Hems
A hem folds and sews the edge of the cloth to stop it unravelling and to set the length.
What it is
Folding and sewing an edge.
Who it suits
Anyone shortening trousers or making curtains.
What you need
Gauge, iron, pins and thread.
A first project
A double-fold hem.
The hems guides
Beginner's guide
What you need
Techniques and stitches
How to sew a double-fold hem
The beginner-friendly hem.
How to sew a blind hem by machine
Stitches hidden inside.
Mistakes and fixes
Next steps
Related Learn guides
- How to sew a blind hem on a machine (Hems)
- Hand-sewn catch stitch (herringbone) hem (Hems)
- How to sew a double-fold hem (Hems)
- How to sew an elastic waist casing (Hems)
- Shortening jeans and keeping the original hem (Hems)
- How to sew mitred corners (Hems)
Sources
All checked 1 November 2026. We read these; we did not test the products ourselves.
