SEAM FINISHES – 6 Best Seam Finishes for Fabric
Try some of these popular methods to finish seams with a regular sewing machine if you don’t have a serger. Neatly finishing your seams not only makes your sewing look professional, but it also keeps the edges from fraying.
What Do Seam Finishes Do?
Seam finishes are sewn after a seam has been sewn because if a seam frayed right up to the stitching line, it would result in holes in the seam. Seam finishes can be sewn with or without a serger.
Seam Finishes with a Serger
Sergers (also known as overlockers in some countries) cut and sew a strong edge finish on woven and knit fabrics, which can be finished together or separately and pressed open. Because a serger trims the edge as it sews, make sure your seam allowance is wide enough.
Best Seam Finishes Without a Serger
A serger is nice to have, but it’s not required for beautiful seam finishes: Zig-Zag, French Seam, Overedge Stitch, Pinking, and Bias Bound Edges are the six best seam finishes if you don’t have one.
Seam Finishes #1 – Zig-Zag
Sewing on the edge vs. away from the edge usually results in a curled-up edge.
Seam Finishes #2 – French Seam
A French seam is created by encasing the seam within the seam allowance on fine or sheer fabrics for a professional-looking finish. The advantage of these seam finishes is that you have a durable seam that will not fray. Many pillowcase patterns use a french seam.
Seam Finishes #3 – Turned under edges
Turn the raw edges under by u215b -u00bc inch (3-6mm) and straight stitch or zig-zag it in place; it looks clean from the outside, but there will be some fraying when the item is washed.
Seam Finishes #4 – Overcast (Overedge)
The overlocking function, which may be referred to as an overedge, overlock, or overcast stitch in your machine manual, is built into most modern sewing machines. The difference between using a serger and the overlock function is that no edge is trimmed before sewing.
Seam Finishes #5 – Pinking
Pinking shears work by cutting your fabric on the bias (diagonal), where the threads do not fray as much, to keep the edges of your seams from fraying. This works best in fabrics with a tight weave and won’t be washed too often.
Seam Finishes #6 – Bound edges (Bias bound seam or Hong Kong Finish)
Bias tape seam finishes are commonly used for bulky fabrics or unlined jackets, and using a contrast color or pretty floral bias tape can make a jacket look just as nice on the inside as it does on the outside. Store-bought bias tape is usually plain and boring, so learn how to make bias tape.
Seam Finishes for Knit Fabrics
When sewing knits with a serger, the seam allowances are automatically sealed and won’t fray; if your knit does fray, use a zig-zag close to the edge; I use this technique on leotards where the extra stress on seams might split.
Seam Finishes | In Conclusion
Seam finishes can be done with or without a serger, and my favorite is the zig-zag stitch. Which seam finishes do you use with your regular machine?
How do you finish raw edges of seams?
Turn and stitch is a great way to get clean, finished seams. All you have to do is sew your seam at the seam allowance, turn under the raw edge of the seam allowance 1/8u2032u2032 fold on both sides of the seam, press, and stitch down.
Will a straight stitch stop fraying?
While the raw edge of the fabric exposed within the seam allowance can still fray along the cut edges, the stitches act as a barrier, preventing the seam from fraying any further than the stitching line.
What is used to prevent fabric seams?
A seam finish is a treatment that secures and neatens the raw edges of a plain seam to prevent raveling by sewing over the raw edges or enclosing them in some sort of binding. The seam allowances of plain seams are usually trimmed and stitched together with an overlock stitch using a serger on mass-produced clothing.
What is the fastest way to finish a seam?
Sewing a parallel line to keep the raw edge from unraveling is the easiest way to finish the seam. Simply sew your seam using the seam allowance provided in your pattern, then sew a straight stitch 1/8u2032u2032 from the raw edge, keeping your stitches short to help minimize fraying.
Does clear nail polish stop fraying?
While it may fray along the cut edges, the stitches act as a barrier, preventing the seam from fraying beyond the stitching line.
How do you bind seams?
Bias Bound Seams (Tutorial)
- To make either version of a bound seam, stitch the seams together as usual.
- Pin the bias binding to the closed seam.
- Sew the bias binding.
What is the best stitch for hemming?
Stitch down the hem with a straight stitch in the center needle position; the default stitch length of 2.5 mm works well in most cases, but can be lengthened for heavier/bulkier fabrics.
How do you stop jeans from fraying without sewing?
How to keep frayed jeans from fraying: To keep your cut-off jeans from fraying, try applying nail polish to the fabric fibers, using fabric glue, or simply burning the frayed edges with a lighter.
What are the 3 types of seams?
Seams are classified in clothing construction by type (plain, lapped, bound, flat) and location in the finished garment (centre back seam, inseam, side seam). Seams are finished with a variety of techniques to prevent ravelling of raw fabric edges and to neaten the inside of garments.
What is the most common way to put together your fabric pieces when sewing seams?
Right sides together is the answer.