Directions for Hemming by Machine
Hemming pants, skirts or even the bottom of shirts is something that everyone should learn how to do, whether they do it by hand or by using a sewing machine. Many times people purchase clothing items that are too long. Hemming is a very simple sewing technique, especially if you use a sewing machine to help you. You can hem different garments, whether they are store-bought or apparel you made yourself, by machine.
Instructions
-
-
1
Measure for the necessary length of the finished clothing item on your (or someone else's) body. Measure from your neck all the way down to your waist (or past it, depending on how long you want it) for a shirt. Measure from your waist down the leg for the desired length of a skirt. Measure from your waist down the side of the leg to the heel or other desired length for a pair of pants.
-
2
Turn the garment wrong side out. Work on the inside of the fabric.
-
-
3
Measure down from the portion of the garment to the desired length using the measuring tape. Make a mark using a piece of chalk
-
4
Fold up the fabric to this mark. Fold under the fabric again about a ½ inch to hide the raw edge and make a neat, folded edge for the hem. Insert pins to hold the fabric in place.
-
5
Thread your machine with a thread that matches the fabric of your clothing item.
-
6
Check your sewing machine manufacturer's directions and set your machine to a blind hem stitch. Attach the blind hem stitch foot if you have one, but the special foot is not necessary.
-
7
Insert your clothing item under the presser foot. Start at a side seam for a skirt, a pair of pants or a shirt that has a closed front. Start at one side of the shirtfront if the front is open. Lower the presser foot.
-
8
Step on the sewing machine pedal to sew the hem stitch. Sew all the way around the clothing item. Remove the pins as you sew.
-
9
Raise the presser foot and pull the clothing item out a little to make a longer thread length. Cut the threads as close to the garment as possible to release it from the sewing machine.
-
10
Turn the garment right side out and inspect your finished hem.
-
11
Iron the garment to flatten out the hem.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
If you have a lot of extra fabric, trim it before turning it under. You only want to have about 1 ½ inches of fabric to fold up; otherwise the finished hem can look bulky.
You can iron your folded fabric before hemming to give you a crisp fold and to make it easier to pin and sew, but it is not necessary.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Sewing machine image by Susanne Karlsson from Fotolia.com
