For The Everyday Mom: Sewing a professional looking seam without a Serger Machine

The Serger stitch is of course the best stitch to use when making clothes and just about anything, but what if you don't have one. The cost of serger machines is expensive and are not normally the kind of machine a beginner sewer buys. So how can you keep that clean professional seam look with out a serger, easy using a French Seam!

Now for the beginner sewers out there don't get worried it sounds a lot harder then it really is.
OK so lets get to it :)

Step 1
Lay your fabric out ugly sides touching, you want the two pretty sides facing out. Here I am sewing a border on a pillow case dress.

Step 2 and 3

Pin fabric together, making sure they are even. Once you have the fabric pinned you will sew a 1/4" seam. After you have sewed the 1/4" seam you can go on to the next step or if you would like you can cut along the seam 1/8" away from the thread. This seam will soon be in case so you will not see the raw edge so cutting is not something you have to do but it does help with the end seam not being to bulky.

Here you can see the seam you just made showing on the pretty side of the fabric.

Step 4 & 5

Now you will turn the fabric over so that the ugly sides are facing out and the pretty sides are touching. This is how you will in case the ugly seam. Shown in this photo is what the end seam will look like, no raw edge!

Next you will need to iron this seam down and pin in place. Ironing will help the seam stay in place when sewing. After you have ironed and pinned the fabric you will now sew a 1/2" seam.