How To Hem A Bridesmaid Dress Without Sewing?

Being a bridesmaid is an honor and a responsibility. You’re there to support the bride on her special day, and your dress is a significant part of the occasion.

But sometimes, finding the perfect fit can be a challenge, especially if the dress is too long. Hemming a dress can be a daunting task, particularly if you’re not familiar with sewing.

In this step-by-step guide, we will share some easy and effective methods to hem your bridesmaid dress without having to sew a single stitch.

How To Hem A Bridesmaid Dress Without Sewing?

How To Hem A Bridesmaid Dress Without Sewing?

When you want to hem the bridesmaid dress, there are several steps you need to follow. Have a look at the information below.

Step 1

The initial thing you must do is place the dress on a flat surface and expose the hem area. For the flat surface, you can use the iron board, table, cardboard, or any other flat area.

Step 2

Now, you have to tear out a piece of the fabric tape. Handle it carefully so that the tape doesn’t stick to each other. After tearing off the fabric tape, place it on the hem area.

Step 3

Once you have placed the fabric or hem tape on the hem of the dress, you need to fold the material to your desired length. Be sure to close it accurately so that the hem is not irregular.

Step 4

When you have folded the hem with the fabric tape, you must take a medium-hot iron and gently press on the folded area. Be sure to run around the iron gently on that particular area.

Doing so will stick the fabric tape with the dress firmly. So, the chances of the hem opening up will be much lower.

When you are using the iron for pressing the hem, you are going for the high setting. But it will be much better if you check the material of the dress first.

Step 5

Once you are done with ironing, leave the area for around 5 seconds, and after that, you are all set to wear the dress.

Also, if you want, you can leave the dress for around 5 minutes to 10 minutes to cool down at the hem area.

Once it’s cooled down, you are all set to use the dress with no hassle.

Types of Fabric Tapes To Use: Without Sewing

Fabric Tapes

When you are not a fan of sewing or don’t know how to do so, choosing the hem or fabric tapes stands out as the ultimate option. These tapes can hem your bridesmaid’s dress even at the last minute.

But wait, there are several types of hem tapes available in the market. You can check out some of the popular ones mentioned below. After that, you can then make your buying decision.

1. HeatnBond Iron-On Hem Tape

The HeatnBond hem tape stands out as an iron-on and double-sided tape adhesive that will enable you to hem your dress without sewing.

You can use this particular tape on heavy materials, such as heavy cotton, suede, etc. You have to iron or press the hem when using this no-sewing tape.

The double-sided tape will provide you with a permanent hem, which you can easily activate with heat. It’s pretty easy to use and will make clean hems in a matter of seconds.

2. Dritz Fusible Bonding Web

This hem tape is ideal for bonding materials together effectively and quickly. You can easily use the tape for the hemming work of your bridesmaid dress. Also, the tape will not disintegrate when coming in contact with water.

The bonding web is washable and dry cleanable. The chances of the tape coming out during the wash are much lower than you think. You need to activate the hem or fabric tape with a steam iron.

It will work perfectly on light-shaded materials, such as white, and you can use the tape for fixing and creating hems.

3. Singer Heavy-Duty Iron-On Fabric Tape

This heavy-duty fabric tape from Singer will easily mend the seams of your dress. The iron-on tape is ideal for your bridesmaid dress and will lessen the need for sewing and saves you plenty of time.

Using the Singer hem tape is pretty straightforward. You need to place the tape on the area where you need to sew the material. After that, steam presses on it, and the heat will immediately activate the tape.

How to Hem a Bridesmaid Dress by Sewing?

How to Hem a Bridesmaid Dress by Sewing?

You are already aware you can hem a bridesmaid dress without the sewing work. So, now, let’s have a look at how you can sew the dress through the stitching or sewing technique.

Materials you need

When you have decided to hem your bridesmaid dress through the sewing technique, you need several things. They are:

  1. Sewing machine
  2. Mat and rotary blade
  3. Fabric or material scissors
  4. Measuring tape
  5. Clear invisible nylon thread or coordinating thread
  6. Marking pen [Should carry disappearing ink]
  7. Sewing ruler for quilting
  8. Straight pins

Once you gather all these items, you all are set to begin the hemming work on your bridesmaid dress.

Materials you need

Step 1

You will require a thinner layer of 9? inches, so taking measurements is the first thing you have to do. Make sure to do the measuring pretty carefully, and use a good measuring tape.

Step 2

With a fabric pen, mark the sides of the inner layer and bottom edges where you wish to cut. Since you are using a marker with disappearing ink, the markings will fade out within 30 minutes.

But the fading part of the marking can also take several hours as it will depend on the type of material you will use.

Step 3

Now, you must take a prominent ruler and draw lines on the edges of the material. Make sure to draw these lines across the entire fabric, not just on one side. Place the ruler properly and get the job done.

Step 4

Once you have completed marking all the areas across the material, it’s time to cut. With the help of a ruler, cut the material along the marked lines with a rotary blade.

Again, when using a ruler, make sure to place it in a straight line.

Step 5

The outer or the top layer of your bridesmaid dress has sheer material. So, you must lay down the outer layer on top of a newly-cut satin layer.

After that, you must replicate the technique around 3 to 4 times. Try to cut down the sheer layer 3 inches longer than the satin one.

bridesmaid dress

Step 6

Now, you must lay the cut part of the dress right above the black area of the sheer polyester layer. This layer will require cutting work, and you must repeat the process 3 to 4 times.

You must cut the back area of the sheer layer to cut the front part on the layer itself. Doing so will keep the back and the front areas at the same length.

Close the back area of the sheer polyester layers, which you find beneath the two beforehand cut layers.

Step 7

Lastly, double fold the edges of your dress, and it should be around all the layers of sheer polyester and satin. You can start the folding from any layer, and the process for both the layers will be the same.

Can I Use Hem Tape on Chiffon Fabric?

In short, NO. Using hem tape on chiffon will not provide you with the best results. It will offer you a ripple effect, which is super weird. Also, hem tapes are ideal for mid-weight materials, and chiffon is a lightweight fabric.

But if you are in a situation where you HAVE to use the tape at all cost, you must first press the hem to length. After that, you can use fusible hem tape.

It’s only the thin webbing, which melts down the layer together and becomes less noticeable.

Is it Possible to Remove the Hem Tape from the Dress?

 

Yes, you can remove the hem tape from your dress. After you get rid of the tape, you will get sticky residue on the material.

Depending on how long the tape was on the dress, it might take several attempts to obliterate the adhesive from the dress.

Even though the technique might seem challenging, it will be much better to get the job done patiently.

Make sure to scrape out most of the adhesive with your fingernails after gently rubbing on the sticky area with your fingers.

Jessica

Jessica

I'm Jessica Flores, a professional fashion designer and an expert seamstress. Crafting has always been a deep-seated passion of mine, one that has flourished and evolved over the years. I've dedicated considerable time to both studying and practicing in the realm of fashion and sewing, amassing a wealth of experience and skills. It brings me great joy to share these insights and experiences with you all, hoping to inspire and foster a similar passion for the art of sewing.

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