How To Sew A French Seam & Maddy''s Undies

Maddy is so happy to have some undies!
But first a very short tutorial...........
The French seam has been around for ages, literally since
 the 10th century.  It hit it's heyday here in American during
 the Edwardian period, when sheer thin fabrics were so popular.
 The French seam is neat and tidy, and perfect for fabric
that tends to fray easily.
Sew simple too.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Fabric has a right side & a wrong side.

For a regular seam, the right sides are placed together

and sewn on the seam line.  Indicated here in blue.

The French seam begins by placing the wrong sides
together.  I have shown the seam line in blue.

The first seam line is sewn about 1/4inch away from
the regular seam line, on the side closest to the raw edge.
(Adjust for small doll seams)
 
The seam is then trimmed,

unfolded and pressed.

 Fold again with your right sides together.
You can now see the original seam line I
drew on the wrong side of the fabric.

Sew on the original seam line.

Open up and press.

 

 The outside looks just like a regular seam.

On the inside the raw edges are completely enclosed.
Neat, tidy & no raw edges to fray.

How simple is that?
 Well worth the extra effort!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 Back to Maddy's undies.........
A linen chemise & cotton bloomers.

Both are edged in a vintage petite cotton
  lace with a blue edge.

The chemise has flat felled seams, 

gores & tiny underarm gussets.

Her bloomers are sewn with French seams

and a hand sewn buttonhole. 

(I'll do a tutorial on buttonholes if anyone is
 interested. Really, they aren't that hard.)

Her pin tucks are a bit crooked, but I was heavily

involved in a movie on TV. 

She has a flannel petticoat & one made from the

ruffle of an old nightgown.

I used a button loop with an antique calico button

for her fancy petticoat.

Maddy's oupa has whittled her a doll & she

has requested some whittled farm animals.
She would like them painted.
 Me and a paintbrush..........????

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Lucy and Annabelle have found homes on
the old wash stand with the little quilts.
They each have their own special chair.

 Next in line for undies is Miss Lucy.
I must say she hasn't complained.  Give her

some books to read, a teddy to cuddle &

she's a happy content girl!

Annabelle hasn't learned to read yet, but
she loves the pictures.  Lucy's shares her
books, but has told Annabelle not to dog
ear the pages!

Happy doll making!