![Lose Your Sewing Weight: Grade Your Seams - How this is a great sewing tutorial on how to do seam grading. I've always wondered what that was. It looks so easy. Must pin for later!](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0619/9984/1486/t/9/assets/description_image_Lose_Your_Sewing_Weight.png?v=1657402611)
Lose Your Sewing Weight: Grade Your Seams
Now seam grading sounds like something only a teacher would do, but it's just a simple term for cutting off your seam bulk. Check the photos below for how to do it.
![Lose Your Sewing Weight: Grade Your Seams - How this is a great sewing tutorial on how to do seam grading. I've always wondered what that was. It looks so easy. Must pin for later!](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0619/9984/1486/t/9/assets/description_image_how_to_grade_seams_sewing_tutorial1.jpg?v=1657402613)
First, we start with a seam with multiple fabric layers. For this tutorial, I have used four layers together and pressed the seam allowance to the right. I did each layer a different color so you could easily see what to do.
![Lose Your Sewing Weight: Grade Your Seams - How this is a great sewing tutorial on how to do seam grading. I've always wondered what that was. It looks so easy. Must pin for later!](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0619/9984/1486/t/9/assets/description_image_how_to_grade_seams_sewing_tutorial2.jpg?v=1657402614)
When looking at the wrong side, you want the top layer of the seam allowance to be the shortest. Therefore, you are going to trim this layer the most. Since I have four layers of fabric in the seam allowance, I trim this one pretty short. If you only had two layers, you could just trim this seam allowance to half.
![Lose Your Sewing Weight: Grade Your Seams](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0619/9984/1486/t/9/assets/description_image_how_to_grade_seams_sewing_tutorial3.jpg?v=1657402615)
Now do the same thin as the last step, trim this second layer to just past the top layer. Since I have four layers of fabric, I trimmed this layer to half.
![Lose Your Sewing Weight: Grade Your Seams - How this is a great sewing tutorial on how to do seam grading. I've always wondered what that was. It looks so easy. Must pin for later!](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0619/9984/1486/t/9/assets/description_image_how_to_grade_seams_sewing_tutorial4.jpg?v=1657402616)
Now it's time for you final trimming. Take the third layer, and trim a small amount off. Leave the bottom layer untouched. As you can see, all the layers are visible, and by gradually trimming the seam allowance, you have greatly reduced the bulk.
![Lose Your Sewing Weight: Grade Your Seams - How this is a great sewing tutorial on how to do seam grading. I've always wondered what that was. It looks so easy. Must pin for later!](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0619/9984/1486/t/9/assets/description_image_how_to_grade_seams_sewing_tutorial6.jpg?v=1657402618)
![Lose Your Sewing Weight: Grade Your Seams - How this is a great sewing tutorial on how to do seam grading. I've always wondered what that was. It looks so easy. Must pin for later!](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0619/9984/1486/t/9/assets/description_image_how_to_grade_seams_sewing_tutorial5.jpg?v=1657402619)
Now if only all those holiday treats came off so easily. ha ha.
We use this technique on our Sahara Dress & Top for Girls and our Sahara Dress & Top for Ladies. If you don't have these pattern yet, you are missing out!