re after. It’s the sewing version of that knit stockinette look, like a knitting stitch.
When I reach the end, I just give it a tiny backstitch to secure the row.
Building The Rows Of Stockinette Pattern
Now, here’s where it really starts to look like knitting. I move to the next guideline and stitch another row like purl stitch. It keeps it close and even with the first.
Each new row adds more texture, so it’s starting to look like soft, knitted “V”s across the surface. If your lines start curving or going uneven, take a breath, straighten your fabric, and keep going. Sewing’s not a race!
Finishing Touches Of Stockinette Pattern
Once I’ve covered the area, I flip it over. The back side has a slightly bumpy feel, just like the “purl” side of knitting. Pretty cool, right?
Now, I give it a gentle press on the wrong side with a warm iron, just to flatten it slightly without losing that texture.
And that’s it. You’ve got your own stockinette-look pattern, done entirely on a sewing machine!
Stockinette Stitch Pattern In Sewing PDF
I know this technique is different, so it’s easy to forget a step. So, download & save this Stockinette stitch pattern PDF.
Love this? Then read the waffle stitch blanket pattern too.
Frequently asked questions
My stitches look flat, not like little V’s. Why?
That’s normal if your zigzag is too narrow or the rows are too far apart. Tighten your spacing (around 6 mm apart) and make the zigzag just a bit wider to give that “knit” texture.
Can I hand sew the same look?
Yes! You can use chain stitch or herringbone stitch in neat rows to fake the knitted texture. It takes more time, but the effect is pretty close.
How do I stop the edges from curling like knit fabric does?
Press gently on the wrong side with steam, or finish the edges using a zigzag or twin-needle hem. That keeps it flat and clean like garter stitch.
Conclusion
And there you go, our sewing version of the classic stockinette stitch!
It’s not real knitting, of course, but with the right settings and fabric, you can mimic that smooth, V-shaped texture perfectly on your sewing machine.
I always tell my students, this trick is great for adding a soft, knit-like look to projects when you don’t actually want to pick up knitting needles.
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