Paragraph 137. A French seam is one very commonly used, in which the raw edges are sewed together and turned inside the final sewing. Baste together with a 3/8" seam using even basting (Par. 103), sew about 1/8" to 1/4" outside of the bastings so as to allow for the second seam. Trim off the extra material, as in No. 1, Figure 43, to within 1/16" or 1/8" of the stitching (this depends on the fineness of the material and the width of the seam desired). Press the material flat along the line of stitching, turn it wrong side out and carefully press a new seam, thus turning in the raw edges (the material will then be folded over as shown in No. 2, Figure 43), baste with even basting (Par.

Figure 43.

103) and stitch from 1/8" to 1/4" from the edge; or if the seam is made by hand, sew it together with the combination stitch (Par. 108).

This seam is used to join the seams of underskirts, princess slips, night gowns, shirt waists, lingerie waists and light weight wash dresses.