How To Make A Lettuce Edge Hem By Hand

You can easily create a lettuce edge hem with your hands by sewing with stretch. It’s because the material on which you sew the lettuce edge hem should be a stretchy one.

Once you have completed the sewing work, you can make a wavy finish smoothly and quickly. 

The lettuce edge hem technique will not add any bulk to the hemline, and the material will also not get turned up even if it is short in length.

This stands out as an excellent way to make your sewing project shorter. Well, you are aware of how the lettuce edge hem is done with hands. You will learn more about the technique in detail through this document. 

How To Make A Lettuce Edge Hem By Hand?

The process of sewing lettuce-edge hem with your hands is not that difficult. It’s pretty simple to follow the steps correctly. Before you start with the sewing work, there are several things you need. 

You need knitted clothes, a needle, thread, and scissors. You can use a thread of any color according to your choice. For the scissors, make sure it’s sharp enough to cut through the fabric or thread. 

There are several ways you can do the lettuce edge with your hands. Let’s check it out!

1. The Slip Stitch

Slip stitch is not just good for hemming but will also enable you to do shearings, coverings, and so much more. Let’s take a how-to-do slip stitch. 

Step 1

To conduct the slip stitch, you will require one single string of thread. If the thread is way too long, it will get twisted. Cut the thread with a sharp scissor, and make sure to tie a knot at the end.

Step 2

Start your stitching work by hiding the knot in the hem allowance fold. Start from ¼ inch away and grab onto 1 or 2 fibers of the material. Pass the needle straight through the hem allowance fold.

Step 3

After that, slide the needle within the insides of the hem allowance fold and exit it from ¼ inch. You are also free to do several more stitches, and you have to follow the same technique. 

Once you finish the stitch work, you will find all the threads are relatively oblique. But on the right side of the material, they are not that visible. 

Step 4

To complete the stitch work, you have to take the needle away from where the last stitch came out through the hem allowance. Pull the thread gently so that it forms a loop, and then pass your needle through it. 

Make sure to create two knots and for the last knot, pull the thread tightly, which secures the knot perfectly. 

Step 5

Leave out a tail of thread and insert it with a needle within the hem allowance to hide it inside. Cut out the excess thread, and you’re all done.

2. The Blind Hem

Even though many individuals do the blind hem stitch with the sewing device, when done by hand, it will make the stitch look barely visible. Want to know how it’s done? Look below!

Step 1

The primary thing you must do is fold back the hem allowance edge about ¼ inch to ½ inch. Grab on to 1 or 2 threads within the hem allowance. 

Step 2

You have to move ¼ inch forward and grab onto two more threads. Now, you have to go back within the insides of the hem allowance to grab two more threads within the material. 

Now, you need to go back past the right side of the material. 

Step 3

You have to go back and forth constantly. Make sure you don’t put the threads too tightly. 

Step 4

Now to complete the stitching work put the needle across the stitch and create a circle. After that, pass the needle through the circle around two times. Pull the thread tightly and hide the tail of the thread. 

How To Make A Lettuce Edge Hem With A Sewing Machine?

Now that you are well aware of how to do the lettuce edge hem by hand let’s take a look at the process of doing it through a stitching device. Check below!

Step 1

Place the material right beneath the presser foot of the machine. With raw edges, try rolling it over for 3mm or 1/8 inch. If the material curls ideally, the entire sewing work will become a lot easier.

You can easily roll the fabric over with your fingernails, and you don’t have to iron it. Also, it doesn’t matter whether the material is wrong or right. It’s because the stitches will help in hiding the edges. 

Step 2

Put the type of stitch setting you want for the lettuce-edge hem. Set it up on a length of 0.2 to 0.5, and for the width, it should be around 5.0. 

Also, if your stitching device carries an applique satin stitch, it will work well. Stretch the material as far it can go and hold onto from the back and front side. Make sure to maintain the tiny folded edge as well.

Step 3

Once you have completed the work, give the material some time to relax to get back into shape. After that, it will provide you with a pretty lettuce-edge hem that you always wanted. 

Alternative For The Lettuce-edge Hem

These days, individuals are looking for an alternative option for the lettuce edge hemstitch. But the only option available for it is the folded hem. When you work with a stretch fabric, it will not fray. 

So, if you leave them raw or folded, they will automatically roll up a lot smaller than you expect. Folded hem stands out as an excellent alternative for the lettuce hem. You do not require extra knowledge to do the folded hem technique. 

Press on the folded edges on the wrong side just once and stitch it over on edge. If the material is thin and crumpled, it will be much better to utilize hemming tape to deliver plenty of stability. 

Which Edge Should You Start With?

When you have decided to do the lettuce hemstitch, you need to choose the right edge for the job. So, it would be best if you decided to start the hemming work from the edge that carries the most significant stretch. 

The majority of the stretchy sewing patterns come with a massive stretch, which goes around the entire body. So, it will not be much of a problem for all the lettuce hem sewing projects. 

The Fabric You Need To Use For The Lettuce-Edge Hem

For the lettuce edge hem, stretch is the only fabric you need. It’s because this particular hem will only work perfectly on a stretch material. Using stretch fabrics will stretch on the cut edges, but a woven material cannot do that.

Stretch materials can provide you with the best outcomes as they tend to curl up. This is the type of material you need for the lettuce hem work. 

The stretch material contains a small amount of Lycra, which delivers an excellent recovery factor. In other words, when you stretch or pull the material, it will immediately go back to its original shape. 

But all stretch materials are not the same. You will come across some that have a bit of stretch or are pretty thick. These types of materials will not work for the lettuce hem. 

Type Of Clothing The Lettuce-Edge Hem Works Best

The lettuce hem technique is used on a wide range of garments, and you mostly find them on tops and dresses. But apart from that, the method will work perfectly on all types of clothes, which have edges.

This means you can make a lettuce hem on the ankle areas, necklines, tutus, and armholes. On the other hand, you can use this particular technique on headbands and sashes as well.  The lettuce edge hem technique is ideal for children’s clothing as well.

Can I Use A Serger For The Lettuce-Edge Hem?

In short, yes, you can. When you work with a serger to make the lettuce edge hem technique will be an exceptional choice. Using a serger stands out as a timeless and standard method. 

It will help you make all the knits perfectly with no hassle. When you use a serger, it will stand out as one of the fastest and most effective ways to make a lettuce-edge hem. Apart from that, it will also provide you with a gorgeous finish to the clothing. 

Also, serger stands out as an alternative option for the traditional sewing machine.

What Type Of Stitch To Use For The Lettuce Hem?

The best stitch to use for the lettuce edge is the overlocker stitch. But you can also use the zig-zag stitch. Both of these stitches will provide you with a uniform material border. Using these stitches will ensure that you get consistent and proper ruffles for the garment.

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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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