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Home » Sewing » Free Patterns

How To Make A Seam Roll - Free Template

May 11, 2021

See how to make a seam roll - This seam roll pattern will make your projects so much easier to press, and your seams better-looking! And have you ever tried to neatly press gathers? A seam roll just makes that so much easier! Download your pdf template and make your own seam roll.

diy seam roll

OR do you want a printable copy of the WHOLE tutorial? Scroll to the bottom of this tutorial for more details!

This post contains affiliate links. Thanks for your support. Once you've made your seam roll, use it on these easy projects:

  • my best Free Tote Bag pattern
  • this Half Moon Coin Purse
  • these Bunny Baskets

As regards my sewing tools, I have a confession to make. I've been sewing for ages, but I haven't got a proper seam roll that would help me press the small items, tiny curves and tube-like things like this cute zipper pouch.

I usually used a towel instead, rolled into the desired shape and size. Sometimes, it worked pretty well and sometimes it didn't. And then, just recently I've had enough and finally made one.

No time to sew it now? Save it to Pinterest using THIS link or the image below, so you have the tutorial ready when you need it:

how to make a seam roll

Seam Roll Is such A Great Sewing Tool!

When you're sewing, there is a lot of pressing involved. A lot. And you already know that, otherwise you wouldn't be reading this. So far, I've been fiddling with improvised pressing aids, such as rolled towels or even a great soft-cotton baby blanket, to get my new sewing creations into the right form when pressing.

With each new project, I thought I'd make a proper seam roll myself, you know - ' sometime soon'. So I always walked past the Dritz tailor's hem and seam rolls in the fabric store, thinking one of these days I'll make one anyway, and reuse my scrap fabric along the way. Boy that took me long!

So here's - finally! - a proper seam roll. And a tutorial and a free template, to celebrate my new make 🙂

Supplies To Make A Seam Roll

How to make a seam roll
  • 8.5 x 11" of fabric that can take iron heat - mid-weight cotton will do perfectly!
  • sewing machine and needle, pins
  • sewing thread, tailor chalk pen
  • scissors, or rotary cutter
  • plus self-healing cutting mat (I have 5 of them, all these by Olfa)
  • the seam roll template

FINISHED SIZE:

10" by 3 ½" (25 x 9cm)

How To Make a Seam Roll

Step 1 - Get the free template and print it out.

Get this subscriber-exclusive pattern emailed for FREE when you join our mailing list:

CURRENT SUBSCRIBERS: simply enter your email in the signup form above to re-download it. (You won't be signed up twice.)

OR do you want a printable copy of the WHOLE tutorial? Scroll to the bottom of this tutorial for more details!

Step 2 - Cut Fabric

Using the free PDF template, cut out the two pieces from your fabric.

How to make a seam roll

Step 3 - Sew Darts

Use a marking pen or tailor's chalk to transfer the darts. I also stick a pin directly into the spot where the dart ends, and this is the most important marking. The second two spots, end of the dart, I snip two little marks on the seam allowance, using my scissors. For these small darts, I also add one pin to pin perpendicularly, like this:

How to make a seam roll

Sew the darts, altogether there will be 8 little darts to sew.

Starting at the edge, that is at the widest part of the dart, slowly sew a straight line directly into the spot where the dart ends. Use a small stitch length. Remove pins as you sew.

When you approach the dart point, shorten the stitch and sew on several stitches  to leave long thread tails.

free template for a seam roll

Step 4 - Sew the 2 pieces together

Once you've got your darts sewn, place the pieces together, right sides facing. 

Useful tip: Match dart seams and fold darts in opposite directions to reduce bulk along the edge.

sleeve roll free template and tutorial

Pin and stitch around using a ¼" seam allowance. Leave an opening for turning. (See how I left the double pin markings?)

Step 5 - Trim the seam allowance

seam roll sleeve roll - free pattern

Notch the seam allowance on the rounded parts to reduce bulk - take care not to snip into any stitches. You can use pinking shears to clip the curved edge portion. If you need it, here's a good tip about clipping corners and trimming for you.

Step 6 - Turn right side out

Turn right-side-out and press well.

Step 7 - Add stuffing

what stuffing for a seam roll

Using your fabric scraps, stuff the seam sleeve tightly. Even better, you use sawdust (I had none at hand.) You'll use up a lot of scraps, as the seam roll needs to be quite hard to hold its shape.

Step 7 - Stitch opening closed

Close the opening using a ladder stitch or a slip stitch. Done!

This free template for a seam roll is for everyone who loves sewing. It will make your projects so much easier to press, and your seams better-looking!

Save this tutorial for later:

How to make a seam roll

How Do You Use a Seam Roll?

I'm editing this post because I just got this question from a reader:

'Don't laugh, but how do you USE a seam roll?'

(A great question, J.!) Of course, I totally forgot not everyone is familiar with using the seam roll, and it's just right to mention it here. This tool is used on narrow openings when it would be difficult to press, and smaller bags and pouches are a perfect example here. Place inside the pouch and you are able to press around corners, darted, and rounded areas that are hard to press on an ironing board.

Actually, even better, let me just post a photo and you'll get a clear picture:

how to use seam roll
This is how I used a seam roll when sewing up this zipper pouch (tutorial)

Hope this helps. Thank you for asking, J!

How Do I Get the Pattern For Free?

Join our mailing list and get the pattern emailed to you:

WANT A PRINTABLE COPY OF THE WHOLE TUTORIAL?

Do you want an ad-free, printable copy of this online tutorial? Find it here for just $3. You won’t need to access the internet every time you want to make it. ------ Or get the BUNDLE with ALL the Printable Tutorials - current and future ones!

link to printable pattern bundle
How To Make A Seam Roll - Free Template

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Meri King

    October 28, 2022 at 1:59 pm

    Wow! lots of fun things to learn -- AND DO! Thanks for this opportunity to participate. LOVE IT!!

    Reply
  2. Elaine Chen

    April 28, 2022 at 5:05 pm

    I used the template to make a neck roll. Because I have cochlear implants I wanted to keep my head off the floor during yoga. Just finished and will start using today. Feels good so far—I used rice filler and did not fill as tight as the seam roll which I made over a year ago.

    Reply
    • Damjana

      May 01, 2022 at 8:20 pm

      Elaine hi,

      what a smart idea to use the template for a neck roll! thank you for sharing your idea.

      Reply
      • Patricia A Craig

        August 05, 2022 at 10:53 pm

        Thank you for all the neat looking ideas, I haven't branched out to do some of these. I have mainly worked on quilts and small easy things but these look interesting and will try some. Sincerely Patricia Craig.

        Reply
  3. Borja del Campo

    September 18, 2020 at 5:58 pm

    Hi,
    Thanks for all the wonderful things you post in your newsletters and on youtube!
    This seam roll seems like a great tool to have! I downloaded the pattern, but I can't print it since it's a pdf file. (I didn't have that problem with your hanging basket pattern.
    Thanks!
    Borja

    Reply
    • Damjana

      September 18, 2020 at 6:47 pm

      Borja hi,

      thanks! Re printing, try opening your file in Adobe reader from your local computer, and then it should be able to print. If not, I have been advised to make sure you've got the latest version of Adobe Reader. Hope this helps,

      Reply
      • borja del Campo

        September 18, 2020 at 8:17 pm

        Thanks! I got it and my seam roll is all finished! I know I'll be using it a lot specially for ironing the seams on my making masks!

        Reply
        • Damjana

          September 18, 2020 at 8:29 pm

          Borja hi,

          boy that was quick! It's such a great thing when we can actaully use the finished project immediately, right? xoxo, damjana

          Reply
    • Momo G

      November 03, 2020 at 1:44 pm

      I inherited a seam roll and two hams from my mother, and have used them heavily over the years. I love to steam wool garments to shape them on the tools, as nothing else can compare. I wanted a small, thin seam roll years ago, so made one and filled it with sand. It works almost as well as sawdust and provides great flexibility for curved seams. Mine is about an inch in diameter and a foot long.

      Reply
      • Damjana

        November 03, 2020 at 6:03 pm

        Great thinking! <3

        Reply
  4. Eileen

    January 23, 2019 at 12:58 am

    I don't know how to access the free seam roll template. Ands, is there an easy way to print the instructions?

    Reply
    • Damjana at AppleGreen Cottage

      January 23, 2019 at 5:35 am

      Eileen,

      thanks for reaching out, I'm happy to help: the free pattern is in my shop available for free with a 100% off discount code every newsletter subscriber can use.
      Once you sign up for the newsletter, you'll get the Coupon in your welcome email.

      Enjoy! Damjana

      Reply

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