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When sewing any garment the seam allowance is important. Most garments will have a 1 to 1.5cm seam allowance, which is easily identifiable on your machine’s base plate. When it comes to Lingerie making this gets a little trickier, most lingerie patterns have a 6mm seam allowance.
Why so small? the pieces are small and often have intricate curves and small seam lengths that a traditional seam allowance simply wouldn’t work with.
Adhering to an accurate seam allowance is even more important when you’re dealing with small pattern pieces with little room for error.
Let me take you through my top tips for achieving an accurate seam allowance. Im using the small 6mm seam as my example here, but these methods could be applied to any seam allowance.
Cutting out is crucial.
In order to achieve accurate seam allowance, you need to have accurate cutting. Everyone has their own preference here, whether it’s scissors or a rotary cutter, do what works best for you and what you’re most comfortable with. The small curves of lingerie pieces can often be better achieved with a rotary cutter.
Needle position.
Did you know you can move the position of your needle from left to right? This is a great way to set up your machine for accurate seams every time. For 6mm seams I move my needle position all the way over to the right so my seam allowance underneath the right-hand edge of the presser foot
How you move the needle position will differ from machine to machine, so consult your user manual or head to youtube for a tutorial
Magnetic seam guide
This has to be my new favourite gadget!
This little magnet is super strong and holds well in place when the machine is running. Simply pop it in place before you start and you’ve got an easy to follow, perfectly accurate seam allowance for the duration of your project.
I hope you find these tips useful in achieving accurate seam allowance. Practicing accuracy in our sewing really does make it an easier, more enjoyable experience.
Until next time, happy sewing
Julia xx