Seams, in the realm of stitching, are like hidden gems waiting to be discovered by those who appreciate the beauty and strength they bring to their creations. What makes seams truly remarkable is their accessibility, making them an art form that even beginners in the world of stitching can readily embrace. Whether you’re a novice or an experienced hand, the art of crafting flawless seams is within your reach.
What adds to the intrigue of seams is the diversity of methods by which they can be created. You can opt for the delicate and personal touch of hand stitching, where every stitch reflects your dedication and creativity. Alternatively, you can harness the precision and efficiency of sewing machines to produce seams that are nothing short of perfection. The versatility of seams opens up a world of possibilities for crafters and creators, allowing them to bring their visions to life in ways they might never have imagined.
In essence, seams are not just functional elements; they are an essential part of the creative process. They are the threads that bind our ideas and dreams into tangible, beautiful, and enduring creations. Whether you’re a seasoned artisan or someone just beginning to explore the world of stitching, the allure of seams beckons you to dive in and unlock your creative potential. So, pick up your needle and thread, or fire up your sewing machine, and embark on a journey where every seam becomes a masterpiece of craftsmanship.
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There are different types of seams out there according to fabrics and you must know about them before starting your work. If you are new to seams and don’t know much about it, then we will recommend you to read our guide about different types of seams to know what type of seam can be done on what type of fabrics.
Here in this post, we are going to extend our seam tutorial and will tell you everything about how to make seams with your hands and sewing machines. If you are new to seaming, then you will probably need some help regarding it and that is why we come up with this post.
It doesn’t matter what type of seam you want to make, you can always follow the steps mentioned below to make it. We have also mentioned the things you will need to make seam either with hands or with the sewing machine, so make sure to read it and get things ready before starting your work. At any point, if you are facing issues while doing seam work, you can ask us for help.
What Is A Seam?
A seam is basically a type of stitch made to join two or more fabrics together. It doesn’t matter if you have used a sewing machine or made the stitches with hands, joining two or more materials together is known as seam. You might have heard about this term before as seams can be found in many clothing and in other materials too. Jeans, shirts, jackets, multi-colored blankets, etc. will have a seam on them and you can easily spot it too. Every fabric needs different types of seam so you must know about them to identify what type of seam is sewed. Remember that you don’t need specific threads or needles to make a seam.
What Things Do You Need To Seam?
You might not need some special tools or accessories to make a seam but if you are new then you probably need some help regarding it. We have mentioned the requirements below and you must read them before starting your seaming work.
If you are making seams with sewing machines then you will need a medium to thick sewing needles. It depends on your machine and the type of fabric you are making seams on. If it is thick like leather then you might need a strong needle for that. Also, make sure you have a bobbin loaded with the same thread, mixing threads can cause issues.
If you are making seams with hands, then you just need a sewing needle and thread. Also, if you want then you can use beeswax but it is completely optional.
How To Sew A Seam With Sewing Machine & Hands
Identify The Type of Seam You Want
Obviously, then the first thing you need to do before seaming is to identify the type of seam you want to make. It completely depends on the fabrics you are working with and the method of seaming. If you are doing it with your hands, then you can go with straight seams with a single or double stitch. Though if you are using a sewing machine then you can go with more complex seams like zig-zag, corded seam, hemmed fell seam, etc.
So before starting your work, make sure you know about the type of seam you want to make on your fabrics, also you have everything that is required for them. If you are a beginner, then we will recommend you to go with some simple seam designs, rather than the complex ones.
Use The “Pins” For Reference
It doesn’t matter if you are an expert or beginner with seam, you can always take advantage of the “pins”. The pins will help you in sewing in the aligned line and you will get much cleaner stitches at the end. For some users it can be hard to just stitch without a guide, so we recommend using pins to everyone.
Remember that you pin either vertically or horizontally, it doesn’t matter. Though many people prefer pinning vertically as it is easy to handle and you will also not pin over. While using a sewing machine it can be dangerous to stitch over a pin as it can break your needle. So, always pin vertically and not horizontally.
Start Sewing The Seam On Machine
Everyone wants a stronger seam and the key to get it is by doing backstitch at the beginning and at the end of your fabric. It will not only help you in getting stronger stitches but will prevent the seam from opening up. This technique comes handy when you are working with thick fabrics like leather, nylon, velvet, etc.
Also, it is easy to make backstitch using their hands but can be a little harder for people with sewing machines. Make sure you have got a sewing machine that supports reverse stitching to make backstitches on your fabric. Else, you can make a few of the backstitches using your hands and then start making the rest of the seam on your machine.
Gently Start Sewing With Hands
Sewing a seam with hands can be a long process as sometimes you might need to make double stitches but it depends on the fabric and needle you are using. Though when it comes to small fabrics and products like dolls, decorative items, etc. then you might need to use your hands and sewing machines aren’t delicate enough to handle them.
If you are making seams with your hands then make a backstitch at the beginning as we told above, also tie strong knots to keep your stitches in place. If you are a beginner then pin and mark on the fabrics and make straight stitches only. Make sure to stitch closer as your seam will become stronger because of it.
Finishing & Ironing The Seams
If you are making seams with the hands then you can also use the beeswax to make them stick to the fabric. If you have made the stitches with a sewing machine then you don’t have to apply beeswax to the stitches as they will already be strong enough. Just to protect your edges from fraying, you can clip the edges.
If you think that the threads on your fabric look tangled, then you can use an iron on it to make them look straight and neater. One more thing to remember while seaming is that you must use a high-quality thread so that your stitches can hold on to the fabric. Depends on your design, some seams might stay visible every time.
Final Words
So this is all about how to sew a seam and we hope now you know everything about it. There are many guides about seaming available on the internet but we have mentioned only the basics that are needed to sew a seam even by the beginners. You can follow the exact same steps mentioned above to sew a seam without any worries.
We will keep posting such guides on this blog, so keep visiting Quilted Sewing to read them. Also, we have reviewed different sewing machines on this blog, so if you want then you can read them to get the best sewing machine for yourself. If you are facing any issues in sewing a seam, then you can ask us for help via the comments below.
