How to Sew a French Seam Tutorial

French seams are enclosed seams that are used on fine fabrics for strength and to finish the seam allowance. French seams make the difference between homemade and handmade. This seam leaves every garment with a professional finish that looks as good on the inside and it does on the outside.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. 

   For 1/4 inch French seams, place your fabric pieces wrong sides together.

2. 

   Stitch a seam 1/4 inch less than the allowed seam allowance width. Trim the seam allowances to slightly less than the desired finished French seam width.

3. 

   Press the seam allowance to one side.

4. 

   Press the fabric pieces, right sides together so that the stitching is now along the folded edge of fabric and the raw edges are between the two pieces of fabric.

5. 

   Stitch a seam a second time at the desired width of the French seam.

6. 

   Press the finished seam to one side and flip your fabric over to ensure no stray threads are peeking through the seam on the outside.

7. 

   Admire your professional French seam.

Tips & Warnings

• After the first stitch, you may want to zigzag the edge of your seam so stray threads do not poke through your outside seam.

[PhiMcRee]

on 4/7/2009 Very detailed and great pictures. 5*