A hand-sewing technique where the needle repeatedly passes over the edge of the fabric to join two pieces or finish a raw edge. The thread wraps around the edge in a spiral pattern. It is fast to execute but leaves exposed diagonal threads that can catch or abrade if used on high-wear seams.
Heard on the job
You can whip stitch those felt pieces together so the edges don't lift.
Insider tip
Keep your stitches evenly spaced and pull with consistent tension so the edge does not pucker.
Do not mix it up with
- Blanket stitch: A blanket stitch also covers the edge but loops through itself to form a continuous line along the edge, whereas a whip stitch just spirals over it.