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From: Raevenflyte
Date: 04-01-2006, 01:33 AM (1 of 6)
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Question about how to do this, exactly-- Lately I've noticed that my RTW skirt hems are uneven--the plus-size shorter-in-the-back syndrome.  I'm sure this has been true for years, but now that I can sew a little and I pay attention to these things now, it bugs me. I thought about attaching some sort of fabric to the bottom of the hem, as there's not enough material to let out. Velvet, lace, tulle, whatever, just some strip of something that I can re-hem or adjust so my skirt hangs evenly. Make sense? There are pictures in the May 2006 issue of Sew News (pgs. 22, 35) that sort of illustrate what I'm thinking of, which you can see if you have this magazine. My question is: if I'm attaching some sort of material to a skirt hem, do I undo the hem and attach the material over it, or under it, or what? Or is there a better way to fix a RTW hem that can't be let out? This issue is boggling my mind Hope this makes sense. Let me know if it doesn't. Thanks!  R |
User: Raevenflyte
Member since: 03-16-2005 Total posts: 32 
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From: AndreaSews
Date: 04-02-2006, 07:27 PM (2 of 6)
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Hmm....that's a good idea. I never noticed this problem in my ready-to-wears, but I had my husband mark my hems recently, using a yardstick and pins, on 2 skirts I made. When I hung the finished skirts on a skirt hanger, I learned that I have the same effect--In order to hang evenly, the backs of my skirts need to be a good inch longer. So, getting to your idea. Sure, if you have some lace or other coordinating fabric to use and a trusted friend with a yardstick.... I'd pin some tracing paper around my skirt and draw on it a straight line indicating the stitching line of the skirt's hem, and then use pins or pencil to mark the length you need it to go to, all the way around (it'll be more in the back and less at the sides and front, right?). Now you have a pattern for your add-on detail. You could cut this out, adding a hem allowance (if needed depending on what you use to embellish--the lace might just be cut, while the velvet will need a sewn hem), and also a seam allowance for the top. I would machine stitch the top edge of the strip, in order to be sure the edges are finished neatly, and then hand-sew it to the top of the skirts actual hem. Re-measure, just to be sure, and then you can go ahead and complete the final hem (if needed). Andrea
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User: AndreaSews
Member since: 02-18-2005 Total posts: 1007 
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From: AndreaSews
Date: 04-03-2006, 05:15 PM (3 of 6)
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Forgot to mention--the latest (March/April?) issue of Threads magazine has a whole article about applying a facing to a skirt hem and using it to support an added decorative hem. a blurb about the article (http://www.taunton.com/threads/pages/th_124_054.asp)
Andrea
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User: AndreaSews
Member since: 02-18-2005 Total posts: 1007
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From: paroper
Date: 04-04-2006, 11:06 AM (4 of 6)
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You are probably sway backed. Many times these things are repaired at the waistline, taking them up from the center front of the garment. You just remove the waistband and make the alteration then replace it. Really, not a difficult proposition. Although there is nothing wrong with adding to the hemline of the garment, if it is already uneven, you can't add something unevenly to the bottom to make up for the difference without making it look strange.
pam
Bernina 200e, Artista V5 Designer Plus, Explorations, Magic Box, Bernina 2000DE & 335 Bernette Serger, Bernina 1530 Sewing Machine, Bernina 1300 DC Overlock (with coverstitch) |
User: paroper
Member since: 02-03-2004 Total posts: 3775 |
From: Raevenflyte
Date: 04-04-2006, 11:08 PM (5 of 6)
Paroper--Upon thinking about it, adding something to the bottom of a hem to fix unevenness *would* look weird, wouldn't it? Wouldn't it still be uneven somehow? I'm a beginner, and I've noticed that I have a hard time visualizing these things.  Your fix concerning the waistband seems like the most likely possibility, but I'm afraid it would make the skirt shorter. Wouldn't it? (Short skirts on me = mutton dressed as lamb.) And here I thought I just had a big butt and/or big hips. I hadn't even considered the "swaybacked" possibility...  R |
User: Raevenflyte
Member since: 03-16-2005 Total posts: 32
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From: paroper
Date: 04-05-2006, 05:52 AM (6 of 6)
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It would shorten the skirt some but usually it is less than an inch. That inch in the front can make all the difference in how the skirt hangs and looks. Just pin it up and the front (to even) and take a look. After all, the skirt is already that short in the back. It will fit better in the hips and thighs too. Sewing is a very visual art. If you want, you can still add something to the bottom, it will just look better. pam
Bernina 200e, Artista V5 Designer Plus, Explorations, Magic Box, Bernina 2000DE & 335 Bernette Serger, Bernina 1530 Sewing Machine, Bernina 1300 DC Overlock (with coverstitch) |
User: paroper
Member since: 02-03-2004 Total posts: 3775 |
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