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How to Remove the Original Hem & Reapply It Like a Binding

Cover a hole near the hem of a skirt by removing the hem and using it as a binding to both finish the hem and cover the hole. Finishing the hem this way allows you to shorten the skirt less than if you moved the hem above the hole. This method of hemming also allows you to sew the hem with a regular machine straight stitch without it looking odd.

Things You'll Need

Seam guage or ruler
Scissors
Seam ripper
Iron
Sewing machine
Thread

Instructions

- 1
  Cut off the skirt evenly at the line where you want the bottom edge to be. If you are covering a hole and wish to keep the skirt as long as possible, measure the distance from the current hem to the top of the hole. Add an inch to this measurement and divide the resulting length by two. Cut the skirt off this length above the existing hem.
- 2
  Unfold the hem. If necessary, use a seam ripper to open the seam before you do this.
- 3
  Iron down a quarter-inch on the front side of the hem. Iron down the back side of the hem so that the distance from the fold that was at the bottom of the skirt to the back fold is the same as the distance from the bottom of the fold to the fold on the front. You are making a band of fabric with the original bottom edge of the hem as the fold on one side and two folded edges that are perfectly even on the other side.
- 4
  Wrap the band around the bottom edge of the skirt, matching the seams. The center fold will run along the cut edge of the skirt. Pin the band in place.
- 5
  Sew the band to the skirt, stitching close to the top fold with a straight stitch. Br sure to catch the fold on the other side in the seam.

Sewing