Non-laminate seam

1. A seam for use in joining material, said seam comprising:

a joint sew line connecting a first material to a second material, said joint sew line is positioned a predetermined distance inboard of longitudinal edges of said first and second material, said first and second material having a flap, said flap comprises said first or second material arranged between said joint sew line and said edges of said materials;

a cord arranged directly adjacent to said joint sew line on an inner surface of one of said materials; and

a stitch line arranged adjacent to said cord, said stitch line passes through one of said flaps and a surface of one of said materials, said cord forming a predetermined shape on an outer surface of the material.

2. The seam of claim 1 wherein said one of said flaps is folded over and covers said cord.

3. The seam of claim 1 further comprising a second cord and a second stitch line arranged adjacent to said second cord.

4. The seam of claim 1 is a french seam.

5. The seam of claim 1 wherein the seam is used to connect non-laminated materials.

6. The seam of claim 1 wherein said cord extends an entire length of a longitudinal edge of said material.

7. The seam of claim 1 wherein said cord is made of plastic.

8. A french seam for use in connecting first and second non-laminated upholstery panels, said seam comprising:

a joint sew line positioned inboard of longitudinal edges of the first and second panel, said joint sew line forms a flap for each panel, said flag is defined as a portion of the panel between said joint sew line and said edge of the panel;

a cord aligned directly next to said joint sew line on an inner surface of the first panel;

a second cord aligned directly next to said joint sew line on an inner surface of the second panel;

a stitch line placed along a length of said cord, said stitch line passes through said flan of the first panel and a surface inboard of said joint sew line of the first panel; and

a second stitch line placed along a length of said cord, said second stitch line passes through said flap of the second panel and a surface inboard of said joint sew line of the second panel.

9. The seam of claim 8 wherein one of said flaps is folded over and covers said cord.

10. The seam of claim 9 wherein said stitch line extends an entire length of said cord.

11. The seam of claim 8 wherein said second cord and said second stitch line contacting the second panel, said cord and said stitch line contacting the first panel.

12. The seam of claim 11 wherein said cords are made of plastic.

13. A method of sewing a french seam to connect a first and second upholstery panel, said method including the steps of:

joining the first and second panel with an inboard joint sew line;

aligning a first and second cord directly adjacent to said joint sew line;

folding one flap of one of the panels over one of said cords and the other flap of the other panel over the other of said cords; and

sewing a first and second stitch line adjacent to and along a length of said cords, respectively.

14. The method of claim 13 further including the step of feeding and holding said cords with relation to the panels and a sewing machine.