How to Sew: Staystitch

Watch our helpful video guide: How to sew a staystitch. One of our Learn To Sew video guides.

You can also download a PDF copy of this tutorial.

This video shows how to sew a staystitch. Staystitching is used in two ways:

Staystitching is most commonly used around necklines and other curves or bias edges to help keep those areas intact when constructing a garment; these areas are more prone to stretching as you handle them and you may find your pieces don’t fit together properly if one edge has stretched out of shape.

A staystitch also acts as a guide when placing snips into the fabric. It prevents you from snipping too close to where the seam line will fall. For example, you may be advise to staystitch around a corner then clip up to a circle mark, then you can open the corner out for easier construction.

Top tip: Be sure to follow the direction of the arrows on the pattern directions.