If you can hem curtains by hand, you could be doing it to get exactly the length of your door or window because already made curtains have their standard measurements, which may not match your door or window. But hemming curtains by hand is one way to get a perfect curtain length for your house.
Hemming curtains by hand do not require any prior experience. With the guide in this article, you can fold your curtain perfectly to any length you want. However, using a sewing machine to hem can save time, but not everyone has one at home. So, take advantage of this guide and learn how to hem curtains.
Learning to hem by hand takes practice, but with a consistent effort and a careful approach, you can succeed even if it is your first time. Here are the ten easiest ways to hem curtains by hand.
How To Hem Curtains By Hand Using the cross-stitch method
One of the most satisfying things about hemming curtains by hand is being able to make your curtains. Not only is it cheaper than buying them, but you can also make them precisely to your liking and style.
There are numerous methods for hemming curtains by hand. Here, we use the catch-stitch or cross-stitch method. Here are a few simple steps to do it:
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1. Get your curtain
- Get your curtain and situate it so that its bottom edge is facing you and the raw side is facing up on a table.
- To achieve the required hemming length, fold the edge and press.
- Pin it across the width of the curtain panel to keep the hem in place,
- You may double-hem it if you’d like to help keep your curtain hanging properly.
2. Stitching
- Fix a sewing thread approximately 5 feet long through a needle and knots it at one end.
- You can use either short or long needle length. \the choice is yours to make based on the one that is easy for you.
- You can test alternative needle lengths by making sample hems if unsure which one to use.
3. Begin at the left side of the hem
- Make little stitches going from left to right to the top of the hem fold.
- Until the thread runs out, keep pulling the needle through.
- Use your left thumb to hold the other thread to the hem.
- Make sure the needle won’t go through the extra thread below.
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4. Start to sew the fabric
- Do this only into tiny stitches just above the hem. The smallest stitches you can get away with are preferable.
- Do not utilize more than three threads, and this is because using more fabric threads frequently results in your stitches becoming apparent.
- Make sure you take extra precautions to prevent thread tangling.
- Make sure to keep the extra thread down loosely as you pull it to prevent knotting
5. Start to sew the folded hem
Insert the needle into the top of the fold, starting from the right and moving left, and then remove it from the folded hem.
As you can see, the stitch will finish the cross design as the thread runs between the two hem layers.
6. Continue stitching the opposite side’s hem
Make tiny stitches near the top of the folded hem to tie up the thread and trim off any extra.
You were using the catch-stitch or cross-stitch method to hem curtains by hand. If you are interested in other ways, follow up from the list below.
Other Methods of Hemming Curtains By Hand
Besides using the cross-stitch method, here are other ways to hem curtains by hand:
- Fell stitch
- Blind stitch
- Hand-rolled hem
- Slip Stitch
7. Fell stitch
The slip stitch is not as sturdy as the fell stitch because it is visible from the fabric’s underside, though. This is particularly true if the material is thin and has one layer.
If the fabric has linings, the stitch can even be hidden. You may accomplish this by merely sewing through the lining and hem.
8. Blind stitch
A blind stitch is a type of hand stitching that leaves the other side of the fabric with a hardly perceptible outcome.
Using this sewing method, the finishing of your hemming project will seem polished.
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9. Hand-rolled hem
We have a hemming method that works well with sheer and other thin textiles. However, this might not be effective with thicker or more decorated fabrics. The process of hand sewing a rolled hem is simple.
10. Slip Stitch
The optimum application for this stitching technique is a double-fold hem, because most of the stitches are hidden by the folded hem.
It is beneficial if you want both sides of your hem to look beautiful, much as the prior stitching technique. If you did the slip stitch correctly, it would not be noticeable after everything.
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FAQs
What is the easiest way to hem sheer curtains?
One of the easiest ways to hem sheer curtains is to use fusible webbing. This is a special adhesive that you can iron onto the fabric, which will then hold the fabric in place while you sew. It’s a great way to keep the fabric from slipping around, making it much easier to get a nice-looking curtain.
Sheer curtains often seem slippery and difficult to work with, making it hard to get a nice, even hem. However, using fusible webbing allows you to hem your sheer curtains easily.
What Stitch do I use to hem curtains?
The cross-stitch and blind hem stitch are good for hemming curtains by hand and sewing machine.
The catch stitch or cross-stitch and the Blind hem stitch are strong and invisible, making them ideal for hems. For blind stitches, you will need to use a blind hem foot on your sewing machine. This foot has a guide that helps you keep the stitch straight and even.
How do you hem store-bought curtains?
Hemming store-bought curtains is a relatively easy process that can be done in just a few minutes. If you can use a sewing machine, here’s a quick step-by-step guide to hemming store-bought curtains:
1. Measure the length of your curtains: To hem curtains, you’ll need to know how long you want them to be. Measure from the top of the curtain rod to the desired length.
2. Cut the fabric: Cut the material at the desired length, plus an extra inch.
3. Cut the fabric at the mark, leaving a few inches for the hem.
4. Fold the curtain and start sewing.
How do you hem curtains perfectly?
To hem curtains perfectly, start by measuring the width of your window and adding an extra 2-3 inches to account for the hem. After that, cut your fabric to this width, then fold the bottom edge up so that it’s about 1-2 inches above the desired finished length.
Press the fold, then use a straight stitch to sew it. Next, fold the fabric over again so the raw edge is hidden and the hem is about 1/2 inch wide.