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Woven fabrics ravel, or unweave, on cut edges. The extent of
this raveling varies depending on the nature of the fabric and
the grain of the cut edge. Because woven fabrics have this
property, some kind of seam finish is necessary to provide added
durability and increase the wearer's comfort.
Five seam finishes will be discussed, covering most kinds of
fabric. The first three seam finishes outlined can be done on a
straight stitch machine so they are usable in almost any
situation.
 | SINGLE EDGE STITCH. This finish is adequate for most closely
woven fabrics that don't ravel easily. It is fast, simple to do,
and does not produce any additional bulk to the seam edge, nor
does it reduce the dimension of the seam allowance. |
| DOUBLE EDGE STITCH. This finish is adequate for almost any
fabric. It is fast and does not add bulk to the seam edge or
reduce the dimension of the seam allowance. |
| CLEAN FINISH. The clean finish is very durable and neat. It is
time consuming and does add bulk to the seam edge. The dimension
of the seam allowance is also reduced. |
| ZIG ZAG FINISH. This seam finish is the most widely used seam
finish in situations where a serger is not available. It is very
durable and appropriate for almost any fabric. It does add a
little bulk to the seam edge and reduces the dimension of the
seam allowance slightly. |
| SERGED, MARROWED, or OVERLOCKED FINISH. This is the fastest and
most durable of all the seam finishes. It must be produced on a
serger. The serged seam finish resembles the zig zag finish, but
can be accomplished in about half the time. Serged seam finishes
do reduce the dimension of the seam allowance. |
Those seam finishes that do not reduce the dimension of the seam
allowance can be applied before the garment pieces are stitched
together. This is much quicker and easier. Those seam finishes
that do reduce the dimension of the seam allowance must be
applied after the garment pieces are sewn together.
Characteristics of a given seam finish should be considered
before choosing any one or a combination of them when planning
the construction of a garment. For instance those that add bulk
to the seam edges are not suitable for light weight fabrics.
Seam finishes 
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