The Promised Skirt Hemming Tutorial

Step 1. Choose a good skirt to work with. This particular technique works best with wool-like skirts. If this is your first time for hemming a skirt, look for one that is unlined and straighter vs. fuller. The less material, the easier it will be to work with. Also look at the existing hem. If it is a blind hem, then you know that a shorter length with a blind hem will work well. Don't forget to take your before photo!

Step 2. Try on the skirt and mark the length that you would like it to be with a straight pin. You could also measure off of a skirt you already own that you know will be a good length. I usually shoot for finger-tip length, then I know it will be appropriate for school. If this is your first time shortening a skirt, I would aim for the conservative side. You can always go shorter later, but you can't add length back on.

Step 3. Take off the skirt and measure down to the hem to get the length that you need to remove. In my case, it is 11.25 inches

Step 4. Measure the existing hem to know what length to make the new hem. These types of skirts generally have a hem that is around 1.5 inches. My was 1.75.


Step 5. Subtract the length of the hem from the length that needs to be removed. In my case, 11.25 - 1.75 = 9.5. Put a new pin at this new length.


Step 6. Measure at several places across the skirt putting a pin at the new length. I can usually get away with 5 pins across the front. First-timers might want to use a few more. You don't want to cut the skirt straight across. Most skirt hems curve slightly.


Step 7. Cut up the side seam to the pins.

Step 8. Start cutting across the front of the skirt. Getting as close as possible to the pins. Repeat the pinning and cutting process on the back.

Step 9. Make a zig-zag stitch all the way around the bottom of the skirt. This will keep the fabric from fraying.


Step 10. Fold the edge over to make the hem using the measurement from earlier. Pin all the way around.

Step 11. Now the tricky part, folding it properly for the blind hem. Lay the skirt with the wrong side facing up. Fold the hem underneath so that there is 1/4 inch of the edge exposed. Repin.

Your final folding should look like this. The wrong side of fabric facing up, the hem folded underneath, and aproximately 1/4 inch of the edge exposed.


Step 12. Set sewing machine to blind hem (check instruction book for setting). Your skirt should be laying wrong side up with the the 1/4 inch exposed edge facing the inside of the machine. The actual blind stitch will vary between machines. Mine does two straight stitches on the exposed edge and then one stitch through the folded fabric.


The key to getting a good blind hem is to barely catch the edge of the folded fabric. I'm talking millimeters. This is the stitch that will be visible on the front. You want it to be as close to the edge of the fold as possible, therefore, small as possible. If your stitch is too far to the left of that fold, you will have a large visible stitch on the front and the hem will not lay flat. If you have never done a blind hem, I recommend practicing with a scrap of fabric, perhaps the one you cut off the bottom of the skirt. It is also a good idea to sew painfully slow when you are first learning to blind hem. Be slow and methodical, but don't sweat it. If it's messed up, you can also rip the hem out and try again.



Step 13. Once you've sewn a blind hem all the way around, be sure to iron your new hem. It will be a nice finishing touch. Finally, take your after photo and show off your handiwork to all your friends.

All right, that's it. My first tutorial. Hopefully I was clear enough in all my instructions. If you have any questions, be sure to let me know.

Edit: If you hem a skirt using this tutorial, be sure to let me know. I want to see photos!

Before and After

Below is the before and after for the $2.00 wool skirt I bought the other day at Goodwill. I've got shortening a skirt down to a science. On a skirt without lining, I can do a blind hem in under 30 minutes. I've been thinking about doing a tutorial on how to quickly shorten a skirt. Would anyone be interested?

In true before and after fashion, I have a weird look on my face and my hair is looking sort of gross.

Look what a difference 6 inches, a shower, and some accessories can make.

Style Idol

If I could be anyone in the world, I would be Zooey Deschanel.

She & Him - Don't Look Back from Merge Records on Vimeo.

Snow and Shopping

Well, if it's going to be dark and dreary outside, it might as well SNOW! And that's exactly what it's doing at the moment. I know you northern girls don't find this so excited, but for anyone south of the Mason-Dixon it's rare, therefore, fun. I must live a boring life if the weather is my most bloggable subject. On to something more blog-worthy.

Yesterday, I had a shopping day, my last for a while, because starting the first week of February, I'm doing another round of 30 for 30. You know what that means. No shopping for a month. I could really use the ban, too. I've been good about sticking to NNNY, but even second-hand can be expensive.

Yesterday's sojourn began at Garbo's a vintage and resale shop located on the next street over from my apartment. A two story Queen Anne, filled with fabulous frocks. Oh my! I left with this 1950's beauty and a bracelet.

Next stop, Goodwill. They were actually having 50% off the entire store. This is the first time this store has had a sale since I started shopping there. Skirts for $2.00 and the dress for $2.50. The skirts need to be shortened. The dress is entire too big, but I have big alternation plans for it. One word: eyelet.

My last stop was Celery, a high-end resale boutique. We're talking $1000 Chanel suits. Luckily they do have some more budget friendly items, like this UO skirt and Anthro jacket.

Outfit worn to teach today, not shopping yesterday. Pretty good for something I threw together in 10 minutes.

Sweater - LC Lauren Conrad (Kohl's)
Skirt - Old Navy
Boots - Vintage
Necklace - Simply Vera Vera Wang (Kohl's)
Bracelet - Vintage
Belt - TJ Maxx

Everybody, Everywear

Third day of having to use flash. Urrrggg. Well, that doesn't mean I have to wear a blah outfit. To counter act the SADD I feel coming on, I went a little springy. I'm am sporting gingham today as part of Liz and Linda's new website Everybody, Everywear, a great new site that features different blogger's take on the same type of clothing. Variety galore. Coming up January 25, Breton stripes.

Shirt - AE

Skirt - Loft
Boots - Frye
Jewelry - Vintage

Power Coat

The weather is still so yucky. The last two days I've had to use the flash which I hate. Below is the outfit that I wore to church on Sunday and to teach today. Once again recycled outfits for different groups of people.

This dress in one of my new favorites. It's vintage Liliane Burty, made in Paris, France. Oh la la! It is probably 70s with a 40s style. I bought it at a high-end consignment store, which is a place you don't necessarily expect to see vintage. It was a little more than I normally pay for vintage, but it was still reasonable, and definitely worth it.

Dress - Vintage Liliane Burty (consignment)
Turtleneck - Merona (Target)
Heels - Kenneth Cole (TJ Maxx)
Necklace - Vintage, Grandma'd
Belt - Vintage

The necklace I'm wearing is actually out of my grandma's craft stash. Well, one person's craft supply is another person's new vintage necklace.

Finally, the long awaited debut of the red Pendleton coat. I wore this for the first time while visiting my boyfriend. When he first saw me in the coat he said, "Wow, if you went to an interview in that coat, they would just give you the job. You wouldn't even have to talk." This means a lot coming from a guy who really doesn't notice if I'm wearing sweats or a prom dress. The coat is definitely a "Notice Me" color and I did feel quite powerful in it. You've heard of the power coat. This is my power coat.

Fair-Weather Friend

I'm am definitely what you call a fair-weather blogger. If it's cold or windy or rainy or snowy, I'm disinclined to take outfit photos. Below is the outfit I wore to dinner Saturday night, re-wore today. Yeah, I recycle outfits, especially if I'm going to see two different groups of people. Less laundry that way.

Cardi - Banana Republic
Blouse - Gap
Jeans - Gap
Boots - Frye
Earrings - Local Boutique
Necklace - Vintage
Bracelet - J.Crew

(Not) New Stuff

I've been a busy, busy little bee. The good news: NNNY is well on track. The bad news: my budget is not.

This past weekend I visited my boyfriend in a different part of the state. This meant the opportunity check out new shops and also some old shops I haven't been to lately.

The new shop I was most excited about was Grey Dog Vintage Boutique. It's the cutest vintage shop, set up in, appropriately enough, a vintage Airstream trailer. I had a hard time choosing from all the great pieces, but finally settle on a yellow color scheme. Most of the pieces have been altered to give them a more modern look. If you are ever in the Northwest Arkansas region be sure to check out Grey Dog Vintage. The selection is great and so are the prices.

I wore the yellow dress to dinner with friends on Saturday night. It was really cold in NWA and I hadn't packed properly. I knew I was going to need to buy some tights. I wanted to stick with my goal of "Nothing New in the New Year", but thought that legwear, like underwear, was probably something everyone would urge me to not purchase used. Amazingly, between TJ Maxx and Dillard's, I found several options that are actually made in the USA. If you are also interested in supporting our country through American made legwear, check out Hue, Hot Sox, and Spanx.

What does one do when one's boyfriend goes to work and leaves one in a house with no cable or internet? Go shopping of course. No day would be complete without a trip to Goodwill. In this case a large, clean, well-organized one. I ended up with a Fair Isle cardigan and a velvety skirt that needs to be shortened.

My final stop was an antique mall that I haven't been to in a while. I got a matching set of English biscuit tins. These make for a great colorful storage option. I also picked up three pieces of vintage jewelry. Lately, I've been wanting some bold bracelets. I saw some cute ones while I was a Dillard's, but they were all made in China and over $20, even on sale. All three of these beauties combined rang up for well less than $20.

First Day Jitters

I'll just say that I still get first day jitters and outfit anxiety just like I did as a student, even though I'm the teacher now.

Cardigan - Gap
Top - Simply Vera Vera Wang (Kohl's)
Skinnies - Banana Republic
Boots - Vintage
Bracelet - Vintage

You can't really tell in the first photo, but the top is purple. Detail shot!

Lessons Learned While Thrifting

Thrift Lesson 1: Do not wear a nice outfit and then attempt to buy yet to be priced merchandise, you will end up paying more.

Not that I minded so much. The proceeds of the one thrift store in my hometown do go to job and life skills training for handicapped individuals. I can't really begrudge them a few extra dollars.

I stopped in at the LTS to buy a coat that I had seen a few days early. I was dressed for lunch with my mom, so not super fancy, but nice I guess. (Photo below, you be the judge.) I bought four things, three of which were not priced. I have a feeling that the prices the lady quoted me were a little higher based on what I was wearing and my appearance. I had a coat on top, but I guess she could still tell. Oh well, like I said the money goes to a good cause.

Turtleneck - J.Crew
Blouse - Gap
Jeans - James
Necklace - Simple Vera Vera Wang (Kohl's)
Belt and Boots - Grandma'd

I guess this marks day 1 of Nothing New in the New Year (NNNY). I've already busted my preliminary budget of $20. Today's four pieces set me back $21.50. I may have to rethink my monthly budget just a bit or stop thrift shopping while wearing nice clothes. I bought two wool coats that went straight to the dry cleaners. One was a vintage Pendleton coat, long, red. It was the reason I had gone back to the store in the first place. The other was long, grey probably 80s. They rang in at $8.00 a piece. I'll do a photo of both once I get them back on Thursday.

The other two pieces are pictured above. The first is a silky, long sleeve dress. It is entire too large, but I'm hoping I can work some of my alteration magic on it. It was on sale for $1.50. The last piece was a blue sweater with a tulip motif, $4.00. All these pieces will be making their outfit debut in the next few weeks, so stay tuned.