French seam

American

noun

Sewing.

a seam in which the raw edges of the cloth are completely covered by sewing them together, first on the right side, then on the wrong.

French seam British

noun

a seam in which the edges are not visible

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of French seam

First recorded in 1885–90

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

When I added a French seam to a design, we all gathered round the computer and watched a YouTube video to see how it was executed.

From New York Times

Sew the two sections of the Sampler together with the French seam.

From Project Gutenberg

Finish all seams with the French seam except where the ends of the ruffle are joined with the hemmed seam.

From Project Gutenberg

Follow the directions for the French Seam.

From Project Gutenberg

Upon this sampler is taught the placket, the gusset, the nightgown opening and two different methods of putting on bands, and in addition a review of the French seam and the French fell.

From Project Gutenberg

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023