How to Sew a Flat-Felled Seam

Do you need a strong seam that will hide the fraying edge of the fabric? The Flat-Felled Seam is perfect for this because unlike a French Seam, it uses a double line of thread to hold the piece together versus just one. The flat-felled theme is typically used in sports garments since they require extra strength and reversible garments because it's a finished edge on both sides.

1. To begin the flat-felled seam, place the fabric pieces on your sewing table or surface with the wrong sides together. In the video you can see I marked mine with a "W" to show which side was the wrong side. If your fabric doesn't have a wrong side, even better! I used some scrap fabric but if you're using large pieces, it may be helpful to pin everything in place.

2. Sew a plain seam (I used 5/8 inch seam allowance) and then press it to one side. I then fold over both those edges and sew a seam of about 1/4 inch. While folding it over I ironed to to keep it in place. You can also pin your fabric if that helps.

3. Using the needle as a sewing guide, stitch the edge of the fold through all the layers of the fabric.

And your done! I haven't tried to do this type of seam on a curve but would imagine it be too hard and get too bulky. One thing I did wrong is not holding both sides out enough when sewing step 3. As you can see in the image, the fabric on one side bunches somewhat.

This seam is fairly simple and provides a great finished edge for many projects. Now you don't have to work around those fraying edges!

What do you think? Did I miss anything? If you have any questions or tips, please don't hesitate to comment or email me at Yasmine@FabricLovers.com

How To Sew A French Seam

A French Seam is the perfect way to hide those unwanted fraying edges, especially when it comes to delicate or see through fabrics in things like lingerie. It's a pretty easy seam to create but please steer away from using it in curves as I've found that it often bunches.

Step 1: With your two pieces of fabric, make sure that the wrong sides (the inside part of the fabric) are facing each other and sew a 1/4" seam. Backstitch as needed.

Step 2: I then cut the seam to only 1/8" and fold the fabric right sides facing each other.

Step 3: Sew a 1/4" seam. You're done!

You've created a pocket that holds the fraying edge in place so that your project looks great, inside and out. Watch out video to see more details on how I sewed the sample piece. I suggest practicing on scraps first.


A lot of folks vary the size of the initial seam but as long as you find what's comfortable for you, you'll be fine!

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~Yasmine

Friday Favorites: Pillowcases, Fabric Scraps, and Zippers

We've got tutorials, ideas on what to do with those pesky scraps, and a sneak peak at the zipper tutorial I'll be following next week!

Sewing your own pillowcases can bring fun and your own personality to any room! I recently found this tutorial on how to make your own pillowcases (for bedroom pillows) to spruce up your home. It seems really easy to follow and perfect for beginners (no curves!).

Here's an additional video for you to see:

Fabric scraps can sometimes take up a lot of room and make you confused as what to do with them. I found a couple of fun ideas on what to do with these pesky scraps. The best part? They can all take a day or less!

A grab and go snack bag!

A lovely kid's project!

Bookmarks!

Zippers. These can be very hard for some to sew on. I'll be creating something small (using all those pesky scraps) while following a zipper sewing tutorial!

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~Yasmine

A Pillow From Scrap Fabric

After wondering what to make with the left overs of my first quilt, I decided to make a pillow. I was given great ideas, such as a cosmetic bag, safety kit, and so on. I then thought, why not just complete the quilt/nap-time ensamble with a simple pillow.

It's not stuffed yet but I think it looks great so far. What do you think? Any obvious mistakes? I do have to mention that I simply love, love, love, my rotary vutter. I had no clue what I was missing! It cut in half the time of scissors, straighter, and just overall better.

Want to see a video of me making the pillow? See below and down't forget to check out our youtube channel!

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~Yasmine

How to get Inspired

There's no surefire way to get inspiration but there are things you can do to obtain that spark of creativity. Most of these tips require you to step away from whatever it is you're working on. You've been staring and thinking about your sewing project or quilt pattern since you woke up, it's time to give your brain a break!

1. Go for a walk, anywhere. You don't need to be in the woods, a park, or farm to get inspired. Wherever you are, stand up, shake it off, and walk it off. Stop thinking about how to rearrange your quilt fabric and give your husband a hug, walk around the yard or neighborhood. not only is this great exercise, but it'll clear your mind!

2. Visit a store. I'm kind of a shopaholic but sometimes I just need to drink some coffee and walk around stores. Check out some fabric or clothing. Laugh at what some folks are wearing as high fashion. Again, get your mind off of the project! Look at colors, textures, and patterns.

3. Can't get up and just walk away to another location? Browse online, either on your phone or computer, you can find lovely things to look at. Check out blogs on photography, fabric, or fine arts. Look for apps, like Pinterest, to help inspire you with imagery.

Got a great way to get inspired? Leave them in the comments for the rest of us to learn! Remember, you can always comment, like us on Facebook, Twitter, or even email me at yasmine@fabriclovers.com. I hope to hear from you soon!