How to Sew a French Seam

Add eye-catching topstitches to your boat and auto upholstery with a French seam. A French seam is a great stitch to use on upholstery work for two reasons. It's a beautiful finish that adds visual interest to your upholstery, and it also strengthens the seam. And though it may look complicated, it's actually very easy to master this technique. We’ll show you how to get this look for yourself in a quick video tutorial.

The French seam demonstrated in our video is also known as a “double topstitch” and is commonly found in applications using leather, faux leather or vinyl. When sewing lighter materials for apparel and some home goods applications, the term “French seam” refers to a slightly different technique.

When sewing a French seam for your upholstery, we recommend adding a backing material behind the first seam. This way, if the seam is stretched when the seat is in use, the backing fabric blocks the lining under the fabric from being seen. The backing material also adds additional strength to the seam. To get the best appearance on your topstitch, we recommend using a heavyweight thread so it will have a thicker appearance. You can also sew with a contrasting thread color so the stitching will pop against your fabric.

Watch the video below to see how this seam is created. Then grab some fabric and practice it yourself!

These French seams are featured in longer project videos from our Regal Ambassador 245XL Powerboat Makeover series — be sure to check them out.

And if you're looking for more quick and easy sewing tips, check out our Tips & Tricks page. It's full of useful videos and tutorials to help you improve your technique and conquer your project list!

Have you tried the French seam? Share your experiences and advice in the comments section below. Thanks for watching, and happy stitching!