Overcast stitch

[1] The hand overcast stitch involves small, evenly spaced diagonal stitches, binding the raw edge of the fabric.

The overcast foot has an edge guide that helps the fabric to feed evenly along the edge and a bar in the middle that controls the stitch and makes it lay flat.

[2] Overcast stitches may be reversible, as when they are used to join crochet block pieces of afghan blankets.

A straight overcast stitch is used for finishing edges in eyelets and cutwork.

There are two methods of creating an embroidered overcast stitch.