ASTM D5646-96(2008)

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Designation:D5646–96 (Reapproved 2002) Designation:D5646–96 (Reapproved 2008)
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 (´) 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.
1.2 Additional terms can be found in Terminology D 123.
2. Referenced Documents
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D 123 Terminology Relating to Textiles
2.2 Federal Standard:
Fed. Std. 751a, Stitches, Seams and Stitching
3. Terminology
blind hem stitch, n— in home sewing a complex machine stitch pattern consisting of small groups of straight or narrow zigzag
stitches separated by a wide zigzag stitch unit at consistent intervals. (See Fig. 1.)
DISCUSSION—The blind hem stitch is used to make and lessen the visibility of hems in finished textile products. Other potential applications include
seam finishes on soft fabrics and decorative work.
buttonhole stitch, n— in home sewing, a complex machine stitch pattern made by coordinated motions of needle and feed,
appearing as very close stitches forming a narrow rectangle of stitching that is usually composed of four stitch segments, one
on each side and on each of the two ends of 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.
complex machine stitch pattern, n—in home sewing, a machine stitch pattern formed when two or more simple machine stitch
patterns are combined in one repeating unit. (Compare simple machine stitch pattern.)
DISCUSSION—Complex machine stitch patterns include the blind hem stitch, buttonhole stitch, and straight stitch.
lockstitch, n—in home sewing, a type of stitch formed with two threads: one needle thread and one bobbin thread interlaced with
each other.
DISCUSSION—The needle thread passes through the material and interlaces with thread from the bobbin so that the interlacing is midway between
surfaces of the material(s) being sewn. Other lock stitch formations are available for industrial use. (See Fig. 3.)
machinestitch, n— in home sewing, the resulting arrangement of sewing threads in a repeating unit formed by a sewing machine.
DISCUSSION—Stitchesarecategorizedaseithersimpleorcomplexsewingmachinestitchpatterns.(Seestraightstitch,singlestitchzigzag,multiple
stitch zigzag, blind hem stitch, buttonhole stitch, and stretch stitch. Stitches made by serger and hemmers are not included in this definition.
sewing machine, n— in home sewing, a machine that uses needles and bobbin threads in the stitch formation and is primarily for
home sewing use rather that industrial use.
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 D5646–94. Last previous edition D5646–95a.D13 on Textiles and is the direct
responsibility of Subcommittee D13.54 on Subassemblies .
Current edition approved Aug. 1, 2008. Published October 2008. Originally approved in 1994. Last previous edition approved in 2002 as D 5646 – 96 (2002).
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 01.01.
Printed in 1965 as Federal Standard No. 751a, Stitches, Seams and Stitching, General ServicesAdministration, Washington, D.C. 20407.Available from Standardization
Documents Order Desk, Bldg. 4 Section D, 700 Robbins Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19111-5094, Attn: NPODS.
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