Lizzie Lenard
**French Seam Tutorial for Vintage Sewing Machines | Perfect for Lightweight Fabrics and Children’s Clothes**
Learn how to create a French seam, one of the techniques featured on the Great British Sewing Bee in 2013, in this step-by-step tutorial. French seams are ideal for vintage sewing machines and lightweight fabrics that require protection from fraying.
No raw edges in sight – this fully enclosed seam is perfect for making children’s clothes and garments that need frequent washing. With only two lines of stitching, you can achieve a narrow and neat finish.
To start, use a quarter-inch seam guide and sew along the length of the fabric, wrong sides together. Make sure to cut the fabric with a clean straight line to avoid uneven or frayed edges. After the first line of stitching, press and iron the seam open.
Next, fold the fabric on the line of stitching and press it firmly in place. This will create a good fold that stays in position. For the second line of stitching, use a slightly wider seam guide and stitch from the top, all the way down to the hem.
Once finished, iron the seam towards the back of the garment for a flat and polished look. The result is a clean French seam, with no visible raw edges on the front or back of the fabric.
Watch the full video tutorial on Lizzielenard Vintage Sewing’s blog: [http://www.lizzielenard-vintagesewing.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/tuesdays-top-tip-felt-under-seam-guide.html](http://www.lizzielenard-vintagesewing.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/tuesdays-top-tip-felt-under-seam-guide.html)
For more vintage sewing inspiration and designs, visit Lizzielenard Sewing Designs: [http://www.lizzielenard-sewingdesigns.co.uk](http://www.lizzielenard-sewingdesigns.co.uk)
Source: [www.lizzielenard-vintagesewing.blogspot.co.uk](http://www.lizzielenard-vintagesewing.blogspot.co.uk)
http://www.lizzielenard-vintagesewing.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/tuesdays-top-tip-felt-under-seam-guide.html
http://www.lizzielenard-sewingdesigns.co.uk
http://www.lizzielenard-vintagesewing.blogspot.co.uk
French seams were one of the techniques set for the contestants in the Great British Sewing Bee 2013.
A French seam is the ideal seam to use when sewing with vintage sewing machines. Only a straight stitch is needed. The raw edges are totally enclosed, making it ideal for lightweight fabrics that need protection from fraying. The item being made on this video is a child’s dress.Lennard Taylor
Oh, that thing is a seam guide! Good to know, I was wondering, there was nothing about it in the manual of the old singer I bought 🙂 thank you!
When adding a sleeve with french seam into a garnment with french seams, how does that work?
Your voice is silky soothing. What a voice!
Just split my French seams reading that one, Felicity. There will a brief halt at Leighton Buzzard for engineering works.
did you use to do the announcements for British Rail? Your voice seems familiar!
Hello Felicity, If you go to my blog Lizzie Lenard Vintage Sewing you will find all the answers to your questions.
Love, Muv
I have so far only done the fabric not the wadding. Could my machine take the quilting foot? what about free motion quilting? I'd love to do that, but I have the long bobbin machine. Any advice?
Kind regards
Felicity
Hello Felicity,
Seen it now. You lucky gal! Very nice model 128. If you are making a quilt top use a seam guide to keep your seams even, and use felt under the guide so you don't damage those gorgeous decals.
Love, Muv
sorry. It is on flikr too, under Bradandfliss. I am no use at the forwarding and connections thing.
I was inspired by your video tutorial about how to mitre quilt corners to get a hand crank machine. I had borrowed a racy new Brother from a friend to wizz through a quilt top, but it went so fast, and was so nthat I found it a bit stressful. So the hand crank, ticking along at a walking pace is just perfect, and the sound it makes is very relaxing. Sewing should be therapeutic, I feel.
Hello Felicity, Glad you have enjoyed the video.
Sorry, I can't find your machine on Pinterest, but you can always send me a message through Youtube, I'm looking forward the hearing about your machine.
All the best, Muv
Another brilliant video tutorial from the Wunder Muv. How helpful and easy to follow.
I am afraid I couldn't get in touch any other way than this, (as I'm not as computer savvy as I think) to ask may I write to you to tell you how I came about my 1913 Singer beauty that has changed my life?! I call it "The Legend". you can see it on Pinterest, under My sewing machine, by greenbutterflymind.
Kind and respectful regards,
Felicity Grover, Mother of Daisy.
Happy New Year to you, Laura! Great news about the treadle! Muv
Happy New Year! Thanks so much for sharing this technique with us. I love french seams, especially on my treadle machine. (Which I now have up and running beautifully thanks to you!)