How to Sew a French Seam

[susancnw59]

Terrific video. I need one for a baby swaddler and their directions are awful. And I have to admit, your nails look great and I LOVE the color. Okay, shallow moment over.

[urleo2108]

I don't think you have to press the 1/4in seam because you are gonna have to fold them close later anyway.

[Mane2231]

I've always been a fan of the French seam. This is a great video. Speaking of which (and this may be off-topic), but has anyone heard of the Fashion Fantasy Game? I heard it was great for people who like to sew.

[jamesrwill]

So, I bought this women's top pattern to make tops for my wife and daughter. On the outside, the pattern says "Sew Easy." I open up the pack and start reading. Sure enough, it says to join front to back with "French seams." (NOT "So Easy") I'm basically a beginner here. I'm thinkin', "What the heck is a "French seam?" "Youtube! They've GOT to have it!" Sure enough, you've taught me a new technique! You make it seem so simple, which I'm sure it's going to be. Thank you SO Much! :-)

[beetlebutterfly]

Oh my gosh, its like magic o_o

[madfishmonger]

Thanks! I was looking up a tutorial for something and it said to use a French seam and I had no idea how to do it. You explained this very clearly.

[alfajores44]

thank you!!! you made it seem sew easy.

[sassylassy01]

Me too! I am just starting to sew and need all the help. I can get. Awesome French seam!!!

[NurseGreeneyesRN]

thank you for this tutorial. I'm a newbie sewer!!! :o)

[prettiep]

thank you for your clear instructions!

[gattirenata]

love you video!!! so nicely done! and i love your advice: without burning yourself!!! lol i felt like this one was just for me!!!! =) you have NO IDEA how much i burn myself with the iron. =S

[lety242558860]

The video was very useful in understanding how to do a french seam. My pattern calls for 1/4" and then 3/8" which is a total of 5/8". :D

[tiggypoolobster]

thanks, very clear

[Elementfifth]

thanks will try it on a pillow case :)

[BoredomTakeover]

@1:46 what is that grid paper? and what is it used for?

[MarleneD1216]

@BoredomTakeover The grid is printed on a pressing pad. A pressing pad is an insulated pad used for ironing. It's easier to use for me to use the pressing pad compared to lugging out the ironing board for small pressing jobs. I've never needed a grid to do any pressing, but I suppose quilters may find it useful.

[Carmel86Tae]

THANK YOU!

[1kivakarmen]

Fantastic tutorial!

[marquisdd]

Thanks so much for taking the trouble of making this video. It answered all my questions precisely and succinctly. Cheers. :-)

[mikawahwah]

Thank you!!

[amomschoice]

Excellent recipes

[amomschoice]

Thanks for step by step

[2JobsStillPoorUSA]

very cool method to finish garments. Thanks!

[AttomicFart]

Thank you so much!!!

[VickyBabbbess]

Thansk yoy made it seem so easy, i;ve been looking for video for ages that will help me with my textile homework :) xx

[tagapagpanood]

Aha! I *finally* understand this. Thank you so much! And the way you do it seems easier too, than how I read of how to do it (no trimming and such). Thank you again! :)

[SweatshopBuddha]

Thanks, I totally get this now.

[MarleneD1216]

@Thekarissa1000 Hi, I used a regular straight stitch.

[Thekarissa1000]

@MarleneD1216 Thankx :D

[rubyflipper]

Thank you-finally a proper explanation.

[parrishd1]

Thank you!! I am a beginner at sewing and this really helped me!! You were so clear :)

[ginunleashed]

this was GREAT, i loved how straight foward u are and u dont make it complicated....keep up the good work...thnx 4 sharing!

[tribblesnz]

Awesome! Thank you for your effort to make a clear video that is easy to understand! Much appreciated!

[freshfaceex3]

Thank you so much this video is so helpful!..But would you mind helping me?..I am applying to school for fashion design and I want to show them that I can do a french seam..what kind of clothing is a french seam generally used for? Could I use it to sew the front and back pieces of a dress together?

-Thanks so much

[MarleneD1216]

@freshfaceex3 You're welcome. I made the video because I couldn't find a good one that was to straight forward and to the point. That's how most of my videos come about.

You absolutely can use a french seam to sew up a dress. By what I've read, a French seam is generally used on fabrics that are thin and unravel easily. Although I used it to sew the tube part of a yoga bag together with canvas material and it worked great.

[freshfaceex3]

@MarleneD1216 Ok great, thanks so much! (and yes, you're video is the most straight forward I've seen haha)

[shenXnanigans]

Thank you! :)

[aliciathefatpenguin]

u r a genius

[galadremin]

very useful! Thanks!

[Hjadlowker]

Thanks!

[jaamfamily]

Thanks! This video really helped me.

[CrowbeakSasquatch]

Thank you! Concise and clear. :D

[supee]

Thanks for doing this; it's 20 years since I last had to sew a French seam, and I needed to remind myself!

[crazy4gardens]

This was exactly what I needed. I was pretty sure I understood *how* to do this but love that I can double-check my understanding before sewing. Thanks!!!

[chicharwali]

Can you help me please.

I have a pattern that i mostly understand. I know how to do a french seam but the mathematics are a bit baffling.

On the edges where the french seam has to be hemmed it says (on every piece) "3/8 inch hem allowed".

what does this mean? its so confusing!

i understand yours 1/4 inch is a fourth (25%) and 1/2 is HALF (50%). what is 3/8?? and how much to i fold first and then second?

please help.

[MarleneD1216]

@chicharwali From what I know when a pattern says there is a 3/8" hem allowed that means that the pattern you are to cut out is the size needed to sew it together 3/8" from the edges and have it be the size you've selected to make. Are you creating a French seam where it doesn't tell you? That would require math because you would have to add extra fabric to fold it into the seam.

[Dizzylizzyscreations]

Why would you need an extra 1 1/2 wouldn't it only be 3/4 inches?

[MarleneD1216]

I used 3/4" extra on each piece so the total extra fabric I used is = 1 1/2". Say I start with 2 pieces that are both 4" wide (8 total). After seaming I will have used 3/4" of each piece. When I open the pieces with my finished seam my total width is 6 1/2" (8" - 1 1/2" = 6 1/2").

Take 2 pieces of paper and use a stapler to mimic this seam and you will see what I mean. There are ways to enclose the seam without using quite as much extra fabric too.

[MarleneD1216]

There are certainly different approaches to sewing a French Seam. Learn them all and decide which you like best. No matter which way you make it you will use more fabric than what you would use for a regular seam allowance to enclose the raw edge; there's just no way around that. Happy sewing!

[patchdy7]

theres an easier way to do this, plus you only need to add 1/2 inch in not 1inch and 3/4 or whatever she used!

[rickcrisbalthis]

Excellent, Thank you!

[Musicismylife891]

This video was so helpful! It really helped with my homework!

[salvinalauricella]

love your life very helpful (L)

[vonlueck]

thankyou for the post:)

[headredkc]

This really helped. Love youtube videos vs. printed instructions! I also just bought the $150 Brother that you have, at Walmart. LOVE it! I replaced my 30 year old Singer and OH, what a smooth sew! Wish I would have bought it years ago.

[coopersqualls]

Thanks! Great video. I am new to sewing and this visual of french seam really helps, much better that the directions on the pattern I am working with!

[muslimia99]

very interesting, i also learned here on youtube how to sew in an invisable zipper, thanks for the video

[LunaraDeNaraku]

This tutorial was very much appreciated. Thanks. :)

[DumplingsAunt]

I don't understand why you ironed the first seam open if you simply sewed it shut again. Anyone?

[MarleneD1216]

Yes it seems redundant. That first part that gets sewn down is creased so that when you make the second seam it is very flat; pressing keeps it from buckling... IMO. You may very well achieve a nice crisp flat seam without pressing it twice and might not be able to even to tell. Try it both ways and see if you notice a difference.

There are quite a few good comments about how others do this seam; I can't remark on the validity of them since I've only made a french seam this way.

[DumplingsAunt]

I just read the previous comments and saw that my question was asked earlier. Oh well! :) Your video and remarks clear and informative. Thanks, Marlene.

[Sunnybunny2006]

what brand of sewing machine do you have? it's really nice.

[MarleneD1216]

It's a Brother EX-660. I bought it from Costco. It was $150 and since it was at Costco it was also bundled with a bunch of accessories. I replaced my 15yo Kenmore (which was good) for this updated computerized model. I like it. :)

[kangarooblue22]

thank you!!!!!

[Chakwaina]

You do not need any extra fabric in the seam allowances if you use a 2/8ths or ¼ seam the 1st time and a 3/8ths seam the second time. I was also taught to trim the first seam a tiny bit before encasing in the 2nd.

[catladylily]

@Chakwaina Yes, I learned the same thing. Good video, but disappointing that it doesn't explain how to make the French seam without changing the seam allowance.

[gliza4]

Thank you so much this is great help I am a beginner

[Kyniko]

Thanks! This is a big help :D!

[venusgal100]

Thank you for this tutorial. I was trying to figure out how to achieve a french seam, but online tutorials made it seem (ohoho!) more complicated. Thank you for this video.

[TempeBrennanBooth]

I think this is the most helpful thing I've ever seen for sewing. My abilities are self-taught (meaning I know how to sew a straight line and a curved line by practicing with a sheet of paper in home ec). I just have one little question about the ironing thing: you sewed the first part, then ironed the flaps perfectly flat before refolding them and sewing the section closed. I fail to understand the point of pressing the seam open if you iron it closed again.

[MarleneD1216]

Well, it's all about the finished look. Sure I suppose you could skip the first ironing of the flaps, but that "ditch" where the stitches lie holding the two pieces together is what determines how flat and straight the end join is. Not saying you *can't* skip the first ironing, Take some scrap material and try it both ways, maybe one is better for your project. PS, I'm not a seamstress either.

[TempeBrennanBooth]

Thanks bunches!

[Chakwaina]

Ironing of each and every seam, once it is sewn, makes the difference between a professional looking finished product and a "home-made" looking product. The best way to make this point id for you to make a French Seam without ironing and using the same fabric do again, ironing.

[smoke11jointsaday]

thank you for this but I would like to point out that a true French seam is a little different - it's all correct until at the end where you press it to one side - actually, I think it's supposed to be pressed right in the middle so that the stitches are completely covered up. A great technique for baby clothes or anything using thin or delicate fabric, especially cotton.

[silvorski]

Like everyone else on here, thanks so very much. I want to add additional length to a store bought curtain and this will make them look so professional. Thanks a million for posting it.

[jensea16]

thank you!! Very Helpful!!!

[justlikeyou713]

what do you do with a french seam?

[Chakwaina]

Use it all delicate fabrics,baby clothes, heirloom items. Materials that will ravel even with zig-zag or serged stitch.

[MarleneD1216]

I bought my machine from Costco. It's a Brother with the extra accessories that Costco products tend to come bundled with. I like it. :)

[GacktTheone27]

where did u buy ur sewing machine ?

[adxxchxx]

thanks a lot!!! it really help me with my homework....

[alisarap]

yep great nails + machin is very  good Madam !

nice video ! more like this w'll be great !

[yqup]

Thank you sooooo much for the video!! It helped me a lot! Do you know how to sow an imitation double lap seam? Or perhaps you maybe know another name for the seam? I can´t find it anywhere on the net. Thanks again!

[bellyofmush]

Without burning myself? Impossible! But your video was great. Thanks for this!

[winddance368]

Thanks for your great tutorial. I am going to add this to my favorites because I know I will need to go back for a refresher when I am ready to to the French seam.

[angiespangie]

thanks sooooo much for this tutorial. This is so much better to understand than the book instructions!

[radcliffefamily]

Thanks for this... I'm crap at understanding how things work from explanations and even photos don't help. Seeing it done live action makes all the difference.

[Lils10972051]

Very good tutorial. Thank you for sharing it!

[MarleneD1216]

No. I made the tube using the french seam, made a flat bottom piece then a casing for the top where a drawstring was pulled through. I added a strap to the tube for carrying.

Sure it can be used for a garment. I would suggest using google for further information on how this seam can be used.

I'm not much of a seamstress and when I looked for a good video on how to do this seam it just didn't exist... so I made one. :)

[MarleneD1216]

I used this seam on the length of a "tube" for a pilates bag. I suppose any seam that you want to enclose the raw edge rather than overcasting it or leaving it to fray. It does however add bulk with the multiple layers of fabric.

[shakaama]

you mean like fish a nice rope through it for a quick and easy handle?

what about a garment?

[paulyknit]

what kind of item would a french seam be used for?....Great video, Great nails.

[chantellouise80]

Great video, very clear & easy to understand! Thanks!

[angiekat29]

Thanks for this video!

[girbska]

gracias gracias!!! thanks a lot for this tutorial, it makes easier my sewing :)