fancy-schmancy
French Seam
Begin by sewing a Plain Seam, BUT **with wrong sides together** and only 1/4 inch of a seam allowance. But my teacher from that one class I took told me to do 2/8 of an inch. I'm no math wiz, so this confused me. I opted to do a really, really small seam allowance, figuring that's what it meant.
and seriously? check out the macro on that picture!
Trim seam allowance to 1/8 of an inch (so tiny!)
And press open. I found this really not so easy, so I used my finger to open the seam allowance first
Fold fabric with right sides together
Stitch another 1/4 inch seam allowance. But my teacher? She made me write 3/8 of an inch in my book. So, again, small.
Press in place
The underside will look like this
and the top
The Book says: "A French Seam is a "seam within a seam" and can be used on sheer fabrics and lingerie. It is not recommended for curved seams."
My husband told me yesterday he's hoping my next assignment will require this seam. Yes, I discuss seams with my husband. And he probably gets as much from those conversations as I get from the ones about computers and networking. I'm pretty sure all he heard was "lingerie".
You Told Me:
1/20/10 Samantha wrote: "I love French seams very much. I use them when I make blouses and children's clothes. Any time you use lawn or voile or batiste or other light weight fabrics, French seams are great. You can use them with heavier fabrics if you have large seam allowances and use bigger fractions when you're doing your first pass and second pass. I wanted extra sturdiness in my grocery bags, so I used French seams in the bottoms of the bags.
You might like your results a little more if you will press your seams flat as sewn before you try to open them up or trim or press to the side or what have you. Lock those stitches in place with a little press and then start manipulating your seam."
You might like your results a little more if you will press your seams flat as sewn before you try to open them up or trim or press to the side or what have you. Lock those stitches in place with a little press and then start manipulating your seam."
1/20/10 amayo wrote: "This kind of seam is also fantastic when you are using those evil kinds of fabric that often make up formal dress that shred along the edges- this traps the shreddy parts so your seam stays in place and you don't gunk up your machine by sucking the shredding materials down into the bobbin area. (excuse my technical terms- I can sew OK but I can't remember real terms EVER)."
6 comments:
Ha ha ha. Lingerie. Love it. By the way...I'm totally loving this blog!
I love French seams very much. I use them when I make blouses and children's clothes. Any time you use lawn or voile or batiste or other light weight fabrics, French seams are great. You can use them with heavier fabrics if you have large seam allowances and use bigger fractions when you're doing your first pass and second pass. I wanted extra sturdiness in my grocery bags, so I used French seams in the bottoms of the bags.
You might like your results a little more if you will press your seams flat as sewn before you try to open them up or trim or press to the side or what have you. Lock those stitches in place with a little press and then start manipulating your seam.
This kind of seam is also fantastic when you are using those evil kinds of fabric that often make up formal dress that shred along the edges- this traps the shreddy parts so your seam stays in place and you don't gunk up your machine by sucking the shredding materials down into the bobbin area. (excuse my technical terms- I can sew OK but I can't remember real terms EVER). Your tutorial is fantastic on this
Samantha and Amayo, thank you so much for chiming in. I'm really such a novice seamstress, even though I've been sewing for ten years now. I need comments and helps like this and would love to hear more ways to use these techniques in practical sewing. I actually have been wanting to make some shopping bags, so that helpful hint is very appreciated.
And Christie, thanks. That means a lot to me coming from you!
I love the way you managed to work in that 2/8" inside and 3/8" outside equals the total 5/8" seam allowance, very cunning! I french seam most of what I sew whenever possible. It's worth the little extra time and thread. Thanks SO much for taking the time to write this tutorial! I'm passing it on to my daughters! Cheers!
Pam
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Just to back up amayo, we used French (enclosed/encased) seams on the organza of my wedding dress. (Because if it shreds, it will also fall apart!) I've also read that it minimizes shedding on furry fabrics (like minky).
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