OT need help hemming a skirt

Another idea- I even thought about wearing the skirt pulled up to right under my arms and adding some straps and calling it a dress! LOL

Leslie & The Furbabies in MO.

I generally do all my own mending, hemming, and simple alterations myself. However, if this were mine I wouldn't hesitate to take it to a professional tailor! It will surely be worth the cost.

How is it finished now? Serged edge, probably. First, measure very carefully to make sure there is no flare in the spot your hem needs to be. Does the original have any slits or other details that need duplicating? If so, take it to a pro! You can sort of duplicate a serged edge. First, turn up the hem to where you want it and pin just above the fold. Might need help from a friend for this part, with you standing up on a chair. Now that you are symmetrical, might be easier to put the skirt on wrong side out.

Mark a line up from the fold to show how deep the hem needs to be -2" maybe? Use whatever the original was. You may now whack off most of that 15" about an inch beyond your marked line for easier handling. Sew a stretchy single line, e.g. a 3-stitch zigzag, over your marking. This should stabilize it enough for you to do your machine's imitation serger finish on top of the first stitching. Trim carefully and steam press the stitching line (use a press cloth). Then press the fold line and hand-sew the hem. And press again. Then send pictures :-) Roberta in D

"Leslie & The Furbabies in MO." schrieb im Newsbeitrag news: snipped-for-privacy@mid.individual.net...

Roberta, your instructions are exactly what I'd suggest -- especially that first item. ;) One other thing: many machines have another stitch that might be nice to use. It looks rather like a row of xxxxxx's that have been underlined. It makes a nice finished edge.

Leslie, if it has an elastic waist, maybe you could shorten it at the waist and not disturb the original hem. Just a thought - I do my mom's skirts like this........ Mickie

This might be the best idea, especially if Leslie doesn't tuck in her top. If the top is worn out and covers the waistband, any mistakes will be hidden. Of course, if there are pockets in the skirt, forget this option -- LOL! The only other potential problem is that if this is a flared skirt and not a straight skirt, the circumference 15" down from the current waist is liable to be too full. This fabric is a P.I.T.A. to work on and you have to be very, VERY careful that you don't put any tension on it at all when working with it. Roberta's directions are really good for someone who is comfortable doing similar stuff. So, Leslie, if you are at all apprehensive, take the garment to a professional and have it altered. CiaoMeow >^;;^<

PAX, Tia Mary >^;;^< (RCTQ Queen of Kitties) Angels can't show their wings on earth but nothing was ever said about their whiskers! Visit my Photo albums at

Sheesh! I go take a nap and you all are having fun without me. As a Professional Short Person, I know how to do this. First, Leslie, BEFORE YOU CUT find something to weightlessly and invisibly as possible hold the cut edge so it doesn't roll, stretch, bag or warp. Just plain old lace hemming tape might be airy enough. I have been known to cut strips of bridal illusion or tulle for really wiggly hems. Using a skinny loose zigzag stitch, attach your tape and then you are allowed (by me) to cut off the 15" or so. The rest is easy. You will have lots of fabric cut off to use for testing to see what would be the best hemming method. It may be that all you'll want to do is straight stitch the taped hem up. You might want to do this by hand. You could give that cute SM foot that looks somewhat like a corkscrew a try (rolled hem foot) and see how that goes - but First! stabilize that fabric before you start your experiments. Er, ummmm . . . I confess, I didn't absorb all of the data on needles and don't know if you need a tiny, fine sharp one or one for knits that might have a sort of rounded point. The easy way to figure that out is to do some test stitching down at the edge of the manufacturer's hem before you cut it. You can get the tensions, thread and needle discovered before you proceed to attach your 'tape' of whatever. Any questions? I need to go lighten my naturally blonde roots but I'll be back in a little while. Polly

"Tia Mary" wrote in message news: snipped-for-privacy@mid.individual.net...

Look who just snuck in! Hi Mickie! Long time, no see!

SSSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHEEEEEEEEEEE'S BBBBBBBBBBAAAAAAAAACCCCCCKKKKK !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Butterfly (no sneaking thru the back door :) How are you doing besides quilting and quilting and quilting some more?)

Did you see what Mickey's done? She has a quilt in the newest QNM where she fussy-cut pieces of leaves to perfectly match into a striped border. September 2007 "Fig Leaf". I read the directions and still think it is impossible. Atta girl, Mickey, we're proud of you. Polly

Is there not a dry cleaners that does alterations? Most of them in my neck o'the woods do alterations now and I've been told that they are terribly expensive. CiaoMeow >^;;^<

PAX, Tia Mary >^;;^< (RCTQ Queen of Kitties) Angels can't show their wings on earth but nothing was ever said about their whiskers! Visit my Photo albums at