How To Hem A Skirt By Hand

When your skirt is too long, you may want to shorten it. The first idea in your mind is how to cut it to the size you desire. You can cut your skirt. After you have cut, it will have a rugged and unfinished look. Unless that is your desired look, you can’t leave it at that. You will need to hem it.

Also, instead of cutting your skirt, you could opt to hem it to your desired length. Hemming is easy. There are also different methods that you can use to hem your skirt.

How To Hem A Skirt By Hand

To hem a skirt by hand, you can use a sewing needle and thread or a hemming tape. These are the best ways to hem a skirt by hand.

Hem A Skirt With Hemming Tape

1. You will need the following tools to hem your skirt. Iron box, a cutting tool, tape measure, tailor’s chalk, or safety pins.
2. Identify and mark the desired height of your skirt.
3. Cut off the part of your skirt’s fabric that is below the marked desired height. Make sure to leave enough space for the hem you will make.
4. Fold the fabric that you have left for your hem allowance.
5. Iron your folded hem.
6. Insert your hemming tape inside your ironed hem. As you do this, iron the hem onto the tape slowly until you have hemmed all-around your skirt.

Hem A Skirt With Sewing Needle

1. You will need the following tools and materials to hem your skirt. A skirt, needle and thread, and a cutting tool.
2. Place your skirt on your working table and identify its desired length. Or, wear it, and mark the desired length of the skirt.
3. Of the excess length, measure the hem space with your fingers, two fingers thick, and make a mark at that point.
4. Cut off the material that is below the identified hem space.
5. With your needle and thread, sew in place your hem all around the skirt.
6. Iron your hem in place for a better finish.

Types Of Stitches Used To Hem

There are different types of stitches that you can use to hem your skirt properly. When hemming by hand, you need to use a stitch that won’t be visible on the outside of the skirt. There are several types of stitches you can choose from depending on your hand sewing skill level.

Blind Stitch

This is the best stitch to use when you are hemming your skirt by hand. A blind stitch as the name suggests is almost invisible. It is a small stitch barely seen on the stitched side, and importantly, not visible on the front of the skirt.

To make a blind stitch, fold the hem allowance of your skirt. Make your first stitch at any seam on your skirt and work around the skirt in the direction you are comfortable with.

Making a blind stitch is easy. Let your first stitch be a knot on the seam of the skirt. This will hold the hem and the thread in place. Bring your needle up from a small piece of your skirt fabric, then pull the needle out through the hem. Do this all around the skirt.

Make sure your stitch is small so that it is only barely visible on the stitched side. Also, confirm that you are stitching properly. Check the front of the skirt regularly to make sure that stitch is not visible.

Catch Stitch

A catch stitch is also suitable for hemming a skirt by hand. It is a strong stitch that will hold your hem firmly for a long time.

Starting at the seam, pass your needle through a small amount of fabric on your skirt directly above the hem. You have successfully made your first stitch. Pull your thread and needle up then pass your needle through the fabric of your hem. This will make an X at the point where you moved your needle from skirt to hem.

Repeat to the end of your skirt. Make sure that your stitches are small so that they are not visible from the front. This stitch is best for wool and knit fabric skirts. It is suitable to make wide hems

The catch stitch may take a long time to complete.

Slip Stitch

Double fold your hem to work perfectly with the slip stitch to hem by hand.

Start your stitch from below your hem. Bring it up and take a few threads of your skirt fabric just above the hem and pull the thread. Push your needle back into the hem where the previous stitch ended and pull as you bring it out. The result is a small stitch, only visible on the sewed side. The rest of the stitch hides behind the other fold of the hem.

Repeat to the end of the skirt.

This is a firm stitch and it will hold the hem of your skirt perfectly.

Fell Stitch

This is another stitch that you can use to hem your skirt by hand. If your skirt has thin fabric, this stitch is likely to be visible on the top side. It is suitable for thick fabrics as its stitches hide in the layers of the fabric. It is also used for skirts with a lining as it is easily sewn on hem and lining.

Pass your needle through the fabric of your skirt then out at the top of the hem. Like a backstitch, start your next stitch at the back of this stitch. Repeat this process to the end.

On the opposite side of the fabric, will be a line of diagonal stitches. On the sewing side, only specks of thread stitches are visible.

Hand Rolled Hem

If you have a light fabric skirt, this is the go-to hem.

To make this, put in two basting stitches at the edges of the hem folds. Cut excess fabric up to the lower basting stitch. Roll the trimmed edges by hand and finish with the slip stitch. Remove the basting stitches after the hem is tightly in place.

Types Of Hems You Can Have On Your Skirt

Right Side Out Hem

This is a hem made on the outside of the skirt. This is done to make this a feature of the skirt. Most times, both the inside and outside of the skirt have interesting patterns and designs.

Single Fold Hem

Another straightforward name for a straightforward hem. To make this hem, fold the hemming fabric on the skirt once then stitch or tape it into place.

Double Fold Hem

The hem allowance fabric is folded twice before it is sewn in place. It is loved by many sewists as it makes it possible to hide threads when sewing. Especially when sewing by hand.

Faced Hem

This is a hem made by adding a separate piece of fabric onto your skirt. Instead of folding up the fabric at the bottom of your skirt, just add a different pattern fabric.

Pin Hem

This is a great hem, especially for circle skirts. As the name suggests, it is a thin hem that you can make in your skirt.

Rolled Hem

A rolled hem is when the skirt or garment you are hemming does not have a visible end. This is because it has been rolled into the garment.

What Is The Difference Between A Seam And A Hem?

The hem marks the end of the fabric. It is usually folded in and sewn onto the rest of the garment for a more presentable look. It can be sewn by hand or by sewing machine.

A seam joins the edges of two fabrics.

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