Question about French seams (pics)

[sewbug]

The magic pillowcase instructions say to sew about 1/2 seam encasing the 1/4 seam so there will be no seams showing. I've never sewn French seams before so following the directions I ended up with a border seam around the pillowcase. Is this right? I really don't want a seam around the pillowcase. Is this a French seam? Somehow it seems I have it backwards.


1st pic is border seam showing on the right side of the case:





This is the finished seam inside the case:

[Grammy2]

I hope someone answers this. Mine turned out just like yours sewbug. I thought I did it wrong too

[Littlebit]

When you sew a french seam you start with sewing the wrong sides of the fabric together then turn to the right side and sew the next seam
Here is a good tutorial - hope this helps )
http://www.sewneau.com/how.to/french.se ... .seam.html

[sewbug]

Thank You! That tutorial made much better sense. I knew my way seemed back wards. I'm the type that has to have every detail in the directions or see it done in person to get it in my head the first time around.
My way to write the directions: LOL

Sew a 1/4 inch seam having wrong sides of fabric together, the seam will be sewn on the right side of fabric.
Trim seam to 1/8 inch, press to one side.
Turn case inside out, the wrong side of fabric will have no seam showing, right side of case is now the inside.
Sew a seam incasing the trimmed seam inside the seam. Press. Turn case inside out again.

I have to go rip out a few seams now.

[Littlebit]

Your Welcome )

[sadiedaisy1]

sewbug, I'm glad you figured it out. I like the fabrics for your pillowcase.

I've made a few of these pillowcases recently and love how the French seams come out. I'm leaving the first seam at 1/4" and enclosing that seam with a 1/2" seam. The pillowcases are plenty big enough and it doesn't require as much work (such as trimming the first seam). I'm using a 26" x WOF piece for the body of the pillowcase.

My mom just came for a visit and I took her to the LQS where she picked out fabric for me to make her 2 matching pillowcases. She does not, repeat: does not sew and does not want to, but she loved picking out fabric and handing it to me. LOL I finished them yesterday and they came out really cute. I know she will be thrilled with her fabric choice.

[sewbug]

I noticed my pillows seem to be very full and rounded and the pillowcase was flat and sorta smashing them down. What I did was add three inches to one side of the pillow case so when I sewed the side seam it had the extra inches making it fuller the top side (or bottom). It fits my puffy pillow much better and not loose fitting looking too big.