is applied by the draw through gripper it is ensured that the knuckles of the seam weft thread grip in form locking manner and precisely with the knuckles of the first i e the outermost right hand seam warp threads as mentioned at the outset fabric weft threads are used as seam warp threads and fabric warp threads as seam weft threads after the thermofixing of the fabric with the result that the threads have a residual knuckle or corrugation in order that the woven seam in the woven pattern does not differ from the fabric the seam warp threads and the seam weft threads must interlock with their knuckles again corresponding to the weave the creation of this engagement between seam weft thread and seam warp threads is particularly critical in the first three seam warp threads in order to bring the seam weft thread into engagement with the first three seam warp threads the pressure in the bearing pressure cylinders 32 is approximately doubled when the engagement with the first three seam warp threads is created the pressure is reduced to the normal value thus approximately halved the sley 10 remains stationary during the period of time necessary for the pressure reduction this period of time is e g approximately 50 ms simultaneously the stress applied by the draw through gripper is also reduced from the draw through stress to the hold or roll in stress while the outermost right hand reed dents 22 press the seam weft thread into the seam warp threads the sley 10 moves on the chosen pressure in the bearing pressure cylinders 32 is such that the pressure strip 30 is pressed rearward by the reed dents 22 which have reached the fell i e pivoted clockwise.