Making Open and Closed Seams

Making Open and Closed Seams How To Do an Open Seam and a Closed Seam ChaptersWhat Is an Open Seam?How Do You Do an Open Seam?Closed SeamsHow Do You Do a Closed Seam?When Should You Use an Open Seam and a Closed Seam?How Can You Learn to Do an Open Seam or a Closed Seam?“Elegance is when the inside is as beautiful as the outside.” - Coco ChanelA lot of Brits enjoy creative hobbies. Embroidery, knitting, crochet, sewing, etc., arts and crafts are coming back. Whether you’re making an item of clothing, a present for a friend, or touching up your curtains, creative pursuits allow you improve your imagination.So how can you get started with sewing together your own creations?To tailor make clothes or touch up others, here are two sewing techniques you can use: the open seam and the closed seam. Get your sewing equipment ready (pins, iron, interfacing, needles, etc.).In this article, we're going to have a look at what each of these seams is, what they're used for, and how you make them. RaySewing Teacher 5.00 (6) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all ou r tutors PrincessSewing Teacher 5.00 (2) £18/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AnaSewing Teacher 5.00 (4) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ArianwenSewing Teacher 5.00 (2) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ShaziaSewing Teacher 5.00 (2) £10/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ZanetaSewing Teacher 5.00 (1) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors GianmariaSewing Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JacquelineSewing Teacher £17/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsWhat Is an Open Seam?Sewing can seem complicated at first when you don’t know the lingo or the techniques. However, the open seam is one of the simplest to do.An iron will help you make an open seam. (Source: RitaE)The open seam allows you to join two pieces of fabric together without making the fabric too thick. This technique is often used for fabrics that are already quite thick or heavy, to begin with.The open seam is used by beginners and experts alik e. It can be used for coats, trousers, skirts, purses, or any other project using a heavy fabric.The folds of each fabric are separated and then sewn together. This means that there isn’t twice as much thickness at the seam. You’ll usually need an iron when doing an open seam.If you’re a beginner, you can quite easily learn to do this seam. You can also regularly use it for your own projects.Find sewing classes Glasgow on Superprof.How Do You Do an Open Seam?As mentioned before, the open seam isn’t particularly complicated and it’s often one of the first ways you’ll learn how to sew.You just need to overcast or serge to the two pieces of fabric that you want to use in order to create an open seam. This means that the thread won’t get in your way while you’re sewing. This will also make your work cleaner. That said, you can skip this step if you’re in a rush.If this is the case, take two pieces of fabric, and place them right sides together. To make sure the two pie ces stay in place, you should pin them together as this will ensure better results.Get the best sewing classes London on Superprof.With the help of a sewing machine or by hand, start sewing a centimetre from the edge of the fabric. This is the seam allowance or inlay, the distance between the edge of the fabric and the seam. Generally, this is between 1cm and 1.5cm.To ensure that the stitching is clean, don’t forget to start and finish your stitches. This will be at either end of the thread.Once you’re done, open the two parts of the fabric that you’ve sewn together. You want the wrong side facing upwards and you’ll place the two pieces of fabric with the right side down. The extra fabric will be overlapping.Take this extra part and fold it over.  This is called pressing open the seam.  Iron the two ends until they’re as flat as possible. Turn everything over and iron the side with the stitching. Press down hard so that the stitching remains flat. You don’t want to be ab le to feel the stitching on the ends.Find out more about other common seams. RaySewing Teacher 5.00 (6) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors PrincessSewing Teacher 5.00 (2) £18/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AnaSewing Teacher 5.00 (4) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ArianwenSewing Teacher 5.00 (2) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ShaziaSewing Teacher 5.00 (2) £10/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ZanetaSewing Teacher 5.00 (1) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors GianmariaSewing Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JacquelineSewing Teacher £17/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsClosed SeamsClosed seams are the opposite to open seams in the way that the seam allowance is on the same side. You don’t need to separate the two sides but rather place them together.Have you got your sewing kit ready? (Source: jackmac34)This technique is usually used for sewing light fabrics on clothing such as shi rts, blouses, or lingerie. Unlike an open seam, a closed seam adds to the thickness. A closed seam on a thick fabric would be too noticeable from the outside.A closed seam includes a lot of the same steps as an open seam. You’ll need to have your iron on hand and overcast the fabric, if necessary.Learn how to do a felled seam.How Do You Do a Closed Seam?Just like with an open seam, a closed seam starts by placing to pieces of fabric right sides together. Pin them so that they won’t move. The seam allowance needs to be 1cm. This means you won’t have too much extra fabric but it’ll be easy to work with.Do you need the help of a sewing machine? (Source: StockSnap)When using a sewing machine, there are usually markings that indicate the right distance. If you want to sew by hand, you can use pins or a pencil to mark the allowance.  To finish the stitching, you can sew back over a few centimetres of the stitching so that it doesn’t come undone.Remove the pins and then place you r work right side down. You want the wrong side facing you and to be able to see the edges. You just need to place the to edges on the same side.With the help of an iron, flatten to the edges. Turn over the fabric and iron the other side. You can iron it several times if you want.You can then finish the seam by overcasting the two ends of the edges. This will make your seam cleaner.  You just need to cut the ends of the threads and you’re done.The overlock stitch is also very useful!When Should You Use an Open Seam and a Closed Seam?As you’ll have understood, the main difference between a closed seam and an open seam is how you deal with the edges.You could also attend sewing workshops or classes to help. (Source: jackmac34)So which one should you use?Once you’ve finished sewing, you can test which of the seams will work for you. When you’ve got two edges, check whether a closed seam would be too thick and if so, opt for an open seam.You can’t do this the other way round s ince if you start with an open seam, you’ll have one or two edges going the wrong way. This will make it harder to do the fold. A thick seam can ruin a piece so be careful.Learning to do a zig-zag stitch might be worthwhile, too. Check out the best sewing classes on here.How Can You Learn to Do an Open Seam or a Closed Seam?There are different ways to learn. The best way is whichever method has you progressing the fastest.  Learning to do an open seam or a closed seam isn’t the most complicated aspect of sewing. This is why these seams are very common.You could teach yourself to sew by following steps in guides like this one or the many tutorials online. You can find online tutorials on YouTube which are great as you can see what you’re supposed to be doing. You can also follow them in real time.You can also ask a friend who knows how to sew. Learning to sew with friends can be enjoyable and you can use your scissors, pins, thread, and needles to make your own clothes and acce ssories.  You can decorate your clothes and open and closed seams can be used for all types of projects.There are also workshops that take place in haberdasheries. You can learn sewing techniques like open and closed seams, French seams, or zig-zag stitches. In a sewing class or workshop, a sewing kit and an experienced teacher can go a long way.If none of your friends knows how to sew, then you can learn how to do so with the help of a private tutor. This method is recommended if you want to learn more than just the basics. You’ll learn how to add zips, use a serger, a sewing machine, get your seam allowances right, make a hem, use sewing patterns, and many other sewing techniques like a straight stitch, French seam, and zig-zag stitch.On Superprof, there are plenty of talented tutors offering face-to-face tutorials, online tutorials, or group tutorials.Face-to-face tutorials tend to be the most expensive but you'll also enjoy being the only student in the class and bespoke tuiti on, making them the most cost-effective tutorials available.Online tutorials are cheaper since the tutor doesn't physically travel to you but rather teaches via a webcam. Not having a tutor there with you can make arts and crafts more difficult, but if you have a good webcam and an even better tutor, anything is possible.Group tutorials tend to be the cheapest per person per hour because the students share the cost of the tutor's time. If you and a few friends want to learn how to sew, this could be the right option.You’ve no excuses to not start sewing now!

3 Goals to Set in Your Second Year of B-School

3 Goals to Set in Your Second Year of B-School Whether youre a full-time, part-time, or executive MBA student, the time you spend earning your masters degree can go by quickly. After youve completed one year of your program, you may be wondering what goals to set in the coming year. Goals to set in your second year of b-school include exploring career options, properly prioritizing tasks, and staying on track for graduation. Looking to set productive b-school goals? Here are three goals to set in your second year of b-school. Goal #1 for your second year of b-school: find the best career option for you Recruitment for full-time positions starts during the summer after your first year and continues throughout your second year of business school. Update your resume with your latest accomplishments, including achievements from your summer internship and responsibilities from leadership positions at your school. Additionally, use your new knowledge to target companies that would be a good fit for you post-graduation. Keep in mind that where you wanted to work during your first year of business school may not be where you want to work after graduation. Furthermore, the places that your classmates are interested in may not necessarily meet your needs. Do your research through company-sponsored events and informational interviews to identify opportunities that match what youre looking for in your career. [RELATED: 3 Tips for Networking in Business School] Goal #2 for your second year of b-school: choose your priorities Your business school will offer a plethora of opportunities. Take time to decide what you want to accomplish during the final two semesters of your MBA program. Do you want to participate in a case competition? Are you hoping to meet more people in your class? Are you looking to attend an MBA conference? Select the options that are most appealing to you, and focus your energy in that direction. Note that saying no to opportunities you arent interested in will allow you to say yes to events, trips, mixers, and interviews that align with your MBA goals. For example: If your goal is to secure a position at a financial institution in New York City, but youre attending an MBA program in Atlanta, you may want to plan a visit to Manhattan for a weekend instead of participating in your clubs alumni brunch that Saturday. If you want to work at a nonprofit organization after business school, consider attending the Net Impact conference, as opposed to spending the week on campus attending presentations from Fortune 500 companies. [RELATED: 3 Ways Struggling B-School Students Can Re-Focus This Semester] Goal #3 for your second year of b-school: graduate In the second year of your two-year MBA program, youll have the opportunity to choose more electives for your schedule. Although you have more flexibility with the types of courses taken, youll still need to meet your programs credit requirements, attend your classes, and maintain the GPA necessary to complete the program. Additionally, while youre in those classes, take time to build relationshipsboth with classmates you may not have encountered before and with your new professors. The community that you build during business school will help you throughout your career. [RELATED: 5 Tips to Ease the Transition from Business School to the Business World] These three goals to set in your second year of b-school may seem simple to accomplish, but they will take commitment. As an MBA student juggling a growing number of tasks on any given day, you may become distracted by the myriad of options presented to you. Make a decision about what you want, and then formulate a plan to achieve it. Its okay if the plan changes, as long as it aligns with your goals for your business school experience. Any topics you want to know more about? Let us know! The Varsity Tutors Blog editors love hearing your feedback and opinions. Feel free to email us at blog@varsitytutors.com.