Back to Basics - Seam Finishes

If you've ever sewn something you love, only to have it fall apart at the seams, you've likely already learned about the importance of finishing your seams. As many of you know, I'm a self-taught sewer. Neither my mother or grandmother sat me at their knee while I was a young 'un and taught me the secrets of sewing. Nope, I learned through trial and error. I learned the importance of finishing seams many years ago when a cotton skirt I had spent hours sewing came apart at the seams after a few washings. The seams had simply unraveled to the point where the thread no longer had anything to hold together. Until that point, I had no idea you needed to finish seams when you sewed something. The pattern instructions certainly didn’t mention it. Now, when I teach others to sew, one of the first things discussed is how to finish a seam edge. Because I own a serger I will usually serge finish my seams. But what do you do if you don't have a serger handy? This is how I finis