Learn to Sew: How to Sew Curves and Corners
Learn to Sew: How to Sew Curves and Corners
Curves:
Step 1: Learn to Sew: How to Sew Curves and Corners
The first thing that you need to do is to line up your curved raw edges with your marker of choice. In other words you can use the lines on your machine, a magnetic marker, and edge marker, a Laser or your presser foot. Whichever method you use will help you to sew the perfect curve.
Step 2: Learn to Sew: How to Sew Curves and Corners
Guiding your fabric is important when sewing curves. Another thing to be aware of is how to guide your fabric. To begin to guide your fabric, place your left hand near the center of the curve. Your finger tips will do all of the work when it comes to guiding your fabric through the machine and in line with your marker. Remember to focus on the raw edges and not the needle when sewing.
When you are sewing a really tight curve the rules are essentially the same but you will want to stop and reposition your fabric every so often. Anytime that you reposition your fabric make sure that you do it with the needle down. In other words, drop the needle down move the fabric and begin sewing again. Stop and start again if necessary. It is generally a good idea to take your time when sewing really tight curves and circles. Using a short stitch length could also be beneficial in this instance.
Step 3: Learn to Sew: How to Sew Curves and Corners
Once you start sewing your curve or circle carefully guide the fabric through the machine so that the raw edges remain in line with the fabric marker you have chosen. I chose the 5/8″ marker on my machine for this example. Don’t forget that you are guiding the fabric and not pushing it through. Let the feed dogs do their job just use your finger tips to gently guide the fabric through.
Step 4: Learn to Sew: How to Sew Curves and Corners
Draw some gentle and tight curves on a piece of paper to use for practicing your new-found sewing skills. Start by sewing gentle curves then building up to tighter curves and circles. It is fine to sew on paper while you are practicing this skill. Once you have become comfortable sewing on paper switch to some fabric and try your new skills using both gentle and tight curves.
Step 5: Learn to Sew: How to Sew Curves and Corners
Unlike straight seams, curved seams do not naturally lay flat when turned. Typically curved surfaces will need to be turned whether it is a shirt collar or a handbag. To help the curved seam lay flat you will need to clip your curves. Clipping your curves gives the fabric a little more ease so that it can stretch and lay nice and flat.
You will notice that there are inward (concave) curves and outward (convex) curves. When clipping an outward or convex curve, simply clip V-shaped notched in the seam allowance without actually cutting through the stitching. Use a nice pair of sharp scissors for this process and clip as close to the stitching as you can without cutting into the stitching.
For inward or concave curves all you need to do is to clip slits in the seam allowance making sure not to snip into the stitching.
Corners
Step 1: Learn to Sew: How to Sew Curves and Corners
Corners are very easy to sew. Corners occur when two straight seams meet in a corner. In order to accurately sew a corner simply sew a straight line until you reach the seam allowance distance of the next side. Stop. Make sure your needle is down. This can be set automatically on an electronic machine or done using the hand wheel on a mechanical machine. Turn the fabric so that you can now sew another straight line down the next side.
Step 2: Learn to Sew: How to Sew Curves and Corners
Again, a corner will need to be turned so that the right sides are facing out. The one thing that you will want is a nice point to your corners. The best way to achieve this result is to clip the corner without clipping into the stitching. I also like to trim a lit bit of the seam allowance around the curve. This removes the bulk and allows for a nice point to your corners.
