<p>You're approaching the subject wrong. Whether a seam lies on the inside or outside of a garment has nothing to do with the type of stitch you use. It's called &quot;inner seam&quot; and &quot;outer seam&quot; respectively and the same stitch can produce an inner and outer seam.</p>
<p>Let's start with this example:</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/7pgvA.png" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/7pgvA.png" alt="enter image description here" /></a></p>
<p>The straight seams are &quot;overlocked&quot; or &quot;serged&quot;. This is a method designed to keep fabric edges from fraying and you'll find this type of seam finishing in most industrially sewn clothes. Usually the overlocked edge is on the inside of the garment. Putting it on the outside in this example was a design choice.</p>
<p>There are special sewing machines called &quot;serger&quot; and &quot;overlocker&quot; that sew only this type of seam, but you can also do it on a regular sewing machine using a zig-zag stitch.</p>
<p>Next example:</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/ZzDII.png" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/ZzDII.png" alt="enter image description here" /></a></p>
<p>This is not a type of stitch. It's the method how most textile items are sewn. You sew them inside out (by putting the fabric &quot;right sides together&quot;), then you finish the edges to avoid fraying and finally you turn the item right side out. That makes the seams very neat and hidden inside the item.</p>
<p>There are many, <em>many</em> ways to sew this type of seam. To give you some names to work with, see this example (<a href="https://sewingmachinejudge.com/sewing-seams-seam-finishes-2/" rel="noreferrer">click the link</a> to get a short description of every seam type shown below):</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/SQRva.jpg" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/SQRva.jpg" alt="enter image description here" /></a></p>
<p>What you call &quot;side by side stitching&quot; is not done with fabric, for 2 reasons: fabric is too soft to hold its shape like this and the edges would fray and rip apart. This type of stitching is only done with materials that don't fray (like leather or neoprene) and that cannot fold over like fabric. This particular example is called &quot;cross saddle stitch&quot;.</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/JMF9q.png" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/JMF9q.png" alt="enter image description here" /></a></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-04-15T19:16:40.307Z
Thank you!  "Seam" was definitely THE key-word I was missing for everything.  Searching "seam types" gives the results I was looking for.  Except for the "side by side" one.  Is there a "seam" name for it?
Library Seph
CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-04-15T12:50:44.417Z
2023-04-15T12:50:44.417Z
Elmy
<p>I'm trying to research sewing but haven't managed to find the appropriate key terms.</p>
<p>There are three types of stitch I've seen: inner stitches, side-by-side stitches, and outer stitches.  Examples are below, but <strong>what are the correct key terms for these?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Inner stitch: faces touch in a way that is hidden:</strong></p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/ZzDII.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/ZzDII.png" alt="enter image description here" /></a></p>
<hr />
<p><strong>Side by side stitch: neither face touching:</strong></p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/JMF9q.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/JMF9q.png" alt="enter image description here" /></a></p>
<hr />
<p><strong>Outer stitch (surged?): faces touch in a visible way:</strong></p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/7pgvA.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/7pgvA.png" alt="enter image description here" /></a></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-04-15T10:14:09.097Z
It's really the name of the seam you need, not the stitch used to achieve it, which is another variable.
Chris H
<sewing><terminology>
What are the proper key terms for inner stitch, side-by-side stitch, and outer stitch?
Library Seph
# What are the proper key terms for inner stitch, side-by-side stitch, and outer stitch?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2023-04-14)

I'm trying to research sewing but haven't managed to find the appropriate key terms.

There are three types of stitch I've seen: inner stitches, side-by-side stitches, and outer stitches. Examples are below, but **what are the correct key terms for these?**

**Inner stitch: faces touch in a way that is hidden:**

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/ZzDII.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/ZzDII.png)

---

**Side by side stitch: neither face touching:**

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/JMF9q.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/JMF9q.png)

---

**Outer stitch (surged?): faces touch in a visible way:**

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/7pgvA.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/7pgvA.png)

**Tags:** sewing, terminology

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: It's really the name of the seam you need, not the stitch used to achieve it, which is another variable.  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2023-04-15. Score: 7

You're approaching the subject wrong. Whether a seam lies on the inside or outside of a garment has nothing to do with the type of stitch you use. It's called "inner seam" and "outer seam" respectively and the same stitch can produce an inner and outer seam.

Let's start with this example:

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/7pgvA.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/7pgvA.png)

The straight seams are "overlocked" or "serged". This is a method designed to keep fabric edges from fraying and you'll find this type of seam finishing in most industrially sewn clothes. Usually the overlocked edge is on the inside of the garment. Putting it on the outside in this example was a design choice.

There are special sewing machines called "serger" and "overlocker" that sew only this type of seam, but you can also do it on a regular sewing machine using a zig-zag stitch.

Next example:

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/ZzDII.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/ZzDII.png)

This is not a type of stitch. It's the method how most textile items are sewn. You sew them inside out (by putting the fabric "right sides together"), then you finish the edges to avoid fraying and finally you turn the item right side out. That makes the seams very neat and hidden inside the item.

There are many, *many* ways to sew this type of seam. To give you some names to work with, see this example ([click the link](https://sewingmachinejudge.com/sewing-seams-seam-finishes-2/) to get a short description of every seam type shown below):

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/SQRva.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/SQRva.jpg)

What you call "side by side stitching" is not done with fabric, for 2 reasons: fabric is too soft to hold its shape like this and the edges would fray and rip apart. This type of stitching is only done with materials that don't fray (like leather or neoprene) and that cannot fold over like fabric. This particular example is called "cross saddle stitch".

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/JMF9q.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/JMF9q.png)

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Thank you!  "Seam" was definitely THE key-word I was missing for everything.  Searching "seam types" gives the results I was looking for.  Except for the "side by side" one.  Is there a "seam" name for it?  

---

