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Sew Curved Seams in Silk Charmeuse

Clip the seam allowance on the concave pattern piece. Baste it to the convex pattern piece along the seamline.

Turn under the raw edges 1⁄4 inch, toward the concave pattern piece. Stitch very close to the fold. Trim the raw edges close to the stitching.

Turn under the folded edge so that it meets the seamline. Stitch again.

Clip the seam allowance on the concave pattern piece. Baste it to the convex pattern piece along the seamline.

Here is a neat way to sew curving seams in a slippery fabric like silk charmeuse. This technique, a bonus to the article "Silk Charmeuse" in SewStylish Fall 2012, achieves a narrow, finished seam allowance within the garment, much like a French seam. Unlike a French seam, however, this treatment has you clip and trim one seam allowance before finishing. That allows the seam to curve without twisting or buckling. Smooth!

1) Clip the seam allowance on the concave pattern piece. Baste it to the convex pattern piece along the seamline.

2) Turn under the raw edges 1⁄4-inch, toward the concave pattern piece. Stitch very close to the fold. Trim the raw edges close to the stitching.

3) Turn under the folded edge so that it meets the seamline. Stitch again.