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The seam allowance is needed to allow for extra fabric where separate pieces of fabric are joined together at seams. If seam allowances were not provided you wouldn't be able to join pieces together or your garment would end up being too small. If you look at the inside of a shirt, for example, you will see that the stitches take up fabric and that is what seam allowances are for.

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Q: What is the seam allowance in sewing used for?
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When you are sewing or stitching why do you need a seam?

The seam is simply the name of the line that is created when two pieces of fabric are joined together. If you are sewing any two pieces together, the place where they are joined is called the seam. Maybe you are wondering about the seam allowance, which is the amount of fabric alloted to sewing the pieces together. The seam allowance is the distance from the edge you put your line of sewing. In many fabrics that allowance can be very small, but some fabrics require a larger allowance to minimize fraying.


How do you sew a flat fell seam?

sew a seam with a 5/8 seam allowance. then on ONE SIDE of the allowance, trim it to half the size. don't measure just eyeball it. then press the seam allowance to one side with the [now] short allowance on top. fold the longer allowance over the shorter and press it. then flip the whole thing to the other side of the seam and press again. finally, topstitch as close to the edge as you can. flat felled seams are the strongest and are used where ever a great amount of tension exists, such as the seams on your jeans, or the shoulders in a shirt/jacket. they are also used in sports clothes.


What is a sewing margin?

Sewing margin or seam is the length between the edge of the fabric and where the seam appears. It can be as small as 1/8th of an inch or as large or larger then an inch.


What is a serger machine?

A serger is a sewing machine that sews and cuts the fabric at the same time. This makes for a neater seam. It is used a lot in professional sewing. Check out the inside seam on most store bought clothes and you will see that there is no extra fabric on the seam.A serger machine is used to trim the edge of a fabric, and then enclose the seam allowance or edge of the fabric inside a thread casing, all in one step. This "finishes" the edge, preventing a woven fabric from fraying. There are various options that each brand of serger offers, including, but not limited to:rolled hemgathering for ruffleschain stitchcover stitch


What is the function of the hand wheel on the sewing machine?

The hand wheel on a sewing machine is primarily used to raise the needle in order to feed or remove the work (seam, zipper, button or whatever you are sewing) into or out of the machine. It is also used to advance the work slowly to reach a certain point manually, where you might again resume sewing.

Related questions

When you are sewing or stitching why do you need a seam?

The seam is simply the name of the line that is created when two pieces of fabric are joined together. If you are sewing any two pieces together, the place where they are joined is called the seam. Maybe you are wondering about the seam allowance, which is the amount of fabric alloted to sewing the pieces together. The seam allowance is the distance from the edge you put your line of sewing. In many fabrics that allowance can be very small, but some fabrics require a larger allowance to minimize fraying.


Why do you leave a sewing margin?

When sewing, you'll want to leave a sewing margin (or a "seam allowance") for a couple of reasons:A 5/8" margin (the standard seam allowance) between the stitch and the edge allows for a little reinforcement, and places less stress on the stitch. This will keep the stitch from breaking easily.A margin allows you to later let out the seam, in case you need more room (for example, if a skirt gets too tight, you can loosen it if there's seam allowance).


What is the normal seam allowance when sewing?

It could be as big as you want it to be, but it is usually about a half and inch wide all the way around. The standard seam allowance is 5/8 inch.


When using a sewing machine to insert a centered zipper the zipper should be basted face down to just the seam allowance?

Yes, when inserting a zipper, the zipper should be basted in first (to stabalize it while it's sewn in). When basting the zipper, it should be basted to only the seam allowance.


How do you sew a flat fell seam?

sew a seam with a 5/8 seam allowance. then on ONE SIDE of the allowance, trim it to half the size. don't measure just eyeball it. then press the seam allowance to one side with the [now] short allowance on top. fold the longer allowance over the shorter and press it. then flip the whole thing to the other side of the seam and press again. finally, topstitch as close to the edge as you can. flat felled seams are the strongest and are used where ever a great amount of tension exists, such as the seams on your jeans, or the shoulders in a shirt/jacket. they are also used in sports clothes.


Should you backstitch at the end of every seam when sewing?

Yes, when sewing, you should backstitch at the end of every seam.


From where did the Hong Kong seam originate?

The Hong Kong seam originated from Hong Kong. A seam is machine used for sewing and can be used to sew clothes, rages, and other types of cloths for daily usage.


How do you use the measurement grooves that are beside the throat plate of sewing machine?

These measurement grooves are a seam gauge. They measure how big your seam allowance will be. As you sew, you'll align the edge of your fabric with one of the grooves. The grooves are labeled with "3/8", "4/8", "5/8", etc. If you line the edge of your fabric up with the 5/8 groove as you sew, you will have a 5/8" seam allowance, and so on.


What is Seam allowance?

so that the material does not fray.


What is the fabric between the seam line and the cut edge?

The fabric between the seam and the cut edge is referred to as the seam allowance.


What is stitch plate?

I think it is a part for a sewing machine


What are some of the tools used when sewing and what are they used for?

Here are some of the sewing tools used: 1. A Seam Gauge (used for measuring seams) 2. A Seam Ripper (used to take out incorrect stitching) 3. Pins (used to hold fabrics in place when sewing) 4. Scissors (used to cut fabrics and patterns-make sure you have a sharper pair used only for cutting fabrics...scissors used on paper will hurt your fabric) Here are some of the sewing tools used: 1. A Seam Gauge (used for measuring seams) 2. A Seam Ripper (used to take out incorrect stitching) 3. Pins (used to hold fabrics in place when sewing) 4. Scissors (used to cut fabrics and patterns-make sure you have a sharper pair used only for cutting fabrics...scissors used on paper will hurt your fabric)