You don’t need to be an expert seamstress to be able to create a hem, with a little practice and these indications will all make this basic sewing process. First of all it is necessary to understand what a hem is; it is a seam made along the outside of a piece of fabric, folding the fabric a few centimeters and closing the work with the underlay, a point that does not cross the entire thickness of the fabric but only a part of it.
Depending on the type of garment on which the hem is to be made, this can be ornamental or necessary to refine the model. Usually for linen, the hem is preferred, the one rolled up for handkerchiefs and the invisible one which is not seen as it is easily understood from the name.
- Needle and sewing thread
- Sewing machine
How to make the invisible hem: procedure
The main feature of the invisible hem is that of having the seam on the backside so as not to be visible at first sight. In order to be able to make it happen, it is essential to perform light stitches that do not completely cross the fabric flap and are therefore invisible on the right side of the work to be performed. To do this you need to perform some simple steps.
Basting
First of all it is important to pay attention to the thread to be inserted in the thread, an excessively long thread could tangle ruining all the work, so to avoid this problem, it takes about 40-45 cm of thread. Now it is possible to proceed with the work; it is important to keep the fabric in the correct way, facing the inside upwards and the raised part of the hem in a perpendicular way to the body. You start sewing from the left, unless you are left-handed, and proceed to the right.
The thread must be fixed in the margin of the lower fabric to then realize the point on the folding of the hem, continuing to insert the needle on the lower edge of fabric and then on the folded one until the end of the work.
After completing this step, a loop must be made by passing the needle inside to close the first stitch and, starting from the left, repeat what was done previously, taking care to leave a regular margin between the different stitches inserting and removing the needle again.
A thimble can be very useful to carry out this work with some precision. Obviously, over time, the familiarity required to perform this basting job quickly, just a few tests are needed to be able to do it in two minutes. With practice, it will also be possible to perform more delicate and lighter points such as the cross-stitch. taking care to leave a regular margin between the different points by inserting and removing the needle again.
Obviously, over time, the familiarity required to perform this basting job quickly, just a few tests are needed to be able to do it in two minutes. With practice, it will also be possible to perform more delicate and lighter points such as the cross-stitch.
The straight side against the feed dog while the edge of fabric to hem will rest on the appropriate guide of the foot for invisible hem. This operation is much easier to do than to say. Keeping the work as far as possible to the left so as to perform the points on the right margin, it is sufficient to make straight points and before closing a zigzag point to the right, as a knot, to create the so-called invisible hem.
The seam that will come out will in fact be hidden on the wrong side of the fabric and actually invisible. All that remains to be done is to remove the fabric to be edged from the sewing machine and knot the remaining edges by cutting off the excess ones.
The invisible hem will be ready in just a few simple steps. the straight side against the feed dog while the edge of fabric to hem will rest on the appropriate guide of the foot for invisible hem. This operation is much easier to do than to say. Keeping the work as far as possible to the left so as to perform the points on the right margin, it is sufficient to make straight points and before closing a zigzag point to the right, as a knot, to create the so-called invisible hem.
Most industrial packaging has an invisible hem, as it is much more elegant and refined than the classic hem where the seam is seen. This hem is the perfect solution for repairing garments that tend to come off after a few washing. If in the past a lot of patience was needed to make a hem because there were no invisible hem feet that today simplify much of the work, it is also true that modern sewing machines are able to create an invisible hem without having to waste time to make the so-called basting with the cross-stitch.
The sewing machine creates a simply perfect hem, it will only be necessary to try a couple of times to acquire the manual skills necessary to make it; but also by hand, using their own skills and only the needle and thread, the result will be satisfactory.
Especially those who are still beginners should try the work on a Simple Piece Of Fabric several times before trying on real packages, the important thing is not to give up after the first non-perfect attempt since these are manual jobs for which practice is essential. A small secret is to always iron the fabric to be edged both before starting the work and after finishing it, the fabric will be more docile and therefore easy to work with.
Once the invisible hem is finished, stretching the fabric, the same will seem more precise and the seam, even a little too protruding towards the outside, will be more difficult to see because it is flattened. Especially those who are still beginners should try the work on a simple piece of fabric several times before trying on real packages, the important thing is not to give up after the first non-perfect attempt since these are manual jobs for which practice is essential.
A small secret is to always iron the fabric to be edged both before starting the work and after finishing it, the fabric will be more docile and therefore easy to work with. Once the invisible hem is finished, stretching the fabric, the same will seem more precise and the seam, even a little too protruding towards the outside, will be more difficult to see because it is flattened.