290 Successful Sewing 0
seam stitching
piping
reversible fabric
edgestitching
press edge under
clip
topstitching
trim lower
seam allowance
fringe
Piped seams. Single or double piping can
be inserted into the seam. Try using piping in a
contrasting color.
Edgestitched seams. Using reversible
fabric, stitch seams wrong sides together. Press
seam open. Turn edges of seam allowances
under and press. Pin in place. Stitch close to the
folded edges, through all layers. The reverse side
of the fabric in the seam allowance provides a
decorative effect on the outside of the garment.
This technique is best on straight seams or
seams with only a slight curve. To make curved
seams, stitch ¼ ¼ inch from the raw edge of the
seam and clip to the stitch line.
Frayed seams. Use this seam with washable
fabrics only. Test to make sure fabric frays as
desired. Begin by cutting seam allowances from
⅜ ⅜ inch to 2 inches in width. Stitch the seam with
wrong sides together. Clip to within ⅛ ⅛ inch of
seamline, spacing clips ¼ ¼ inch to 1 inch apart.
Wash and dry the garment several times until cut
edges curl and fray.
Fringed seams. Begin by cutting out the
garment with ¾-inch ¾ seam allowances in the
areas you wish to fringe. Stitch the seam, wrong
sides together. Trim one seam allowance to
slightly less than ¼ ¼ inch. Lap the longer seam
allowance over the shorter and topstitch ¼ ¼ inch
from the seamline using a short stitch length.
The seam is then raveled to make fringe. This
technique is best used on straight-grained seams.
Test to make sure fabric fringes as desired.
Warp (lengthwise) and filling (crosswise) yarns
may give a different look.
A fringed seam may also be constructed by
making a fringe trim from a fabric strip and then
inserting it inside other seams. For thicker fringe,
use two layers of fabric. Stitch strips in the seam
and then fringe.
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