Learn how to make a seam roll – 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! A seam roll is a useful sewing aid, used for pressing hard-to-reach areas due to their shape or size, like this cute zipper pouch. And have you ever tried to neatly press gathers? A seam roll just makes that so much easier! Download your free template and make your own seam roll. An easy sewing project for beginners.
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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, but just recently I’ve had enough and finally made one. It’s such a quick project, and you’ll use up quite a lot of your cotton scraps (Need a scrapbusting project? This one!)
When you’re sewing, there is a lot of pressing involved. A lot. And we both 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:
- 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 cutting mat (I use this one by Olfa)
- optional: pinking shears
- the free PDF Template (available in the subscriber-resource library for all newsletter subscribers – join the free newsletter here!)
Sign up for my newsletter and get access to the full template once you confirm your subscription!
You’ll also get a pattern from my shop for free.
If you’re already a subscriber, you can access the template with the password in each newsletter, in the resource library:
Seam Roll Tutorial:
1) Using the free PDF template, cut out the two pieces from your fabric.
2) Use 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 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:
3) 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.
4) Once you’ve got your darts sewn, place the pieces together, right sides facing. Match dart seams and fold darts in opposite directions to reduce bulk along the edge.
5) Pin and stitch around using a 1/4″ seam allowance. Leave an opening for turning. (See how I left the double pin markings?)
6) Notch the seam allowance on the rounded parts to reduce bulk – take care not to snip into any stitches. You can use pinking shearsto clip the curved edge portion.
If you need it, here’s a good tip about clipping corners and trimming for you:
7) Turn right-side-out and press well.
8) 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.
9) Close the opening using a ladder or a slip stitch. Done!
Get Your Free PDF Sewing Template:
Sign up for my free newsletter HERE and get access to the free template in the Resource Library once you confirm your subscription:
You’ll also get a pattern from my shop for free.
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| You’ll also get a pattern from my shop for free. |
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:
Damjana
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Or …go straight to one of my currently most popular PDF patterns – the ZIP Pocket Coin purse:
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Eileen says
I don't know how to access the free seam roll template. Ands, is there an easy way to print the instructions?
Damjana at AppleGreen Cottage says
Eileen,
thanks for reaching out, I'm happy to help: the free pattern is in the subscriber-exclusive freebie library at https://www.applegreencottage.com/p/subscriber-freebies.html
Once you sign up for the newsletter, you'll get the password to enter the library.
Once you've entered the password, just CLICK on any of the images you want the pattern from. The PDF pattern/file will open, you save it to your computer, and print whenever you like. The library also contains the 100% discount code for a few of the patterns from my shop.
Enjoy! Damjana