How to Repair a Hem

A few quick stitches can take care of a kicked-out hem on a pair of pants or a skirt. This is one repair that proves the cliche' "A stitch in time saves nine," so find your sewing kit and get to work.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Straight Pins
• Needle
• Ruler Or Measuring Tape
• Straight Pins
• Thread
• Scissors
• Scissors

1. Use a ruler or measuring tape to measure the hem at a spot where it hasn't pulled out.

2. 

   Where the hem needs to be repaired, turn it under the same width. Pin it into place with straight pins (see A).

3. Thread the needle with thread the same color as that used in the rest of the hem. Cut a piece of thread about 18 inches (45 cm) long, pass one end through the eye of the needle, and tie the two loose ends into a knot.

4. Working on the inside of the garment (the side that doesn't show), start stitching about 1/2 inch (12 mm) before where the hem has begun to pull out, using the blind hemstitch (see steps 5 through 7).

5. Make a small horizontal stitch in the fabric, picking up only a few threads from the right side of the fabric, so it will be barely noticeable when you're wearing the garment.

6. 

   Take the next stitch, this time a little bit larger, in the folded hem, about 1/4 inch (6 mm) from the first stitch (see B). Don't pull the stitches too tightly or the fabric will pucker.

7. Repeat steps 5 and 6 until you've crossed the distance of the pulled hem plus about 1/2 inch (12 mm).

8. Tie a knot in the thread, and snip off the thread with the scissors.

Tips & Warnings

• If you have a sewing machine equipped with a blind hemstitch feature, you can use it instead of doing steps 4 through 7 by hand.
• Ideally a hem is almost invisible when you're wearing the garment. To accomplish this, take the tiniest stitch possible when stitching through to the right side of the fabric.