Hand-rolled hem ... I'm lost as to exact process.

Between 15-20 years ago, I remember seeing a program on TV on a local PBS station that talked about the hand-rolled hem. She told us to remember the #11 and to stitch to show like a #11 it in such a way that when you pulled the thread, that stitch would then "automatically" tuck in the material and, in effect, roll the hem itself. I tried it at the time and I remember it worked perfectly. I wrote down how to do it back then but I didn't really not comprehensive enough since I've never been able to do this again.

I've searched off and on throughout the years on the net but I've never found anything quite like this stitch except for one small reference in a book called The Art of Manipulating Fabric (p. 46:

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. I'll type up the pertinent text here with paragraph breaks which the book is missing (for easier reading):

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-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Take a 1/4" (6mm) stitch in the hem allowance just below the turn.

Moving straight down, pick up one or two threads of the fabric just below the hemline.

Moving straight up, take another 1/4" (6mm) stitch in the hem allowance below the turn.

Contine for 1" (2.5cm).

Stopping after a stitch below the turn, (c) pull the thread taut to roll the hem, and resume stitching."

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-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Unfortunately, the instructions aren't enough here either and the line drawing are really very inadequate. I'm missing something in the steps because when I pull the thread, I just don't get the nice, smooth rolled hem like I remember doing and the stitches don't end up so neatly "invisible".

I know it'll be easy once I know the exact procedure but none of the real, so-called rolled hems I've found on google results are done by hand nor do they "roll themselves" like the "11-stitch" the program showed me all those years ago.

Does anyone know where there are good diagrams or a video showing how to do this? I've given up on this 4th or 5th search session in last

8-9 years .

Thanks.

Reply to
Craftsy
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French Hand Sewing by Sarah Howard Stone gives very detailed instructions and illustrations. It seems like a couple of Martha Pullen ( of Sew Beautiful) books do too. Maybe, maybe you can find a copy at your library or online at a used book store. The magic words for you to Google may be 'roll and whip' or 'heirloom sewing'. I gave that sort of hemming up when I discovered what an exquisite job of it a Bernina can do. I was faced with miles of bridesmaid's dresses that were just a bit too long and it would have taken a lifetime to do by hand. Polly

"Craftsy" Between 15-20 years ago, I remember seeing a program on TV on a local

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Reply to
Polly Esther

Thank you so much, Polly, for your response! I really appreciate it. Unfortunately, I haven't found anything anywhere yet after a pretty extensive search that will show me via diagrams, step-by-step how to do the "automatic" rolling stitch, whatever name it goes by .

Thank you for the terms. It's unfortunate that even with strict punctuation, the terms still bring up hits that involve the separate steps of rolling and whip-stitching.

The trouble with manually rolling and then whip-stitching is that I find you get a bit of a crease no matter how careful you are. Also, the finish doesn't come near the smooth finish of the "automatically" rolled hem.

I can't find the sample I did all those years ago, and it was only on a very small swatch of material, but the finish was miraculous for someone like me. I've not very knowledgeable about sewing but I'd like to fix some garments I have where this stitch would be extremely handy in finishing some of the edges. I don't have miles and miles of dresses, as you did , so it'll be okay for me to do it by hand.

Unfortunately, the Sarah H. Stone book isn't available in my local library and it's not been catalogued by google books. I found only a Christmas sewing book by March Pullen, which I will check out but doubtful it'll be of much help.

Forums for Martha Pullen came up during my search. There's a hand-sewing one specifically,

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and there is a messagethat may be related (??) to what I'm trying to do
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. But I'll keep looking first before joining and asking there. I'm afraid that written instructions won't help me here. I'd have to see if anyone knows of where there are diagrams on the net, preferably, I guess since finding books might be difficult judging by what happened today.

At any rate, thank you very much! Much appreciated. I'll keep slogging away at the search. I even wrote to the TV channel last week even though this was about 20 years ago. The sewing presenter was not a young person then and the show has been gone a long time and she may no longer even be with us, I'm afraid, but I had to try.

Cheers. :oD

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Reply to
Craftsy

Well, then. Carry on. But - may I recommend a 'forever' file. I keep a clear plastic shoebox with a label that says 'trials'. Shoeboxes really don't take up much space and this one has been such a joy for me. Lately I've been stitching very simple receiving blankets for Newborns In Need. My 'trials' box told me exactly what/how to put a beautiful and sturdy hem on them. Next, needed was a special hem finish for a smocked baby gown. Trials, once more, to the rescue. When you succeed at finding your handstitched hem, do start a shoebox of how-to's. It will be a treasure many times. Polly

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Reply to
Polly Esther

Yeah, good point! When I find my swatch, I'll be sure to put it in a better location. Trouble is that I've gone through a move. The last time I saw it was at the old place. Last time, it took me an hour to try to figure out the stitch by trying to re-do what I had in hand but for some reason, my brain isn't working without having it in hand even with the partial instructions I found. Even if I had it, I'm not sure I'd figure it out again.

Also, have to hope that that little piece of fabric didn't accidentally end up in the garbage during the move ...

Why is it it becomes something almost obsessive when we're trying to remember something and we can't . I'm going to figure out that stitch one day, if it's the last thing I do!

:oD

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Reply to
Craftsy

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