ASTM D5646-96

Standard Terminology of Basic Sewing Machine Stitches for Home Use

SCOPE
1.1 This terminology covers basic stitches made by sewing machines designed for home use. These terms and definitions are not necessarily consistent with those used in the apparel or home furnishings manufacturing industries. Each stitch is identified with a definition, a discussion of how the stitch is formed and might be used and an illustration of one or more possible stitch patterns. This terminology does not include stitches made by sergers, hemmers, or by attachments to the home sewing machines.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 31-Dec-1995
• Technical Committee: D13 - Textiles
• Drafting Committee: D13.54 - Subassemblies

Relations

• Replaced By: ASTM D5646-96(2002) - Standard Terminology of Basic Sewing Machine Stitches for Home Use
• Effective Date: 10-Feb-1996
• Referred By: ASTM D123-23 - Standard Terminology Relating to Textiles
• Effective Date: 01-Jan-1996

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superceded and replaced by a new version or discontinued.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information.
Designation: D 5646 – 96
Standard Terminology of
Basic Sewing Machine Stitches for Home Use
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 5646; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope
1.1 This terminology covers basic stitches made by sewing
machines designed for home use. These terms and definitions
are not necessarily consistent with those used in the apparel or
home furnishings manufacturing industries. Each stitch is
identified with a definition, a discussion of how the stitch is
formed and might be used and an illustration of one or more
possible stitch patterns. This terminology does not include
stitches made by sergers, hemmers, or by attachments to the
home sewing machines.
2. Referenced Documents
FIG. 1 Multiple Stitch Zigzag
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D 123 Terminology Relating to Textiles
complex machine stitch pattern, n—in home sewing,a
2.2 Federal Standard:
machine stitch pattern formed when two or more simple
Fed. Std. 751a, Stitches, Seams and Stitching
machine stitch patterns are combined in one repeating unit.
(Compare simple machine stitch pattern.)
3. Terminology
DISCUSSION—Complex machine stitch patterns include the blind hem
blind hem stitch, n—in home sewing a complex machine
stitch, buttonhole stitch, and straight stitch.
stitch pattern consisting of small groups of straight or narrow
zigzag stitches separated by a wide zigzag stitch unit at
lockstitch, n—in home sewing, a type of stitch formed with
consistent intervals. (See Fig. 1.)
two threads: one needle thread and one bobbin thread
interlaced with each other.
DISCUSSION—The blind hem stitch is used to make and lessen the
visibility of hems in finished textile products. Other potential applica-
DISCUSSION—The needle thread passes through the material and
tions include seam finishes on soft fabrics and decorative work.
interlaces with thread from the bobbin so that the interlacing is midway
between surfaces of the material(s) being sewn. Other lock stitch
buttonhole stitch, n—in home sewing, a complex machine
formations are available for industrial use. (See Fig. 3.)
stitch pattern made by coordinated motions of needle and
feed, appearing as very close stitches forming a narrow machine stitch, n—in home sewing, the resulting arrangement
rectangle of stitching that is usually composed of four stitch of sewing threads in a repeating unit formed by a sewing
segments, one on each side and on each of the two ends of machine.
the rectangle. (See Fig. 2.)
DISCUSSION—The buttonhole stitch is used for making buttonholes on
garments and other textile products. In a keyhole buttonhole, one end
is rounded rather than straight.
This terminology is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D-13 on
Textiles and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D13.53 on Practices.
Current edition approved Feb. 10, 1996. Published July 1996. Originally
published as D 5646 – 94. Last previous edition D 5646 – 95a.
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 01.01.
Printed in 1965 as Federal Standard No. 751a, Stitches, Seams and Stitching,
General Services Administration, Washington, D.C. 20407. Available from Stan-
dardization Documents Order Desk, Bldg. 4 Section D, 700 Robbins Ave.,
Philadelphia, PA 19111-5094, Attn: NPODS. FIG. 2 Straight Stitch
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
NOTICE: This standard has either been superceded and replaced by a new version or discontinued.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information.
D5646–96
making two or more stitches in one direction before completing the
same number of stitches in the opposite direction as the fabric moves
under the presser foot. (Compare simple stitch zigzag.) (See Fig. 1.)
Applications of the multiple and single stitch zigzag patterns are
similar.
simple machine stitch pattern, n—in home sewing, a repeat-
ing segment of machine stitches, with each repeat consisting
FIG. 3 Lockstitch Formations
of one or more stitches long. (Compare complex machine
stitch pattern.)
DISCUSSION—Stitches are categorized as either simple or complex
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