DEFINING FASHION: Darts V Seams

Let’s just jump in, if you’re learning to sew you might be hearing the words ‘darts’ and ‘seams’ tossed about - what’s the difference?

A seam is the sewn connection between two separate pieces of fabric. There are loads of different types of seams, for different garments, fabrics and aesthetics, but in general a seam is the line of stitches that hold the separate pieces of your clothing together - like the side seam on a skirt that holds the front and back panels together.

A dart is basically a sewn fold in your fabric, which adds shape and stricture to a garment. For example on a women’s fitted shirt you will usually find darts sewn in around the bust to create a curved, three dimensional shape. Darts don’t hold pieces together, they create shapes in single pieces.

There are many different types of darts too, and whether you even need them will vary on the pattern you are following.