How to Sew French Seams

This Challenge #3 of the FabricMart Challenge I’m in right now. Each participant was given a topic and we had to create a little tutorial for it. Here’s mine.





A French seam is just a fancy way of sewing a regular seam. Using this technique, you are enclosing the raw edge of the fabric so both sides of the garment look nice. This is a really great technique for light or sheer fabric where you may see the raw seam allowance edges through the fabric. It’s also great for things where you may see the inside of the garment, like an unfinished jacket or the join in a scarf. This also works with thicker fabrics, but the seam allowances may get bulky.

Put your fabric together WRONG sides together. Yes, really. I know normally you put things the other way. Trust me, this time put your fabric WRONG sides together. Instead of doing your typical 5/8” seam allowance, do a 3/8” seam allowance. When I’m making something with French seams, I like to do all the wrong-sides-together stitches first. For example, on a top, I’ll sew the shoulder seams and side seams all wrong sides together and then go on to the other steps. I find things move faster that way.




Iron your seam allowance open.




Trim your seam allowance to 1/8”



Now, fold the RIGHT sides together and press the seam with your iron.




Go back to the sewing machine and sew 1/4” from the seam edge. You are still getting a 5/8” seam allowance, you are just doing it in two steps!




Go to the wrong side and iron down that beautiful inside seam.




Enjoy your beautiful seams on the inside and the outside!


And voila, you have a garment that is beautiful inside and out!!

Here's a link to the other contestants. And here's a link to vote!