Quick sewing question - overlock stitch (on a normal sewing machine)

[joules]

I have a very basic Brother sewing machine. I was reading the manual and it says it has an Overlock stitch. The picture of the stitch looks like a bunch of arrowheads laying next to each other.

#16 overlock stitch has the arrowheads pointing left
#17 overlock stitch has the arrowheads pointing right

Which way does the arrow point on my fabric? Does it point towards the cut/frayed hem or away from it?

I've only used straight stitches to make stuff like pillow cases. I'm so clueless!!

Thanks!

[ellies mom]

I would say that the point of the arrow goes to the cut edge of the fabric because that is where it wraps around the edge of the fabric. I believe you need a special foot too.

[joules]

Thanks. I did this and kind of poked around and it seems to work. It looks secure and doesn't look like it will fray.

I am confused about the special foot. I see that I can purchase a special overlock foot. However in my instruction manual, on the very brief page that talks about the overlock stitch, it clearly shows the normal foot. I'm sure the stitch I used is not a true overlock stitch, but it does the job.

Oh and upon further inspection one of the overlock stitches is called the "stretch overlock" and the other is called the "elastic overlock", depending on where the arrow is pointing. huh? stretch and elastic seem like the same thing to me. haha.

[jerigirl]

what machine do you have?

[joules]

Brother XL2600I

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000F7DPEQ/ref=oh_o03_s00_i00_details

[jerigirl]

You dont *have* to have the special foot to use the overlock stitches, but to make it more like a true serger stitch you need the foot. It helps you get right to the edge.

[joules]

Oh. thanks for clarifying. I don't think I'll need one of those then, I don't make anything advanced enough for that.

[jerigirl]

http://www.sewingmachinesplus.com/BL-OCF.php
This is the foot and in the description box is a pdf link that shows how to use it.