How To Easily Hem Vintage Finds

(With Little Sewing Skills)

Posted by Jessica N.

About

The Minimal Sewing: I don't know much about sewing, but I have a sewing machine and it has 29 different stitches. Most sewing machines come equipped with multiple stitches which allow you to create fancy hems and appear more talented than you are!

For me, one of the more difficult aspects of sewing is learning to sew in a straight line around an item. My mother bought me a magnetic seam guide and it revolutionized my sewing skills. It's a tiny $5 magnet and all you do is connect it to the bottom of your needle. This simple tool makes it IMPOSSIBLE for you to go off track.

Supplies:
//An oversized item
//Sewing machine
//Thread
//Pins
//Sharp Scissors
//magnetic seam guide

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You Will Need (1 thing)

  • Sewing Machine

Steps (2 steps, 60 minutes)

  1. 1

    1//Grab your item and pin it a tad LONGER than you'd like the actual hem.
    2//Pin the hem.
    3//CHOP.
    4//Add the magnet to your machine & select a stitch (I prefer the zig zag stitch).
    5//Place under the machine and go! **If you're a beginner I suggest practicing with the magnet on the scraps of the item.

  2. 2

    Alternative No-Sew Method:
    Supplies:
    //An oversized skirt (dress, etc)
    //Sharp scissors
    //Pins
    //Liquid Stitch (About $3 from your local craft store)
    **Liquid Stitch is essentially fabric glue and is made specifically for quick hems.

    What you do:
    1//Grab your item and pin it a tad LONGER than you'd like the actual hem to be.
    2//Pin the hem.
    3//CHOP.
    4//Flip inside out and add a thin line of liquid stitch around the hem of the skirt.
    5//Press down firmly for a couple seconds & let sit and air dry until it's no longer damp.
    OPTIONAL//You can also use a blow dryer or iron to dry the glue if you're in a hurry.

    That's it! It's truly that simple to alter your .50 cent skirts from your local thrift store!