How to Sew Seams in Jeans
Jeans were invented in 1873 by Levi Strauss. They were invented to be strong, for wear by miners who had migrated to the West Coast for the gold mine rush. Today, even fashion jeans give a nod toward the strong structure of original jeans, complete with rivets and the double-strong flat-felled seam. Give your handmade jeans a traditional jean look with this practical jean seam.
Instructions
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1
A sewing machine makes the process fly by. Sew a simple and straight, temporary basting stitch with a sewing machine where you want the seam to be. The right sides of the fabric should be together. Sew 5/8-inch from the edge of the fabric.
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2
An iron is an important part of a sewing kit. Press the seam allowances with an iron so that they lay open. The wrong sides of the seam allowances should be pressed against the wrong sides of the fabric.
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3
Trim one seam allowance to 1/8-inch.
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4
Fold the other, 5/8-inch seam allowance in half lengthwise, so that its right sides are pressed together.
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5
Fit the 1/8-inch seam allowance up between the halves of the folded 5/8-inch seam allowance.
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6
Press the folded 5/8-inch allowance, containing the 1/8-inch seam allowance, over so that the rough edge of the 5/8-inch allowance is hidden. Pin the fabric in place.
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7
Sew a straight stitch using strong thread and a jeans needle 1/8-inch from the folded point. This will attach both sides of the fold to the jeans.
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8
Sew a second seam again through the folded seam allowance, this time 1/8-inch from the original straight basting stitch made in Step 1.
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9
Remove the basting stitch if desired.
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Tips & Warnings
If you do not use an extra-strong needle to sew through the three and four layers of jean material encountered in the final steps, your needle may break.
References
- Photo Credit Hemera Technologies/AbleStock.com/Getty Images Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images Jupiterimages/Polka Dot/Getty Images
