![Parts of a plain seam](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/05/Parts_of_a_plain_seam.png)
Seam allowance (sometimes called inlays) is the area between the
fabric
Textile is an umbrella term that includes various fiber-based materials, including fibers, yarns, filaments, threads, different fabric types, etc. At first, the word "textiles" only referred to woven fabrics. However, weaving is not the ...
edge and the
stitching line on two (or more) pieces of material being
sewn
Sewing is the craft of fastening or attaching objects using stitches made with a sewing needle and thread. Sewing is one of the oldest of the textile arts, arising in the Paleolithic era. Before the invention of spinning yarn or weaving fabri ...
together. Seam allowances can range from wide to as much as several inches.
Commercial patterns for home sewers have seam allowances ranging from .
A 5/8″(1.5cm) seam allowance provides enough extra between the seam line and the cut edge of the fabric to make sure that the fabric will be safely caught as they are being joining together. This is particularly important when working with fabrics that ravel easily.
[Snuggerud, S. (2007). ''What is a seam allowance?'' Heirloom Creations. https://www.heirloomcreations.net/what-is-a-seam-allowance/]
Sewing industry seam allowances range from for curved areas (e.g. neck line,
armscye
In sewing, the armscye is the armhole, the fabric edge to which the sleeve is sewn. The length of the armscye is the total length of this edge; the width is the distance across the hole at the widest point.
Etymology
Multiple theories for the ...
) or hidden seams (e.g.
facing seams), to or more for areas that require extra fabric for final fitting to the wearer (e.g. center back). Curved seams generally have a smaller seam allowance than straight seams; bulky seams with a large amount of seam allowance are more difficult to press into or conform to a curved shape.
References
Seams
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