Hemming is the dreaded task at the end of all our projects. Day five of the Tranquil Sew Along has some tips to make hemming easier and give you professional looking results.
Hemming made easy
Wrapping up our Tranquil Nightwear means that it’s time to hem our shirts, nightshirts, and shorts. To do this, we will be pressing the fabric towards the wrong side by 1″. I like to press the hem in place before I topstitch. I find that this keeps my hem nice and even and allows me to have a prettier hem at the end of my project.
I have a collection of tools that I like to use. When I hem. These include a hem gauge so I can measure the hem accurately, glass head pins that keep my hem in place while I press it and a good iron. For more of my hemming tips, check out the final video in the Tranquil Nightwear Sew Along series on our YouTube channel.
Faux wrap hem hack
On the final day of the Tranquil Nightwear Sew Along, I am giving you my FAVORITE hack for this pattern, a faux wrap hem. It’s pretty simple to do, so if you are new to pattern hacking, this is a great place to start!
When you cut out the nightshirt, you will need to transfer the sleeve hem to the hem of the nightshirt. I wanted a larger accent piece, so I placed it an inch and a half from the side seam. The seam of the sleeve is parallel with the side seam of the skirt. Don’t forget to transfer the markings also!
To cut the accent piece, you will also need to cut it an inch wider as demonstrated below.
I did a banded finish on my wrap hem. But you would do the same with fold over elastic or knit binding. I measured the length of the hem and cut the trim the same length. (I cut my band a bit wider at 1 1/2″.) Measure the bottom of the accent pieces as well. Finish the hems in the same manor that you used for sleeves.
Don’t forget to do the back! We didn’t hem, so we need to finish the back of the nightshirt in the same way, otherwise the lengths won’t match.
Are you on social media?
Sewing with friends on a common project is a great way to socialize and “meet” new people! Join our Tranquil Nightwear Sew Along Event happening in our Facebook Support Group. There you will get daily reminders for blog posts and YouTube videos, be able to ask questions in a friendly environment, and enter to win a prize at the end of the week! One lucky person will win a $50 gift certificate from Love Notions Patterns (good on all PDF patterns).
Tranquil Nightwear Sew Along Schedule
Monday: Fabric, adjustments, cutting
Tuesday: Sewing the neckline
Wednesday: Creating the faux hem/ sewing the sleeves, BONUS: banded finish option
Thursday: Sewing the elastic waistband
Friday: Hemming, BONUS: faux wrap nightshirt hem
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