How To Sew A French Seam

Learn how to sew the perfect seam for sheer window treatments and for any home decor sewing project that exposes a seam. The french seam!
Many sewing projects that you encounter will have you sewing 2 panels of fabric together... creating a seam. Unless you have a serger, the edges of your seam are going to be ragged... and possibly unraveling.

Now, if you're sewing a lined drapery panel or sewing a pillow... a sewing project where the seams will end up being hidden, then the ragged edges are no big deal.

But what if you plan on sewing a sheer drapery panel? Those seams would look unsightly. What do you do?

You sew a french seam instead. A french seam is a seam that encloses the raw edges into itself. It's very simple and will make your projects nice and neat.

Step 1. Lay your fabric panels wrong sides together.

Step 2. Sew a 3/8" seam along the side edge

Step 3. Open up the sewn panel and press the seams open. Press well

Step 4. Fold the panel on the seam line right sides together.

Step 5. Press the folded edge

Step 6. Sew in 5/8" from the folded edge enclosing the raw edges of the 3/8" seam

Step 7. Press the seam to one side

Now you have a clean, professional seam with no ugly raw edges.

Use a french seam whenever you are going to have the backside of the seam exposed.

Happy Sewing!

Jennifer Thoden


Click here to read this article with easy to follow diagrams... PLUS discover dozens of free sewing projects!