How to Hem Skirts for Women
It is important to know how to hem a skirt. This will allow you to shorten an existing skirt, repair a hem or even hem pant legs. Being able to hem will lengthen the life of your wardrobe and save you money.
Things You'll Need:
- Scissors
- Stitch remover (optional)
- Iron
- Tape measure
- Straight pin
- Sewing machine or needle
- Thread
- Turn the skirt inside out. You should always sew fabric on the "wrong side" so that the knots at the ends of the thread do not show.
- Take out the existing hem. This can be done with scissors or a stitch remover.
- Iron the skirt. It is important that the skirt not have wrinkles. Wrinkles will cause the measurements to be incorrect and affect the outcome of your hem.
- Measure the skirt using the tape measure. Place a pin where the bottom of the skirt should be. This will mark your hem. Repeat this in intervals around the skirt to ensure a uniform length.
- Fold the fabric at the pin locations and iron it to create a crease. Once you have set the fold, unfold it and remove the pins.
- Cut the excess fabric from the bottom of the skirt. Leave about two inches at the bottom of the fold.
- Fold the end of the fabric up to the crease. Fold it again at the crease. This will hide the unfinished edge of the fabric.
- Pin the hem into place. Place the straight pins all the away around the skirt. They will serve to hold your folds in place and as a guideline for your stitches.
- Sew the hem into place with a machine or needle and thread. Cut the excess thread when finished.