Slip Stitch Directions

Sew a slip stitch to hem a garment or sewing project.

When hand sewing a hem, often the stitching involves concealing a stitch on the wrong side of the fabric to make the hem appear neat and unnoticeable from the right side of the fabric. A slip stitch will accomplish a neat hem by stitching on the wrong side of the fabric, while securely holding the hemmed fabric in place. Use a slip stitch often as you finish sewing projects to give your projects a high-quality appearance.

Things You'll Need

• Fabric
• Iron
• Pins
• Hand-sewing needle
• Thread
• Scissors

Instructions

1. Arrange the fabric to prepare to sew the slip stitch. Fold the bottom edge of the fabric where you will hem it by turning under the fabric to the wrong side. Turn under the fabric a half-inch and press with the iron to set the fold. Turn under the fabric again the depth you desire for your hem. Press the fabric again to set the hem fold. Pin the hem in place with pins to hold it, if you desire.

2. Thread the needle with a 15-inch length of thread. Pull one end of the thread approximately 6 inches through the needle eye, and knot the other end of the thread with a double or triple knot.

3. Hold the fabric so the wrong side of the fabric is facing up and the edge of the folded fabric is facing up. You will stitch from right to left.

4. Insert the needle through just the folded fabric immediately under the fold and pull the needle through until the knot disappears beneath the folded fabric. Insert the needle into the fabric just above the fold and poke the needle back up through the folded fabric just below the fold. Make your stitch very small and pull the thread all the way through to make it tight.

5. Take a quarter-inch-long stitch and insert the needle back into the fabric just above the fold. Poke the needle back up through the folded fabric just below the fold. Keep your stitches very small and make them all slant toward the left as you stitch.

6. Continue stitching the slip stitch along the entire folded edge of the fabric to sew the hem.

7. Tie a knot in the thread when you come to the end of the fabric, making the knot snug against the fabric. Clip off the excess thread with the scissors to finish.

References

• Alternative Windows: Basic Sewing Techniques: Types of Stitches