Which Hand Hem Stitch Is Best for My Project?

By HEATHER

hand hem stitching

If you’re an all-day-every-day type of hand sewer — or even if you’re the total opposite — chances are you’ve had to hand sew a hem. There just isn’t a machine option that measures up to doing it by hand, it looks beautiful (seriously, the definition of couture) and, if done right, is almost invisible when seeing the whole look.

But when deciding to go the hand hemming route, it can be tough figuring out a stitch type. That’s where we come in. Below are the pros and cons to five different hand hemming stitches, plus mini tutorials to get you started.

Slip Stitch

slip stitch tutorial
  • Use it on: Lightweight fabric
  • Edge finish needed: Clean or folded finish
  • Advantages: Durable, practically invisible
  • Disadvantage: Takes a long time
  • Pull it off: Thread your needle with a single thread and tie a knot at one end. Insert the needle into the fold between the layers, then come up through the fold. Make sure the knot anchors the thread.

    • Grab a tiny bit of fabric with your needle. Moving to the left about ¼”–½”, grab a tiny bit of the folded hem. Moving to the left again, grab another tiny bit of the fabric. Repeat all the way around the hem.

    Catch Stitch

    catch stitch tutorial
  • Use it on: Knits
  • Edge finish needed: Folded finish (can’t be flat)
  • Advantages: Durable, stretches
  • Disadvantages: Needs lots of thread, takes a long time
  • Pull it off: Thread your needle with a single thread and tie a knot at one end. Insert the needle into the fold between the layers, and come up through the fold. Make sure the knot anchors the thread.

    • Grab a tiny bit of fabric with your needle. With your needle pointing left, move to the right about ¼”–½”, then grab a tiny bit of folded hem. With your needle still pointing to the left, move to the right again and grab another tiny bit of fabric. Repeat all the way around the hem.

    Felling Stitch

    Felling Stitch tutorial
  • Nickname: Vertical hemming stitch
  • Use it on: Any fabric weight
  • Edge finish needed: Works on all except thread-covered
  • Advantages: Versatile, durable, fairly fast to do, no exposed thread
  • Disadvantages: Doesn’t work with thread-covered edge finishes
  • Pull it off: Thread your needle with a single thread and tie a knot at one end. Insert the needle into the fold between the layers, and come up through the fold. Make sure the knot anchors the thread.

    • Grab a tiny bit of fabric with your needle. Moving to the left about ¼”–½”, grab a tiny bit of the folded hem. Now, instead of moving, grab a tiny bit of fabric right above the stitch. Then, moving to the left again, grab another tiny bit of the folded hem. Repeat all the way around the hem.

    Blind Hem

    Blind Hem stitch
  • Use it on: Any fabric weight
  • Edge finish needed: Works on all
    • Advantages: Versatile, no exposed thread
  • Disadvantages: None
  • Pull it off: Fold the garment fabric so that about 1/4-inch of the hem allowance is showing. The inside of the garment should face you, with that ¼” of the hem allowance up.

    • Thread your needle with a single thread and tie a knot at one end. Insert the needle into the hem allowance. Make sure the knot anchors the thread.

    Grab a tiny bit of the fold with your needle. Moving to the left about ¼”–½”, grab a tiny bit of the hem allowance. Moving to the left again, grab a tiny bit of the fold. Repeat all the way around the hem.

    Blind Catch Stitch

    Blind Catch Stitch
  • Use it on: Any fabric weight
  • Edge finish needed: Works on all
  • Advantages: Versatile, stretches, no exposed thread
  • Disadvantages: None
  • Pull it off: Fold the garment fabric so that about 1/4-inch of the hem allowance is showing. The inside of the garment should face you, with that ¼” of the hem allowance up.

    • Thread your needle with a single thread and tie a knot at one end. Insert the needle into the hem allowance. Make sure the knot anchors the thread.

    Grab a tiny bit of the fold with your needle. With your needle pointed to the left, move to the right about ¼”–½” and grab a tiny bit of the hem allowance. Keep your needle pointed left, move to the right again and grab a tiny bit of the fold. Repeat all the way around the hem.

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    7 Responses to “Which Hand Hem Stitch Is Best for My Project?”

    1. Tony

      Mom ,having grown up in the early days of the 1900s. She did everything by hand . With no daughters my brothers and I had the opportunity to learn a lot of DIY skills guys don’t normally learn. Hand Sewing is one skill I learned and even used in the military.
      With the 4th of July tomorrow, I need to repair the hem on my US Flag. Your options are great, and my flag is back proudly displayed.
      Thank you!

      Reply
    3. Riley Wallace

      The images are quite small and it’s hard to really see any details of the stitches given…

      Reply
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