French seam

American  

noun

Sewing.

1. 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.

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French seam British  

noun

1. a seam in which the edges are not visible

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Etymology

Origin of French seam

First recorded in 1885–90

Example Sentences

None of her machinists knew how to sew a French seam.

From Time Magazine Archive

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 Handicraft for Girls A Tentative Course in Needlework, Basketry, Designing, Paper and Cardboard Construction, Textile Fibers and Fabrics and Home Decoration and Care by McGlauflin, Idabelle

Know how to run a seam, overcast, roll and whip, hem, tuck, gather, bind, make a French seam, make buttonhole, sew on buttons, hooks and eyes, darn and patch.

From Scouting For Girls, Official Handbook of the Girl Scouts by Bacon, Josephine Dodge Daskam

Seams: Plain seam, plain and band seam; French seam; bag seam on warp; bag seam, one warp and one bias; bag seam, two biases.

From The Making of a Trade School by Woolman, Mary Schenck

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

From Handicraft for Girls A Tentative Course in Needlework, Basketry, Designing, Paper and Cardboard Construction, Textile Fibers and Fabrics and Home Decoration and Care by McGlauflin, Idabelle