How to help your seam allowances turn in at holes

seam 006Honestly, I had a hard time titling this post. It was sort of hard to describe what I was talking about in a few words. Let me try in more detail: You know when you make a lined bag and you leave a hole in the lining through which to turn the bag right-side out at the end? And then you need to turn the seam allowances of the hole in and press it and sew it shut? Well, this is a nifty, simple little trick that automatically turns the seam allowances in for you for easy sewing.

 

 

 

 

The process

seam 003Pretend this is your bag lining. Stitch down either side.

seam 004Start stitching on the bottom edge at one end. You’ll be leaving a hole for turning the bag right-side out later, so stop part way in. Leave the needle down.

seam 005Lift the presser foot and pivot your fabric so you’re facing the bottom edge. Stitch that little .5″ in the seam allowance.

seam 006Like this.

seam 007Repeat on the other side of the hole.

seam 008Box the corners, if desired. See this tutorial for more on that.

seam 009You’ll get this. Now, normally you’d attach the outer bag and turn the whole thing right-side out, but for the purposes of this tutorial, we’ll stop here. Just turn the lining right-side out.

seam 010And you’ll get this. The hole has not yet been sewn shut, but the seam allowance is turning in perfectly!

seam 011Press it closed and stitch as desired.