Video:Sew a Flat Felled Seam

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Transcript:Sew a Flat Felled Seam

Hi, I am Debbie Colgrove for About.com. Today I am going to show you how to sew a flat felled seam.

You normally see these on jeans; you sometimes see them on bags and luggage, just because they are a very strong seam.

Allow Normal Seam Allowance

First, part you sew with the wrong sides of the fabric together, normally the right sides are together, but not on a flat felled seam. Allow yourself your normal seam allowance; I will back stitch to start the seam. So a normal 5/8 of an inch seam, if that is what your pattern calls for.

Press With Iron

Stop at the end and back stitch again at the end of the seam allowance. Now, in this case, this is going to be the back side. So I am first going to take it to the iron, and as with every seam press it as it was sewn, this will lock the stitches down into the fibers. Like I said, this is the back of the garment. The back seam allowance is going to be trimmed in half. Half or less.

Press Seam Towards Back

Once the seam is finished being trimmed press it flat towards the back of the garment. Turn it over, press from this side, get that seam flat. Time and perseverance on denim because it may want to go its way, just teach it who is boss. Once you have got it flat, now the job becomes turning this wider seam allowance underneath and closing the trim seam allowance.

Sew Along Edge of Fabric

Press the wide seam allowance under so it is enclosing the trim seam allowance, keeping it even for the entire seam. Okay and once you are done pressing you are going to return to the sewing machine. In this instance I am using needle position to move the needle over to the side, and I can keep the presser foot lined up, the fold of the fabric on this edge of the presser foot, put my needle to that edge and I will be able to sew right along the edge of the fabric.

There you have a flat felled seam with the stitching at the edge of the seam. Thanks for watching. To learn more visit us on the web at About.com.