Hand Sewing A Hem

Sewing Friends: 

Joann wanted to know if it was possible to hand sew a hem and not have “dimples” show on the right side where each stitch was taken.

Does hand sewing a hem without “dimples” seem impossible to you?

Well, it is possible to eliminate the “dimples” in a hem and it isn’t fused, either!  It is hand stitched!

Here is the hand sewing technique that will amaze you.  And, it just makes sense!

It all has to do with “grain”!  Oh, Yes!  Now think about this!

Normally, when you take a stitch in your hem, you stitch “across the crosswise grain” of the garment or you stitch on the diagonal “bias”.  When the hem is completed, the weight of the hem hangs from those “across the grain” or “bias” stitches.  And, thus, it creates little dimples as it pulls down on the fabric.

Are the light bulbs coming on yet?

Of course, the answer is you must take your hand stitches “with the lengthwise grain” so that the stitches are parallel to the lengthwise threads of the fabric.  These small stitches don’t dimple.  They are on grain with the fabric.

Put the needle in and out perpindicular to the hem, not across it.  Place your stitches about a thumb’s width or 1/2 inch apart. 

It just makes sense!

More Sewing Tips 

• If you use a single hand sewing thread one shade darker than the fabric, the stitches will blend right in and not show at all. 
• When you thread your needle, insert the end of the thread that comes off the spool first into the eye of the needle.  The thread doesn’t twist as much.
• Run the thread through beeswax and then pass it under a warm iron to melt the wax into the thread.  This strengthens the thread, helps to keep it from tangling and you have no waxy residue.

How are you pinning your hems? 

Does your thread get caught on the pins as you sew? 

For some great sewing tips on pinning a hem, see my post, “Sewing Tips For Pinning And Hand Sewing A Hem” 

Hope these easy sewing tips help you hand sew your hems without “dimples”.

It just makes sense!

To Your Sewing Success,

Marian

PS:  Got a question or a sewing tip?  Please share with us.  We learn from one another.

Hand Sewing A Hem

 

Bookmark to:

Stumble it!

This entry was posted on Friday, March 23rd, 2007 at 5:15 pm and is filed under Sewing Tips. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.