Print this page

What you might also like

0 comments on “”

  • I was taught just the opposite of what you are showing. Initial seam has wrong sides together, seam is on the outside. Trim one of the seam allowances, press toward the trimmed allowance, fold and top stitch. You end up with 2 stitching lines on the outside, and you have the advantage of seeing where your stitches are being laid down – no guessing and hoping that you catch the turned over seam allowance. This way is much quicker and easily to make a neat even spacing between stitching lines.

  • I prefer to start a flat fell seam by first sewing the fabric wrong sides together. Then I proceed just as in the directions above. The finished seam has two rows of stitching on the right side of the garment. I think this looks like the seams on my husband’s dress shirts. I started using this seam in the 1960s when sewing oxford cloth shirts to get a “ready-to-wear” look. Try both methods to see which look you like.

    • A french seam is not stitched down. This is the way I do them for a 5/8 seam: Start wrong sides together. Sew a quarter inch seam. Set the seam, then press the seam open and flat. Next, turn pieces right sides together, with the seam as the fold line. Press again. Sew a 3/8 seam. set seam, press to one side. I usually press toward the back. A flat felled, or lapped, seam encases the raw edge by lapping one seam allowance over the (trimmed) other and stitching it down. As discussed in the comments above there are two ways to accomplish this, each with a distinctive look. I use whichever method gives the best look for the particular project. French seams are not appropriate for heavy fabrics. Lighter weight fabrics can use either.

Leave a Reply