What is a French Seam

What is a French Seam Learn How to Make a French Seam ChaptersWhat Is a French Seam?Why Use a French Seam?How to Make a French SeamWhat Sewing Equipment Do You Need?The Best Sewing Tutorials OnlineHow Can You Learn to Make a French Seam?Learning to sew can take some time.  However, once you do, you can make yourself a new wardrobe with a cute dress or by sewing a t-shirt.  Whether sewing a bag, customising your jeans, decorating a tote bag, or using a serger, there are many different ways to learn how to sew.Just like cross-stitch, crochet, knitting, embroidery, and patchwork, sewing requires dexterity and passion when it comes to folding, tracing, cutting, etc.So get a few free patterns, some fabric offcuts, crowbar, a thread, canvas mount, and a sewing kit and follow a few guides.Whether you’re starting a sewing blog, setting up a haberdashery, or just for yourself, here’s what you need to know about the French seam and some advice about it.make frequent use of your seam ripper and starting again - at the risk of damaging your fab ric, why not make the French seam a standard practice?Why should you choose this type of seam over another?This technique is useful for people who are sensitive to seams, like babies. As adults, we would be hard-pressed to feel the difference between a thread and a type of material but the youngest humans, with their brand new skin - so very sensitive is it, that they might compare the abrasiveness of thread to steel wool, especially next to the softness of terrycloth.Naturally, babies are not the only people with hyper-sensitive skin, as we've alluded to above. If you or anyone in your circle proves to have such a sensitivity, you may make them a few shirts or dresses with French seams because that type of  seam won’t directly touch their skin.Designers like incorporating the French seam in designs of clothing that doesn’t have a lining. The technique can be used to hide the seams in the same way that a second layer of cloth (a lining) would.As you might have intuited, today's fashions do not always permit a lining, so a French seam is the next best step to hiding seam flaws - yes, even designer labels sometimes bear minute flaws in their cutting and stitching!To say nothing of the fact that French seams are far more elegant than serged seams.Besides lending garments an obvious distinction, the French seam is really useful for thin, light, or even transparent materials. You may find it adds an extra layer of strength to your silk, jersey or nylon creations.In fact, most experienced seamstresses advocate for the French seam if you are working with silk!Although a serger has nearly the same effect - in that your edges won't come unraveled and that they can be ironed flat, they don't have the elegance, style and comfort that a French seam offers.But then, not everyone has such a machine; nor does everyone have access to one. Should that be your case, you may consider the French seam as a good alternative when you don’t have a serger.As the French seam allo ws for very smooth edges, if you get used to making them, you might find you don't need a serger at all!Even if you’re a novice to the needle arts, the technique involved in sewing French seams is quite simple.  It offers further benefit if you were to sew clothing that should have a lining; such ambitions projects call for skills that, perhaps, you don't yet have mastery of.Rather than attempting to marry two disparate fabrics together, say a cotton dress with a nylon lining, why no leave off the lining altogether and opt instead for the French seam? You can always learn how to add a lining later, once you feel more confident behind your sewing machine.There are so many online sewing tutorials you could learn the technique of executing French seams from! Naturally, we'll feature the best of them a bit later in this article but, for now, with your Superprof's help, it's time to try your hand at stitching a  French seam.Keep in mind that you can only really use a French seam on str aight edges like the shoulder, side or the bottom of a t-shirt. It’s almost impossible to use this technique on round seams like on a collar.Don't forget: be patient! This technique takes more time to execute properly than any ordinary seam does; you will have to sew, fold, iron, cut and resew - far more steps than regular stitching! Now, on with the lesson...Did you think that sewing was just for women?  If you don't like the look of the thread, you should choose a French seam. (Source: Bru-nO)However, as you are most likely much more interested in learning how to make a French seam than combing through Internet sites, we withdraw our challenge and present you with some of the best places you can get online tutorials for French seams and any other sewing quandaries you may have.Sewing.ComFrom their clever logo (the I is a needle and the O is a button!) to their informative, easy-to-digest articles, this site is a delight for anyone interested in plying a needle, be they new at th e art or a seasoned veteran with sewing room to work in.On their site you will find a complete guide to stitching, from basic stitches to the more difficult to execute pick stitch used for hemming quality garments.You will find a page of vintage patterns, some you can download for free and others that require payment of a small fee. Another page has helpful information regarding how to organise your sewing room, how to alter clothing and sewing your home decor.What we found most helpful is their page on sewing techniques.Under that tab, you will find a list of sewing hacks to make every project easy to sew. Do you have trouble sewing in zippers? Do your buttons always fall off? Are you perpetually frustrated when sewing elastics and gathering fabric? Sewing.Com has all of your answers and more.However, if you are a beginner at sewing, you would most likely be more interested in their Sewing for Beginners video tutorials that cover everything from   how to make a scented sachet to cr eating a lace skirt.You can do French seams either by hand or with a sewing machine. (Source: wnk1029)The National Sewing CircleThis is website curated by 4 wonderful and talented American seamstresses who have built a database of instructional videos; some you can watch for free and others for a small fee.Their 'Core Skills' section includes videos on topics that range from the technical - how to adjust the bobbin on your sewing machine, to the practical: how to sew invisible zippers.As your sewing skills progress, you may appreciate their Finishing Touches sector or browse through their Design Workshop. Of course, you may refer to their Tips and Techniques video collection at any time during your sewing experienceAt this point, you might be wondering why we haven't yet mentioned YouTube...There are indeed plenty of YouTube sewing channels; some of them demonstrating rather advanced techniques. However, what we've seen of them is such a hodge-podge of of the art; there seems to be no clear progression between threading a needle and finishing a garment. You would most likely end up going from video to video, wondering why it is so difficult to find easy-to-follow sewing lessons.We're not saying stay away from the site and don't watch any of what there is on offer there; we only wish to point out that there are better online tutorials  available to get you starting with your sewing projects.Much to our good fortune, several experienced seamstresses have put together compilations of the best online sewing tutorials, conveniently located on a single web page:Sew Some Stuff has put together 12 of the best sewing tutorials on the 'net in an easy to follow format.Not be be outdone, Seams and Scissors has compiled 10 videos of basic sewing skills, from sewing buttons to using bias tapeSeasoned Homemaker Leslie has foraged around as well; her site also boasts a list of instructional sewing videos!Profession Pincushion may just be the best site for online sewing tutori als!Sponsored by Spiegel, the online clothing retailer, Professor Pincushion has over 350 free video tutorials covering a wide variety of sewing-related subjects. However, it is their page titled Sewing Class  that really eliminates the competition.Professionally organised by topic - Thread 101 to What is a Tracing Wheel, these videos each last around five minutes, telling you all you could want to know about any sewing implement or technique. There is even a video on how to sew a French seam and a mock French seam!One word of caution, however: the videos are narrated in American English. You could encounter some terminology you might not be familiar with and the accent might make these videos a bit hard to understand.All over the Internet you can find sewing tutorials online but, overall, for quality learning, the best solution is always to find a teacher or mentor to work with.Getting together with others who are passionate about needle arts is a step in the right direction; you m ay find a group you click and, perhaps, even a mentor to learn from through The Sewing Group.How Can You Learn to Make a French Seam?If you’re worried about attempting your first French seam or you’d prefer to get to grips with the basics before you start, you can always get someone to help you.If The Sewing Group doesn't quite feel right, have a look around  for sewing workshops or sewing classes for beginners and start learning to sew and don’t forget to check out Pinterest for inspiration, too!A lot of sewing organisations offer lessons around certain themes (sewing for children, overcasting, zippers, customising, sewing a button, hems, choosing the right needles, etc.).  You can find courses that last just a day and learn how to do a French seam. It’s rare that they’ll last any longer than this. You’ll also learn how to follow patterns and the different steps involved.You could also choose a private tutor.  They’ll help you learn how to do a French seam as well as other sewing techniques. Whether you’re a beginner, intermediate, or an expert, private tutorials can work around your schedule.There are also sewing tutorials, sewing blogs, and haberdasheries.  You have to choose which one works the best for you. Don’t forget that this is a technique that’s used a lot in haute couture and at respectable fashion houses, too!Discover sewing course from then to now  or take online sewing classes. You can also check sewing classes Glasgow, in Manchester or Leeds.Learn from the greats of the fashion world.