How to Hem a Skirt Freehand

Every now and then, you may find yourself in a pinch when the hem of you skirt unravels, or you need to shorten it for some reason. With a little know how, you can easily hem a skirt freehand.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Seam ripper
• Iron
• Needle
• Thread

1. Remove the thread from the skirt hem with a seam ripper. Apply the seam ripper to the thread, but not the fabric.
2. Turn the skirt inside out and iron the hem. Make sure the hem is at an even length all the way around the skirt.
3. Choose a thread that matches the existing color of the fabric. Thread the needle with about a yard of thread since you'll be stitching freehand instead of using a sewing machine.
4. Stick the needle into the inner side of the fabric. Weave the needle from back to front in even intervals of about 1/8 to 1/4 inches each. Pull the thread all the way through the fabric before sticking the needle in again. This will prevent the thread from knotting. Repeat until the skirt is hemmed all the way around.
5. Tie the end of the thread in a knot close to the fabric to prevent the hem from raveling.
6. Turn the skirt right side out and check the skirt for evenness. If everything looks good, you've successfully hemmed a skirt freehand.

Tips & Warnings

• Although a thimble seems like an old-fashioned device, it helps push the needle through when you hem a skirt freehand, especially if the fabric is thick.