So Sew! Day 23: French Seam
Welcome to day 23 of our 31 Days sewing series! This is a tutorial for a french seam.
Today I want to show you another simple seam that has a big impact! The simple hem we learned yesterday is great for finishing things like curtains, or clothing hems. Today's seam is great for a seam, not a hem, that is going to be seen often.
Today's seam is called the French Seam. I use this on the inside of the pillowcases in my shop.
A french seam encloses the raw edges of a seam, making it more finished and keeping it from fraying. It only takes two simple steps:
Start by putting your fabric wrong sides together. This is backwards! Normally for a seam you put right sides together, but this is backwards! Make a 1/2" seam or less - wrong sides together.
You may want to iron this to help it to lay correctly.
Next, turn your fabric the other way an lay it right sides together - like normal. =)
You have to make sure the first seam you made is directly on the side.
Now sew a normal 5/8" seam.
On the back, you have a nice seam with no raw edges.
Flip it over, and you'll see a normal looking seam! No one needs to know what secrets lurk in there! =)
The key to this seam is that your first seam {when the fabric pieces were wrong sides together} is smaller than the second one. That keeps everything enclosed. Here is the view from the end where you can see both seams:
Again, a really easy seam, right? If I've said it once, I've said it a thousand times: sewing is easy and fun! =)
Challenge: Test this seam on some scrap fabric. Whaddya think? What items would you use this seam on?
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Today I want to show you another simple seam that has a big impact! The simple hem we learned yesterday is great for finishing things like curtains, or clothing hems. Today's seam is great for a seam, not a hem, that is going to be seen often.
Today's seam is called the French Seam. I use this on the inside of the pillowcases in my shop.
A french seam encloses the raw edges of a seam, making it more finished and keeping it from fraying. It only takes two simple steps:
Start by putting your fabric wrong sides together. This is backwards! Normally for a seam you put right sides together, but this is backwards! Make a 1/2" seam or less - wrong sides together.
You may want to iron this to help it to lay correctly.
Next, turn your fabric the other way an lay it right sides together - like normal. =)
You have to make sure the first seam you made is directly on the side.
Now sew a normal 5/8" seam.
On the back, you have a nice seam with no raw edges.
Flip it over, and you'll see a normal looking seam! No one needs to know what secrets lurk in there! =)
The key to this seam is that your first seam {when the fabric pieces were wrong sides together} is smaller than the second one. That keeps everything enclosed. Here is the view from the end where you can see both seams:
Again, a really easy seam, right? If I've said it once, I've said it a thousand times: sewing is easy and fun! =)
Challenge: Test this seam on some scrap fabric. Whaddya think? What items would you use this seam on?
Other posts in this series:
Day 4: Purchasing Notions
Day 5: Helpful Links for beginners
Day 6: Free Art Download (on Discipline)
Day 7: Purchasing Fabric
Day 8: Fabric Prep
Day 9: Studio tour and work spaces
Day 10: Making a straight seam
Day 11: Seam ripping
Day 12: Online fabric stores
Day 13: Free Art Download {on Beauty}
Day 14: Buying a pattern
Day 15: Using a pattern
Day 16: Who needs a pattern?
Day 17: On Having Patience
Day 18: Turning things Right Side Out
Day 19: Helpful links
Day 20: Free Download {a colourful print}
Day 21: My Serger
Day 22: A Simple Hem
Day 5: Helpful Links for beginners
Day 6: Free Art Download (on Discipline)
Day 7: Purchasing Fabric
Day 8: Fabric Prep
Day 9: Studio tour and work spaces
Day 10: Making a straight seam
Day 11: Seam ripping
Day 12: Online fabric stores
Day 13: Free Art Download {on Beauty}
Day 14: Buying a pattern
Day 15: Using a pattern
Day 16: Who needs a pattern?
Day 17: On Having Patience
Day 18: Turning things Right Side Out
Day 19: Helpful links
Day 20: Free Download {a colourful print}
Day 21: My Serger
Day 22: A Simple Hem
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