How to Finish Basic Seams for Sewing

A typical seam is 5/8 inch wide and is straight. There are many ways you can finish this basic seam to make your garment look professionally finished. Here are the directions to do a few of the most common basic seams for sewing.

Things You'll Need

• Fabric swatches for practice
• Sewing machine
• Thread
• Pinking shears
• Ironing board
• Steam iron
• Straight pins

Instructions

1. Prepare a regular 5/8-inch seam. Use the pinking shears to trim the edge of the fabric. Press the seam open. This is a quick and easy finish for cotton and cotton-blend fabrics.

2. Double-stitch the seam. Simply stitch on top of the first stitching, or you can stitch just to the inside edge of the first row of stitching. Use this seam finish on fabrics that have a loose weave.

3. Use a stretch knit seam on stretchable fabrics. The process is the same as Step 2 except you use the stretch stitch setting on your sewing machine.

4. Zigzag the seam edges. Stitch the regular 5/8-inch seam. Press it open. Set your zigzag sewing machine to a medium width stitch. Sew a zigzag stitch down one side of the seam allowance. Repeat on the other side of the seam allowance.

5. Stitch heavy fabrics such as denim with a flat-fell stitch. Stitch the 5/8-inch seam with the wrong sides together. Trim one side of the seam allowance to 1/8 inch. Press the seam allowance to one side with the longer side on top. Fold the untreated edge under the trimmed edge. Press in place. Sew a line of stitching close to the fold.

6. Create a French seam in lightweight and sheer fabric. Stitch the 5/8-inch seam with the wrong sides together. Trim the seam allowance to 1/8 inch. Press the fabric so that the right sides are together and the seam is the fold line. Stitch a 3/8-inch seam to encase the original seam allowance. Press the seam toward the back of the garment.