How to zigzag a seam
The everyday finish.
Step by step
- Sew the seam as normal.
- Switch to zigzag and sew just over each raw edge.
- Thick fabric: wider zigzag. Light fabric: smaller, tighter zigzag.
- Either zigzag edges separately and press open, or together and press to one side.
Watch
How to finish seams without an overlocker - zigzag stitch tutorial and pinking shears - Evelyn Wood (7:18)
By Evelyn Wood · Open on YouTube
Chosen from its title and channel: a 7-minute video from Evelyn Wood on the same topic as this guide. Embedded from YouTube with credit; we don't host it. It only loads when you press play.
All guides ›Seam finishes
Sources
All checked November 1, 2026. We read these; we did not test the products ourselves.