How to Finish Seams Without a Serger

Make your seams neat and attractive without a serger.

Although a serger sewing machine may often be the first choice for finishing seam allowances and giving sewing projects a professional appearance, you can create finished seams without a serger too. Avoid the expense of a serger but give your sewing a neat and flat appearance by finishing seams without a serger. Choose between one of two methods and finish your seam allowances effectively.

Things You'll Need

• Iron
• Sewing machine
• Thread
• Scissors
• Pinking shears

Instructions

Zigzag Stitch

1. Iron the seam allowance to either side or iron the seam allowance open. Garment sewing usually entails ironing the seam allowance open and quilting entails ironing seam allowances to either side.

2. Set the zigzag stitch on the sewing machine to an appropriate width, depending on the seam allowance width. Whatever the seam allowance, make the zigzag stitch come about 1/8-inch away from the seam stitching.

3. Position the fabric in the sewing machine so the zigzag stitch will stitch along the edge with the right edge of the stitching falling at the edge of the fabric.

4. Stitch the zigzag stitch over the fabric to finish the edges. If you pressed the seam allowance to one side, stitch them together with the zigzag stitch. If you pressed the seam allowance open, stitch the zigzag stitch along each layer of fabric separately.

Pinking

1. Iron the seam allowance to either side or iron the seam allowance open.

2. Position the pinking shears on the seam allowance so the pinked edge will be about a 1/4 inch away from the seam.

3. Cut slowly along the fabric with the pinking shears. As you cut, realign the pinks of the shears each time to make the pinking neat. Continue cutting until you pink the entire seam allowance.

Tips & Warnings

• Pinking a seam allowance is ideal for heavy fabrics. Zigzag stitching a seam allowance is ideal for lightweight cottons that tend to fray.

References

• Sewing.org: Seam Finishes