luce321

My daughter has asked me shorten a jersey dress. I have to cut off approximately six inches off the bottom of the dress. I have been sewing for over sixty years, but I have never cut this type of knit. My question is how do I cut a straight line when I'm cutting off the six inches and how do I hem it to get it even? I would appreciate any help you can give me. Also, I do not have a serger.

Prism99

Yikes! I would not attempt this without a serger.

NJ Quilter

I don't know that I would attempt without a serger either. Those jersey knit's have a tendency to stretch all over the place. Other than that, when I have large amounts to cut from hems...I measure x from the bottom of the hem edge once it's turned under. Leave usually about 1/4" to turn under at the cut edge to make a nice clean edge on the inside. You could attempt this with the 'blind hem' stitch on your regular machine if it has one. If you've not used that feature before, read the directions about 6 times before you attempt on your final product. The piece of fabric usually needs to be folded all kinds of goofy ways to get everything to work correctly. Not sure if you can do that with a walking foot which would probably help with the stretch.

Good luck!

dakotamaid

This is how I would tackle it. I would cut off about 4 inches to start with. Than measure up from the floor all the way around to where she wants it. Than I would fold up at the hemline at that point and baste with large stitches at the very edge of the hem. Now cut away the rest of the excess leaving about 1/2 inch. Roll the raw edge in and hand stitch. Edge should lay nice and smooth. Just my method, there are others.

trish b

The best way to hem a dress is to measure from the floor with the garment on the person. I have done alterations for years and this is the best way. Mark the hem where it needs to be, then measure down the width of hem desired and cut off the dress. You may zigzag the bottom edge BEFORE cutting it off. The next step is to blind hem by hand OR hem with your sewing machine with a narrow zigzag (not short). Be sure to use a ballpoint needle or a universal one. Best of luck.

Tartan

If the original hem is straight, measure and mark from the original hemline. If you want to take it up 6 inches, mark it all around at at 5 to give you 1 inch to turn up for hem. If you don't have a serger, I would then fold the extra 1 inch twice to make a 1/2 inch hem and hand stitch the hem.

luce321

Thanks to all of you for your help and will certainly keep all of your suggestions in mind before starting to work on this dress. I do feel much better now about starting this project. Thanks again.

barny

I made all my Mothers clothes and most from Single Knit. I used the puff yardstick to mark the hem, then it is not so hard to hem. I had her wear the dress when I marked it too. It's a half yardstick on a little platform, with white chalk to blow out in a flat mark on the hem line.

Donna P

I just hemmed 4 of them. I marked where she wanted it. Then I used my chalk marker and measured up from the bottom and drew a line all the way around the skirt...then from the line measured under the drawn line 2 " then used my rotary cutter and my 12" long ruler and cut around. Then turned up the hem 1" pressed real good then another 1" pressed again pinned as I pressed this time and then sewed by hand...pressed the last time....it come out great....Not good to use the machine for any part of the hemming......hope all the tips have helped

sylviasmom

Buy a couple of packets of that lacy bias tape, sew all around, then fold the hem and steam in place, be sure to use a pressing cloth(a piece muslin is ok)pin and hand stitch.