- I remember when I started to learn how to sew
one of the most difficult thing was learning
all the language involved.
All of these strange and weird terms
that everyone kept using, I had no idea what they were.
So that's why I've put together this series of sewing terms,
so that you can learn to speak dressmaker.
Now, this whole series is brought to you
by vintagesewingschool.com.
It is my online sewing school where I help new sewers
just like you to learn how to create their own fashion.
So today's word, sewing term, that we're going to discuss
is a seam finish.
So, let's talk about what a seam finish is.
(upbeat music)
My definition of seam finish is the finish
that is applied to the raw edges of the fabric
to prevent fraying or unraveling.
So, let's discuss this.
Now, when you sew a seam you will have
what is called the raw edges.
So, those are just the what we call
unfinished edges of the fabric,
and you'll notice that they fray.
They're just going to keep coming apart
and if you don't do a seam finish on these edges,
imagine what's going to happen to this when you wash it.
All your hard work will just literally disintegrate
in the washing machine,
so you need to put a seam finish on these edges
to prevent this fraying from happening
so that you get to actually use your garment
for the lifetime it is supposed to have.
Now there are a few different seam finishes that you can do,
but I have the three main ones
that I think that you should be aware of.
The first one is overlocking.
Now, if you have a look under your clothes
that you're wearing right now,
guarantee that there is overlocking
over the edges of that seam.
So, that overlocking is the seam finish there.
Now, this is the most professional finish.
It is probably the strongest as well
and can withstand obviously the harshest of machine washing.
That's because it's what's used in most garments
that are made commercially.
Now, it is used...
A special machine is needed to do this finish
and I do recommend to get an overlocker machine,
but often you don't have one when you start.
So, there are two other ways
that you can finish your seams at home
without an overlocker and that is with a zigzag stitch.
So, this is using a zigzag function
on your straight stitch machine
or you can use the pinking shears.
So, that's those little zigzag edges
that you might see on...
Particularly vintage garments
are finished with pinking shears a lot,
but I particularly like this finish because it's nice
and neat and it looks really pretty.
So, you might think
that the zigzag stich doesn't work so well,
but this one here is a garment from the 1950s
and I think it's had a pretty hard life.
And you can see how that zigzag, sorry, the pinking shear
actually withstands through the test of time.
It only frays out through those top little triangle parts
and not down through the rest of the seam allowance.
So, if you...
I have a tutorial that I've made on how to do a zigzag
and a pinking shear edge.
I'm going to link that up here and down below as well.
So, if you need that, go right there.
So, a seam finish can be many different techniques,
but basically, it is the technique used
to cover the raw edges or finish the raw edges
of the fabric so that it doesn't fray or unravel.
Now, if you want to learn even more sewing terms
so you can really learn how to speak dressmarker,
make sure you watch the rest of this series
and subscribe to my channel
for all the wonderful vintage and sewing things
that I do with all of these techniques.
So, until next time, bye.