This week I thought I'd run through a few tips for sewing a French dart. I have taken a lot of this from Reader's Digest Complete Guide to Sewing (a must have!).
1. Mark the dart on the wrong side of the fabric. Then staystitch 3mm (1/8 in) inside each stitching line. Do this by sewing to the point of the dart and taper to meet 2.5 cm (1 in) from the point of the dart.
![](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0039/0755/1350/files/IMG_5570_600x600.jpg?v=1633947349)
2. Slash through the centre of the dart to where the staystitching intersects. Sometimes the pattern will already have the centre section of the dart removed - if so you won't need to slash.
![](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0039/0755/1350/files/IMG_5579_600x600.jpg?v=1633947461)
3. Pin the dart matching both dart legs. Stitch dart to the point.
![](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0039/0755/1350/files/IMG_5566_600x600.jpg?v=1633947491)
4. I like to chain off the dart point. I do this by reducing my stitch length to 1.5 mm as I get near to the point of the dart, I then continue stitching off the dart to create a chain. Then I lift the presser foot and stitch into the fold of the dart to finish.
![](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0039/0755/1350/files/IMG_5576_600x600.jpg?v=1633947430)
5. Clip seam allowances to allow dart to curve smoothly.
![](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0039/0755/1350/files/IMG_5572_600x600.jpg?v=1633947415)
6. Press using tailors ham.
![](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0039/0755/1350/files/IMG_5578_600x600.jpg?v=1633947372)
![](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0039/0755/1350/files/IMG_5575_600x600.jpg?v=1633947293)