How to match seams perfectly on every single sewing project.

If you want to finally learn how to match seams perfectly like a professional seamstress you arrived in the perfect place.

In this post, I will show you a simple yet very reliable trick to always have matching seams.

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As an OCD person, this was one of the first things I learned to master in design school. 

I hate when you open a seam and there is one line facing a different side than it should be. 

But my love of clean and perfect things is not the only thing I did that for. 

Unmatched seams can cause an unmatched garment piece. 

And that can result in puckered fabric, missing measurements, and other annoying factors that make a garment look cheap. 

Whether you’re sewing a quilt, a woven garment, or a knit fabric one like I am doing here.

Knowing how to match your seams will make a difference in your future projects. 

Perfectly matched seams give a garment professional and well-taken care of look. 

This perhaps might be a little and an unnoticed detail for many. 

But for the true lovers of sewing and clothing, this is what can make the difference between a good or a bad job.

So, this is definitely a technique you want to master.

How does it look when you know how to match seams perfectly?

When you sew a seam, straight or serged, a line is formed on the right side of the fabric. 

On most sewing projects you have to match these lines (a.k.a the seams) on the right sides. 

Let’s use the example of a t-shirt. 

When you sew a t-shirt you would sew the bodice by the shoulders and the sides of it. 

Then, you have to close the sides of the sleeves. 

Ideally, you would have to match both the sides of the sleeves and the sides of the bodice together to form a continuous line on the right side of the fabric. 

Now, you might be thinking. 

It is right under the arm, no one will notice. 

It’s a matter of personal taste and compromises for a job well done. 

Besides, such seams will appear everywhere on time. 

The more experienced you get, the more pattern blocks and seam challenges you get. 

Now that we have established the importance of a matched seam, let’s learn how it is done.

Read this too! How to Sew a T-shirt. 2 Easy and Quick Ways.

How to match seams perfectly. 

In this example, I am going to be using our most recent sewing pattern The Cascade Cardigan. 

The instructions say that you have to sew the sleeve to the armhole first and then close the sides together. 

So, the first thing you want to do is to take out of your mental sewing box the most basic and important techniques of them all. 

The basting stitch. 

It doesn’t matter if you baste by hand or baste with a sewing machine. 

Basting is the ultimate technique to achieve perfection in your sewing projects. 

And in the case of matching seams, it will be our best allay.

Step 1

The first thing you need to do is press the seams towards the same side.

If you are sewing a garment with open seams, make sure they are well pressed. 

Or in the case of quilting, you can nest your seams to avoid bulks. 

This means you will press one seam to the right and the other to the left. 

Then place the seams with the right sides of the fabric facing together and fold one of the layers to assure that the outside lines of the seams are in the same place. 

Exactly in the same place. 

Not a ⅛ of an inch to any side. 

The best thing to do is to be sure that at least 2″ are aligned perfectly. 

But if you are in a hurry just make sure that the measure of the seam allowance is aligned. 

In my case, it is a Serger seam so I would only need to align about ½” to 1″.

Step 2

Pin your seam allowances together. 

Make sure that the lines of the right sides of the fabric are still aligned. 

Then thread a hand needle with a contrasting color.

Step 3

Starting from the garment out to the end of the seam start hand-basting small stitches as close as you can from where the seams meet. 

Then go back down and baste over the seam allowances to make sure they stay in place. 

Make a simple knot away from any seams.

Step 4

Sew your new seam. 

Remove the basting stitches and make sure the seams are perfectly matched. 

Then press to a nicer and cleaner finish.

And that is it. 

You can use this trick on absolutely every seam, sewing project, quilt, or garment you need to sew. 

Now that you know how to match seams perfectly, tell us where you are going to use this technique first. 

Let me know in the comments if this helped you or if you have more tips to match seams. 

Thank you so much for reading me!

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