Make good hems
Straight hems
You made straight hems on your scarf and on your apron last year. Here is a general review on how to make a hem. If you need more help, see your last year’s bulletin.
Narrow hems
Make a fold ¼ inch wide; press. Fold this over and press again. Pin and stitch.
Wide hems
Make ¼-inch fold along the edge. Then measure the width your hem is to be when finished. Pin, press, and stitch.
Hems for your skirt and dress
1. Use a yardstick or other device to measure the distance you want your skirt from the floor. Mark with pins, about 3 inches apart around the skirt.
2. Fold along the pin-line. Pin and baste along edges of hem. Pin top of hem to skirt.
3. Try the dress on to check length and evenness of hem.
4. Trim hem to desired width. The width of the hem is determined by weight of fabric and fullness of skirt.
Suggested widths—
| Moderately flared and medium weight | 2 to 3 inches |
| Straight skirt of sheer fabric | up to 4 inches |
| Heavy skirts of wool or cotton | 2 inches or less |
| Flared skirts | 1½ inches |
| Circle skirts | ¼ inch or rolled |
5. In circular skirts the top of the hem is always much fuller than the bottom of the hem. To avoid a bulge, draw this fullness to lie flat against the skirt. Lengthen the stitch on the machine and sew around top of the hem ¼ inch from the edge. Place another row of stitches ¼ inch from the first row. Pin the seams and centers of panels and draw the bobbin thread until the top part of hem is only slightly larger than the skirt. Ease in the fullness. This step is not necessary on straight skirts.
6. Make a ¼-inch fold at the top of the hem. Machine stitch along edge. Pin and baste in place. Hem on the machine or by hand. Use matching thread.