Prepare Pattern Pieces

• 1). Place your sheer fabric on a padded cutting surface in a contrasting color and anchor into place with pushpins before cutting to prevent it from shifting.
  
  
• 2). Slide pins into the seam allowance, and space them closer together than you would with opaque fabrics. Make sure you use larger pins on softer sheer fabrics.
  
  
• 3). Cut out pattern pieces with pinking shears or a rotary cutter to prevent shifting.
  
  

Sewing Machine Adjustments

• 1). Adjust your sewing machine to properly handle sheer fabrics; move your needle to the far left of the needle plate to provide additional support for the fabric.
  
  
• 2). Change your machine settings to sew about 10 to 15 stitches per inch.
  
  
• 3). Adjust the feed dog height and presser foot pressure to accommodate finer fabric. On most sewing machines you can do this by turning the tension control knob to a higher number.
  
  

Sew a French Seam

• 1). Match the wrong sides of your fabric together and sew, leaving a 3/8-inch seam.
  
  
• 2). Trim the seam to 1/8 inch and without opening it, iron flat against one piece of your fabric.
  
  
• 3). Fold your fabric so the wrong sides are facing and your seam is against the folded edge.
  
  
• 4). Sew along the folded edge, leaving a 1/4-inch seam.