No Serger, No Problem: French Seams

French Seams have to be one of the best ways to finish the inside of any project. I think they are perfect for children’s clothing, making the garment sturdy because all seams are sewn twice. French Seams are best used for straight seams and are not recommended for curved seams. I especially love French seams on pillow cases. My granddaughters love pillow cases, and when they come to visit, they bring their pillow case full of stuffed animals and books and iPads. But if you don't finish the inside seams of those pillow cases, when you wash them they are a ragged, stringy mess on those inside seams. So I use a French seam on all my pillow cases to finish and hide that raw seam edge. The first thing you do in a French Seam goes totally against what your grandmother or mother ever taught you. Put right sides together and sew....right? Not with a French seam. Instead you put WRONG sides together and with RIGHT sides facing up, sew a quarter inch seam from top to bottom. I know, I know....it looks weird to have the right sides up and that raw seam showing. But just stay with me. Next, turn your project inside out with RIGHT sides together. Now your seam is on the inside and you iron it flat.

Next, sew a half inch seam all down the project again. When you sew this half inch seam, it encases that quarter inch seam inside and hides it. Now turn your project right side out again with RIGHT sides up and iron. Look on the backside now at how beautifully hidden that seam is. Sewing a French seam with double stitching makes your project doubly strong, making it great for drag around pillow cases, and children's clothing. How cool is that?? And you didn't even need a serger.