Many vintage sewing patterns use a technique called a “lapped seam”. This technique is excellent for attaching two shaped pieces to each other, and was especially prominent in the 1920s through the 1950s.
A lapped seam involves turning one seam allowance under, and then lapping that folded edge to the seam line of the piece it is meant to connect to. In theatre, the draper I worked under called it “womp ’em, plop ’em.” Whatever you want to call it, it works great for tricky seams that have points, shaping, or need precision.
In leiu of doing tutorials for *every single* vintage pattern which has this feature, I have assembled this page as a catch-all for any tutorials I have made, as well as resources available online.
Photo Tutorials
For the “Bathing Beauty” bathing suit, I show how to sew the godets with a lapped seam here.
For the 1940s Panties and Bloomers, I show how to sew a lapped seam as the second technique on this page (scroll down a bit).
Video Tutorials
For the “Sagebrush” blouse, you can find the lapped seam portion at approximately 8:21 in on this video.
I show how to line a shirt yoke using a lapped seam in this video for the Montana shirt at about 2:15 in.
Period Sewing Books:
These may not be available, depending on your country of residence. All are public domain in the United States.
Lapped Seam- Dressmaking Made Easy from 1939.
Lapped Seam- Singer Sewing Book by Mary Brooks Picken, 1954
Lapped Seam- View 1- Better Dressmaking by Ruth Wyeth Spears, 1942. (This is a really cool book, and worth checking out in it’s entirety.
I’ll add more as I think of them! Happy sewing!