A satin stitch is a zigzag with the stitch length reduced until the individual stitches sit against each other, forming a solid band of thread.
Settings. Width 2 to 5 mm depending on how wide a band you want; length between 0.3 and 0.5 mm. Too long and you see gaps; too short and the machine stalls because it cannot feed.
What it is for. Appliqué edges, monograms and lettering, decorative borders, and the sides of every buttonhole your machine sews.
Two things make the difference between a good and a bad satin stitch.
Stabiliser underneath. Dense stitching pulls the fabric in. Without a stabiliser the fabric tunnels and puckers, and there is no fixing it afterwards. Tear-away for wovens, cut-away for knits.
A satin stitch foot, which has a channel underneath so the raised band of stitching can pass. A standard flat-soled foot rides on top of the stitching and drags it.
Loosen the top tension slightly. The bobbin thread should be pulled slightly to the underside so it does not show along the edges of the band.
And go slowly at corners — pivot with the needle down on the outer edge of the curve, not the inner.
Questions people actually ask
My satin stitch has gaps.
Stitch length slightly too long, or the fabric is being dragged by the foot. Shorten the length and fit a satin stitch foot.
The fabric tunnels under the stitching.
No stabiliser. Dense stitching always pulls the fabric in; the stabiliser is what resists it.
Last reviewed 2026-08-11