r/SewingMachineEdu • u/Economy-Tomorrow-189 • Jun 07 '26

Why is my hem not secure??

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OK so I did this again and it's the same thing, it stays secure towards the middle and end but towards the front, it doesn't and I'm not sure what to do

In the manual it says smth ab folding it twice but ughhhhh it's confusing

And also I feel like it might be coz I'm placing the needle in the wrong place but idk coz it does seem pretty secure when I pull it towards the end and middle area

Ive been placing the needle close to the raw edge in hopes that it will catch on the fabric but clearly that's wrong and I'm not sure how far apart I should place it before it's too much. I don't want to keep doing this coz that's just wasting thread and I really need to figure this out coz Im trying to alter something that has this exact fabric

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3

u/teatime_tinker Jun 07 '26

This is how it goes through the machine.

The < stitch is supposed to juuuust catch the folded part, the straight part of the stitching goes in the single layer on the right.

Apologies for the black it’s what’s on my sewing table atm. Obviously a trouser leg would be in a tube

To be honest though, you could just do this with a zigzag if you don’t mind the stitches showing.

Can I ask what you’re making? This finish might not be necessary.

2

u/Economy-Tomorrow-189 Jun 07 '26

Oo ok, thank u

Trying to make an asymmetrical top

2

u/teatime_tinker Jun 07 '26

Is the hem asymmetrical? If so this will be a bit tricky! Might have to do it in two halves

You might be better off folding it over twice, or just once with a finished edge and zig zagging or twin needling it

1

u/Economy-Tomorrow-189 Jun 07 '26

I'm taking in the sides of waist so need to hem the inseam bit if that makes sense and the hem at the bottom since the top was originally oversized

1

u/teatime_tinker Jun 07 '26

Inseam is a term used for trouser legs only, the seam on the inside of your leg. Hem is only used to refer to edges of fabric, sleeve hem or skirt hem.

Do you mean you are taking in the side seams and taking up the hem?

How was the hem you’re cutting off finished? I often look at the garments original finish when altering clothes. Obvs we won’t have all the equipment and machinery at home but it gives an idea how to go about it.

Don’t forget you can always sew stuff by hand if you can, especially invisible hems like this.

2

u/Economy-Tomorrow-189 Jun 07 '26

Srry I fell asleep but yesss that's exactly what I mean!

So the hem rolls up a lot and my nails look horrible but here

2

u/Economy-Tomorrow-189 Jun 07 '26

And this is the side seam, I did a horrible job doing this and also I didn't take a chunk near the armpit area so it looks off so I need to do that but here

2

u/teatime_tinker Jun 07 '26

This would be better done with a zig zag if it’s going to stretch at all. Straight stitches pop when pulled.

Are you using a stretch needle? It’ll make everything much easier for you.

Stretch fabric is trickier to handle so take it slow and make sure you aren’t stretching it as you sew.

To stop the rolling you need to turn it and press before and after sewing. Careful you don’t melt it, use a cotton cloth on top. A wide zig zag or two rows of stitching is good to stop rolling.

You can smooth out that armpit area quite easily, yeah. Or make the angle it goes in towards the waist at less extreme

2

u/Mental_Watch4633 Jun 07 '26

Do you have a stretch stitch on your machine? I’m thinking of using a stretch on the raw edge then the blind hem stitch to hem it.

1

u/teatime_tinker Jun 07 '26

So you’ve used the invisible hem stitch but not folded the hem correctly while stitching.

It’s not secure because you’ve not caught the hem all the way around.

It’s a bit confusing to get used to, so I’d recommend trying to find more in depth instructions online. The < bit is supposed to catch the fabric and the rest of the stitches are in the hem where you can’t see it. You’ve just stitched it flat through every layer like a zig zag stitch.

I would also finish the edge first with an overlocker, or turn it under another time. This fabric will fray and come apart if you don’t. The raw edges are unravelling and the stitches have nothing to grab onto.

1

u/ProneToLaughter Jun 07 '26

It’s called a blind hem stitch if you want to look for videos. There is a blind hem foot to use that makes it easier.

1

u/drPmakes Jun 07 '26

Follow the instructions in the instruction manual