I’ve been doing a lot of hemming as of late, so I have blind hems on the brain. And even though I’ve been sewing for 20 years (I obviously started when I was 4), I didn’t know how to do a blind hem until 2 or 3 years ago.
Do you have a stitch on your machine that looks like this?
Did your machine come with a weird foot that looks like this?
Do you need a manicure/some hand moisturizer as badly as I do?
Great! We’re ready to blind hem!
I used a scrap of fabric and contrasting thread for illustration purposes. You’ll want to use matching thread in order for your hem to actually be “blind”.
Press up your hem.
Pin the hem. Make sure your pins start about 1/4” below the edge of the folded part and that they point down
See how mine start below my serged edge?
Fold the hem under.
The pins are now on the under side and the serged edge extends out on its own.
Go over to your machine and place the fabric under the foot so that the “fin” that sticks down from the foot runs right along your folded edge.
Start sewing, removing the pins as you go. Your machine will do several straight stitches over on the single layer/serged edge and then one sort of zig zag over to catch the folded edge.
Here’s what it will look like:
Unfold and press.
Wrong side:
Right side:
And if you actually use matching thread:
What’s that? You can’t see anything?
That’s exactly the point!
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Thanks for this. That's one of the stitches on my machine that I usually just ignore.
I got my machine about 2 years ago and I have tried a few of the stitches. I am going to check if it has this one. Maybe I should read the manual…
Great tutorial!! I linked to it on Craft Gossip Sewing:
http://sewing.craftgossip.com/tutorial-create-a-blind-hem-using-your-sewing-machine/2010/04/11/
–Anne
I've been sewing for, uh…a whole lotta years (LOL) and, until now, I've never known what that stitch on my machines was for. WOW! Ya learn something new everyday…thanks for teaching me something new and useful today.
Peace & Love,
~Barb~
You followers of Char's blog can go over to "alanwendymaxlilly.blogspot.com" and read glowing words about Char! She's amazing. AND gonna kill me for writing this!
Thank you for the clear instructions on how to do this!! I have tried several times without success. I will be trying again now.
Just a quick note to let you know that a link to this post will be placed on CraftCrave today [11 Apr 02:00pm GMT]. Thanks, Maria
Thanks for that, I actually tried this for the first time yesterday and I did think I was doing it wrong as the stitches were a bit big on the right side (or so I thought) but looking at yours they are correct. Once I pressed the hem I thought it looked quite good. I think the problem came from using a patterned fabric and therefore the thread was suitable for some of the pattern but not for all of it!
When I get round to it I'll put it on my blog
http://hereswhatididtoday.blogspot.com/
Oh, that's awesome! I don't think I have a foot like that, but I do think I have that stitch on my machine. That will make hemming pants so much faster (and more permanent) than the hand-hemming I do that always seems to come out!
Thanks for the tutorial!
this is brilliant! In theory I knew how to do this, but I'd never seen really good photos of how to do it. Thanks you!
this is brilliant! In theory I knew how to do this, but I'd never seen really good photos of how to do it. Thanks you!
Great tutorial! I don't have that particular presser foot but muddle through using the zig-zag foot.
I seriously need a big girl sewing machine. Seriously.
Hi, Char-
love your blog & thought you'd like to see one I started:
modmodesty.blogspot.com
Thanks! Hope you'll check it out!
Thanks for sharing this info, I didn't know how to do that!!! Way Cool!!
did you do this post just for me??? I'm going to have to look at my machine for that stitch… if not I'll be knockin on your door =)
Oops. I thought that was a decorative stitch!
Thanks for the clear descriptions and pictures!
thank you!!!
If only it were that easy. I have tried it several times and the zig zag either doesn't hit the fabric or grabs way too much of it. I usually have to rip it all out at least twice and then I usually decide that good enough is the new perfect.
Ooooh! Thanks! I have some pants to hem, but have been putting it off since I was/am too lazy to do this by hand and didn't want to pay someone!!
It's the measuring and the getting it all straight that I can't do. Or don't like to do. blah.
I've ALWAYS wanted to know how to do that! Thanks Char!
Oooooohhhhhhhh, so that's how you do it!!! Genius!! i'm still such a sewing machine retard :}
Oh this could not have come at a better time. I have an entire stack of work pants to hem. THANK YOU!!
http://www.etsy.com/shop/sewlopatterns
This is a great tutorial on blind hems!! thank you!!
I mastered this once. And then i needed to do it again and it messes with my brain. I eventually had to go get the other pants to figure it out. THis time, i blooged about it. But I know I'm going to forget again and have to bring out the pants once more to figure it out!
Cool. I actually just bought a Brother 2340CV Coverstitch machine for hemming my sewing projects today, but this is an excellent tutorial for a skill that ‘s just useful to have. (before today) I actually use this same folding technique for hemming pants and sleeve cuffs with my serger as it’s quick, fast and easy, and I’m not a strict measure&pinner so it works great for me. I hemmed a bunch of my daughter’s outgrown pants into summer shorts this way…Thank you so much for a wonderful tutorial!!