I am sewing the seashore sundress using some Anna Maria Horner voile (so not too sheer, but still very lightweight). I don't have a serger. I prefer to do a french seam, but it's not always possible. My problem is that since the fabric is so lightweight, it doesn't take to being zigzaged very well. The zigzag tends to pull in the fabric between the width of the zigzag stitches, kind of folding/scrunching it. Is this just a tension issue? Could I self-bind the seams, or is that going to weigh it down too much? This is a gift for my niece, so I'm trying to make it look special. I have a Kenmore/Janome machine if that makes any difference.
Believe it or not, I'm actually pretty new to finishing seams at all. I have come back to sewing for my kids after being away from it for a long time. As a teenager, sewing for myself, I would just sew and go.