How to Hem a Skirt

Do simple clothing alterations yourself. There's no need to take your skirts in to be professionally hemmed when this sewing job can be done quickly and easily at home.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Dressmaker Pins
• Fabric Chalks
• Fabric-marking Pens
• Ironing Boards
• Irons
• Pin Cushions
• Sewing Machine
• Sewing Needles
• Thimbles
• Threads
• Scissors
• Scissors

Hemming

1. 

   Use a seam ripper to rip out the hem of the skirt. Take care not to rip any fabric when you take out the thread.

2. 

   Use an iron to eliminate any crease lines.

3. 

   Determine the desired length of the skirt. Put the skirt on and stand in front of a full-length mirror to determine the appropriate length.

4. 

   Use a fabric marking pen or tailor's chalk to mark the desired hemline.

5. 

   Turn hem up at that point and use an iron to press hem into place. Secure hem with dressmaker pins.

6. 

   Machine or hand stitch the hem into place. Use a blind-hemming stitch if you would rather that the threads not show on the right side of the fabric. Otherwise, stitch hem as you would stitch any other seam.

Blind-hem by Hand

7. Work a blind-hemming stitch by hand from right to left.

8. Fold back the edge of the hem and fasten thread inside it.

9. Take a small stitch in the garment, then one in the hem. Keep stitches ¼ inch apart and especially small when taken through the garment.

10. Continue to alternate in this manner until hem is sewn.

Blind-hem on a Sewing Machine

11. Make sure your machine has a blind-hemming stitch setting.

12. Turn hem under and baste ½ inch below the hem edge as a substitute for pins.

13. Place the wrong side of the fabric up and fold hem allowance under.

14. Position fabric so that the straight stitches of the blind-hemming stitch fall on the hem and the zigzag stitches catch the fold.

Tips & Warnings

• Test the machine stitch width and length on scrap fabric before you sew on the garment.