LUDLOW QUILT AND SEW
Sewing hems
How to sew a hem
Knowing how to sew a hem can make life so much easier. No more frantic hunting for a safety pin or - dare I say it - the stapler!
The point of a sewing a hem is to hide the raw edge of the fabric - both to make the garment look more neat and to protect the edge of the fabric from fraying.So the first step in sewing a hem is to turn down 1/4" (6mm) of the fabric, then turn down another 1/4" so that the raw edge is completely tucked away.
This can be machine stitched (as on left) by running a straight line of stitching near the edge that is turned under, or it can be hand stitched (as on right) if you don't want the hemming to show on the right side of the fabric. Use small stitches and try to catch only a thread or a small amount of the fabric with the needle.
In the photo on the left I have tried to show both ways of sewing a hem to help you decide which you would prefer to do. If you are sewing a hem on a skirt or trousers, the length of fabric turned over would vary according to how much you need to take up. It's very important to pin the hem and then try the garment on before you sew. That way you can correct any sagging bits before you sew. For a garment I would always recommend hand sewing the hem.
Depending on what you are sewing, the very easy option for hemming is to zigzag along the edge of the fabric to prevent fraying, then turn over a hemming allowance and machine stitch in place. As you can see from the photo on the right, only the line of machine stitching shows through on the right side. This method works well when you have to produce a fancy dress or some such at very short notice.
rose@ludlowquiltandsew.co.uk
www.ludlowquiltandsew.co.uk