Elevate Your Sewing: Reverse Bobbin Topstitching

I'm happy to share with you a topstitching technique I use quite often in my sewing. I used it here on my Coffeehouse Pants both on the pocket and on the hem (see below).  This is one of those sewing tricks that I've shared in my sewing classes and people don't believe that it actually works because it sounds too easy!  Although reverse bobbin work is something we often see in quilting or "art to wear", I think it's perfect for everyday garment sewing and it's a whole lot of fun for something so quick and easy.

Reverse bobbin topstitching is stitched from the wrong side of the fabric so when you look from the front you are actually looking at the bobbin thread.  If you load some chunky or interesting thread that might normally be too thick as an upper thread, you can load it in the bobbin and use it.  It can be a thread for hand embroidery or machine...I've used different types.  Here's how to do it:
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1. Hand wind embroidery floss on a machine bobbin (I used all 6 strands of DMC hand embroidery floss but you can choose your own).
2. Load bobbin into machine just as you would for regular sewing.
3. Load needle thread with normal machine thread (the needle thread will show through to the front as a "couching" effect so matching or contrasting thread works.  I used white as a contrast here).

1. Adjust stitch length (longer stitch length gives you a thicker look and shorter stitch looks more delicate).
2. Stitch from wrong side of garment.
3. Turn over and marvel!

Here are some more examples of bobbin work:

Enjoy my friends.  And I'd love to see examples of your stitching!

​Happy Sewing!

​Diane