Okuzeka
Fashion & Textiles vocabulary · Sewing & Construction

Overlock

Meaning in fashion & textiles, with examples

/ˈəʊvəlɒk/nounCore term

In fashion & textiles, overlock means: A stitch, or the machine that sews it, which wraps thread around the edge of fabric to stop fraying and often trims and joins the seam at the same time.

In Turkish: overlok, overlok dikişi

How it is used

The standard seam on T-shirts and other knits. Overlocks are described by the number of threads: 3-thread, 4-thread, or 5-thread safety stitch. Overlock can also be a verb: overlock the edges before you hem.

Example sentences

  1. The side seams are joined with a 4-thread overlock.

  2. Overlock all raw edges on the unlined jacket.

Common collocations

  • 4-thread overlock
  • overlock machine
  • overlock stitch
  • overlock the edges
  • stitchA single loop of thread made by a needle in sewing, or a particular type of stitching such as lockstitch, chainstitch or coverstitch.
  • seamThe line where two or more pieces of fabric are joined together, usually by sewing, such as the side seam or shoulder seam of a garment.
  • knitMade from yarn formed into rows of connected loops, which makes the fabric naturally stretchy, as in T-shirts, sweatshirts and jumpers.
  • seam allowanceThe extra fabric between the stitching line and the cut edge of a pattern piece, which makes it possible to sew and finish the seam.

More terms: Sewing & Construction

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