French Seams

Create neat, tidy French seams

Posted by MadebyMeg

About

One of my favorite seam finishes, the French seam is perfect for enclosing all the raw edges of a seam because everything gets turned in on itself. Because of the added bulk, it is best to use French seams on thinner fabrics, or where the bulk doesn't matter. It is also the perfect finish for sheer fabrics.

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You Will Need (1 thing)

  • Thread

Steps (4 steps, 30 minutes)

  1. 1

    Sew the first seam with wrong sides together. For a 5/8" seam allowance, sew the first line of stitches 2/8" (1/4") from raw edge.

  2. 2

    Flip the fabric so that rights sides are together. Press.

  3. 3

    With right sides still together, sew second line of stitches 3/8" from pressed edge, enclosing raw edges from first seam. This will use up the full 5/8" seam allowance (2/8" + 3/8" = 5/8").

  4. 4

    Press the seam open and you're done! For a faux flat-felled seam look, you can also sew a third line of stitches attaching the french seam to the garment.