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Glite Dictionary
to whipstitch the hem

to whipstitch the hem

8.7
To sew the folded edge of cloth by hand with small stitches over it
  • phrasal verb
  • Specialized
translation icon : hacer una puntada de látigo en el dobladillo
  • He showed me how to neatly whipstitch the hem of my jeans by hand.

Examples

  • After you fold the fabric, simply whipstitch the hem to keep it secure.

  • She always prefers to whipstitch the hem for a clean finish on her garments.

  • Please whipstitch the hem of this dress.

  • Can you whipstitch the hem for me?

  • After you fold the fabric, simply whipstitch the hem to keep it secure.

  • He showed me how to neatly whipstitch the hem of my jeans by hand.

  • She always prefers to whipstitch the hem for a clean finish on her garments.

Synonyms

to stitch up
vsto whipstitch the hem
6 3.9

To sew a hole or loose edge to make clothing whole again

uses a simple over and over stitch rather than general sewing
to fell
vsto whipstitch the hem
  • Specialized
2 9.9

To fold a cloth edge and sew it down so the raw edge is inside

secures edges by stitching over them without folding them first
to hem
vsto whipstitch the hem
1 4.1

To fold the edge of cloth and sew it to stop it coming apart

uses a simple over and over stitch specifically to secure the edge
to overlock
vsto whipstitch the hem
  • UK
1 6.3

To sew fabric edges with a special stitch to stop them coming apart

uses a simple hand over and over stitch rather than a specialized machine stitch
to backstitch
vsto whipstitch the hem
  • Specialized
7.3

To sew by putting the needle back into the cloth behind the last hole to make a strong continuous line

uses simple over and over motion to finish edges rather than create a strong seam
to hemstitch
vsto whipstitch the hem
  • Specialized
9.9

To sew the edge of fabric with a decorative open border

secures and finishes edges with a simple over and over stitch rather than decorating them

How Secure

to hem
1 4.1
to whipstitch the hem
  • Specialized
8.7
to baste
  • Specialized
1 7.5

Surface Forms

whipstitch infinitive
whipstitched past
whipstitched past participle
whipstitching present participle
whipstitches third person singular

Morphology

whipstitch + the + hem

The meaning is directly compositional: it instructs to apply the whipstitch (a known sewing stitch) to the hem (the folded edge). Converting the stitch name into a verb and applying it to the object follows standard English patterns, so a B1 learner who knows 'whipstitch' and 'hem' can readily derive the intended action.

Etymology

Whipstitch the hem comes from a simple hand stitch: the whipstitch is made by passing thread over the cloth edge again and again and the hem is the folded edge of a piece of clothing, so the thread looks like it is whipping around the edge. That's why it means 'to sew the edge to finish or secure it'.