5 Most Useful Basic Hand Sewing Stitches Stitch ClinicOvercast is a stitching technique which involves creating small in-out stitches in order to securely connect two cloth pieces together. This method gives strength and stops the fabric from coming apart. The join together is used for a selection of sewing projects, like sewing the hem, stitching appliques, or even creating coverlets. It gives a neat and skilled look to the final product.