Eliminate bulky seam allowances by clipping and trimming seams in specific areas of a garment. Watch as garment sewing expert Judith Neukam demonstrates her recommended method. She says the tips in this video “will help you make beautiful garments with smooth seams and no lumpy corners, ripply curves, or bulging hems.”

Judith shows the correct method for clipping convex and concave curves on princess seams. She shares a seam pressing tip once the princess seam clipping is complete.

Also find out how to trim or clip bulky seam allowances on outside corners, as on a cuff or waistband.

Trimming eliminates bulk under the arms on set-in sleeves and between the legs in the curved center seam on pants, too.

Seam bulk can even be reduced in hem allowances, as Judith demonstrates.

This video on clipping and trimming seams is part of the five-season Teach Yourself to Sew series.

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Teach Yourself to Sew

Series host Judith Neukam got her first taste of sewing when she took the free lessons that came with her mother’s sewing machine purchase. Judith was 9 at the time. Soon after, she was sewing her own clothes and feeding her passion for the craft. In her Teach Yourself to Sew series, Judith shares her enduring love of sewing and her invaluable years of sewing experience.

Getting started

She starts with discussing the equipment and the essential sewing notions for anyone who sews. You’ll learn about shopping for fabrics, choosing patterns (including selecting the correct size), and planning the perfect pattern layout. From machine-sewing simple seams to inserting zippers and stitching buttonholes, Judith demonstrates the key steps to making a custom garment.

Discover methods for clean-finishing seam allowances and applying facings so all edges are neat. To add shape to garments, Judith explains how and why to…