How to Hem Skirts
Hems do occasionally fall out of skirts, but this not a cause for throwing them away. Even if you don't have a sewing machine, you can repair or even put in a new hem in your skirts. If you have a sewing machine, which will just make getting the job much faster.
- Measure and mark where you want your new hem all around the skirt. Do this by measuring up from the bottom and marking with a marking pencil every four inches. Don't worry: The pencil marks will wash out. You can also place pins for marking if you have no pencil.
- Fold up the excess fabric and pin it into place so it cannot move on you. Be careful you don't get stuck with a pin, though.
- Thread a bobbin and your sewing machine.
- Set your sewing guide on your machine or use the measure marks to help keep your hem and seam straight.
- Set an elongated zigzag or hemming stitch (if your machine has one) on your sewing machine's stitch settings.
- Place the fabric down and begin sewing on the right side of the skirt. Start at a seam to hide your start/end point.
- Keep the fabric taught, but not tight, as you go.
- Keep checking to make sure everything is straight and sew completely around it.
Alternatives
Sewing by Hand - Do the same as you would with a machine, but use a hand sewing needle and thread. Use a hemming stitch.
Hemming Tape - You can use hemming tape with an iron as another alternative. This method requires no sewing at all. Simply lay the hem tape over the edge of the upturned hem and iron.