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Flat-Felled Seam Skills Workshop
Master flat-felled seams in this approachable online sewing class. You’ll learn step-by-step techniques for trimming, pressing, and stitching seams that are strong, durable, and beautifully finished on both sides. Through guided practice, you’ll create swatch-ready samples and gain the confidence to add polished, long-lasting seams to shirts, pants, and outerwear.
Seamwork Members: Free!
Non-Members: $49
Class opens to members on January 1, 2026.
The Secret to Strong, Professional-Looking Garments
Flat-felled seams are what give garments that ready-to-wear finish. They add strength, structure, and polish—but only when they’re done well. They’re visible, structured, and unforgiving—so if something twists or goes off grain, there’s nowhere to hide it. But once you understand how they’re meant to work, flat-felled seams become a reliable way to add strength and polish to your garments. When sewn with intention, they create clean lines, durability, and a finish that looks just as good on the inside as the outside.
Introducing
Flat-Felled Seam Skills Workshop
Elevate your sewing with one of the strongest, cleanest seam finishes you can use. This workshop breaks flat-felled seams into clear, manageable steps, helping you understand when to use them, how to avoid common mistakes, and how to apply them confidently to a variety of garments.
By the end of this course you’ll be able to:
- Decide when to use flat-felled seams—and when to skip them
- Sew a flat-felled seam step-by-step
- Create a faux flat-felled seam for quicker results
- Choose fabrics and thread for a clean, professional finish
- Achieve crisp, even topstitching every time
- Flat-fell sleeves and side seams
- Flat-fell jeans for durable, polished seams
- Troubleshoot common issues with flat-felled seams
- Select Seamwork patterns that are perfect for practicing this technique
Meet Your Teacher
Erica is the Head of Education at Seamwork. She’s been sewing since she was 10 and taught sewing at a fabric store for 12 years. She loves the endless possibilities sewing your own clothes offers, and she's excited to share her knowledge with you.
Course Lessons
Lesson 1: Class Overview
Learn how to sew strong, durable, and professional-looking flat-felled seams in this hands-on workshop. You’ll explore the history and purpose of flat-felled seams,...
Lesson 2: Flat-Felled Seams: An Overview
In this lesson, you’ll explore the history, purpose, and practical uses of flat-felled seams. You’ll learn why they’re strong, durable, and neat, which...
Lesson 3: How to Sew a Flat Felled Seam
In this lesson, you’ll learn how to sew a flat-felled seam step by step, including both the classic version with seam allowance on...
Lesson 4: How to Sew a Faux Flat Felled Seam
In this lesson, you’ll learn how to sew a faux flat-felled seam—a faster, simpler alternative that gives the look of a classic flat-felled...
Lesson 5: Topstitching Tips
In this lesson, you’ll learn how to achieve clean, strong, and professional topstitching for flat-felled seams. You’ll get tips on choosing thread, needles,...
Lesson 6: Flat Felled Seam on Sleeve and Side Seams
In this lesson, you’ll learn how to sew flat-felled seams on sleeves and side seams for shirts and blouses. You’ll see step-by-step guidance...
Lesson 7: Flat Felled Seams on Jeans
In this lesson, you’ll learn how to sew flat-felled seams on key areas of jeans, including the yoke, center back seam, and inseam....
Lesson 8: Choosing the Right Fabric
In this lesson, you’ll learn how to choose the best fabrics for flat-felled seams. You’ll discover which weights and types of fabric are...
Lesson 9: Troubleshooting a Flat Felled Seam
In this lesson, you’ll learn how to troubleshoot common issues with flat-felled seams, including uneven topstitching, incorrect stitch placement, twisted fabric, and uneven...
Lesson 10: Put it Into Practice
In this lesson, you’ll learn how to apply flat-felled seams to real sewing projects. You’ll see which garments — like jeans, trousers, shirts,...
What’s Included
You’ll get:
- 10 video lessons that take you through everything you need to know in order to master Flat-Felled seams
- A live demonstration on finishing a sleeve with a flat-felled seam or a faux-flat felled seam. Find out which method works best!
- A downloadable troubleshooting guide to help you avoid any issues
- A downloadable project checklist with photos to keep you on track
- Practice swatch cards you can reference later
About our Skills Workshops
Each month, we create a new 30-day live Skills Workshop, focusing on helping you improve one particular sewing ability.
We alternate these with our seasonal Design Your Wardrobe program, and all these resources are available for free to our members.
It’s part of our SEAM method, to help you learn as you sew:
- Seasonally plan the wardrobe you want to wear
- Explore unlimited access to 250+ patterns
- Advance your skills through targeted workshops
- Make connections in our supportive community
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is a skill workshop?
- Each month, we focus on a single sewing skill, helping you build your expertise step by step. Over time, you'll create your own skills library with technique samples you can reference again and again. You can apply these skills to any pattern you choose, allowing you to learn while making something you truly want to wear!
- How does it work?
- The workshop is made up of self-paced video modules you can watch whenever it fits your schedule. Go at your own pace!
- We will release the workshop on the first day of the month, and then it will be available to you as a member anytime moving forward. There will be video lessons and downloads that you can access anytime, and you’ll be able to go at your own pace through the course material.
- During the month the workshop is released, we will be posting about it in the community and sending emails to keep you motivated so that you can share progress and inspire each other. A new Skill Workshop will be released each month, except for the months where we are doing Design Your Wardrobe.
- You will be able to access this skill workshop anytime starting on January 1, 2026.
- Will I be able to interact with other people who are also in the workshop?
- You’ll receive weekly email reminders and forum prompts to keep you motivated and connected with fellow sewists. You’ll be able to ask questions and get feedback to build your skills even more. We’ll also have a live Zoom event for even more interactive learning.
- Which pattern should I use to learn the skill?
- We’ve designed these workshops so that you can learn the skill AND pick a pattern that works for you and your style. Unlike a sewalong, you don’t have to make one specific project.
- What if I’m not ready to make a pattern? Can I still learn the skill?
- Absolutely! Cut out some test fabric and practice, practice, practice. Use the handy downloadable sample cards to keep things organized and easy to reference later.
Flat-Felled Seam Skills Workshop
Master flat-felled seams in this approachable online sewing class. You’ll learn step-by-step techniques for trimming, pressing, and stitching seams that are strong, durable, and beautifully finished on both sides. Through guided practice, you’ll create swatch-ready samples and gain the confidence to add polished, long-lasting seams to shirts, pants, and outerwear.