French seams provide a clean professional look and keep the material from raveling. They are generally used for the more delicate, or sheer fabrics, and not suitable for heavyweights.

This seam is best used only on straight seams, although it can also be used in curved areas if you're a more experienced seamstress. It is great to create an invisible hemline in skirts and dresses.

To make the seam pin wrong sides of fabric together.

Stitch about 3/8" from the edge on the right side of the fabric.

Trim seam allowance to about 1/8".

Fold right sides together with stitching line on fold of fabric. Press Flat.

Stitch 1/4" from fold on wrong side of fabric. This encases the raw edges.

Check on the right side to make sure there are no raveled threads showing.

Press seam to one side. Normally it does not matter to which side you press the seam, but in this case it is for the bottom hem of a skirt, so I'm pressing the seam away from the skirt lining and towards the fabric. This helps to hide the lining once the skirt is fully assembled.