Hemming

[Barbara]

This is probably a silly question.  I am hemming my last 2 sets of guild samples (12 towels) and I have allowed too much length for the hem.  Instead of Jane’s recommended one inch allowance, I have left 2″.  I cut off the excess and have turned them under, pinned and I am ready to hem.  My question-do I need to zig zag the turned under part again since I cut off the excess which included the zig zag stitch.  With repeated washings will the ends unravel under the turned hem?  (I am hand hemming  all of the towels.)

Thanks for the advice,

Barbara Z

[Ginette]

Hi Barbara, Jane answered under your other thread 🙂

https://janestaffordtextiles.com/forums/topic/question-on-hemming/ 

 

[Joy Sceviour]

Jane —

Greetings from Newfoundland.  I am a little bit behind in sampling, but I am trying to create tea towels (called cup towels in NL) for the first time.  I am using 2/16 cotton yarn doubled in both the warp and weft.  Everything is going along fine and I will send a photo when the 4 are done.  But…………..I have a question.  I am concerned about the hems.  I have read that, if I want a fairly thin, not bulky, hem, I should weave about 1 – 2 inches with sewing cotton first.  I have done this.  I have woven 1 1/4 inches with the single sewing cotton.  When it comes time to start folding under, I don’t want these threads to show.  I only want the 2/16 cotton to show.  Can you tell me how to go about this?

Joy

[Sandra]

Hi Joy, I moved your question over to a “hemming” thread so that others could easily see your question.

When I weave “cup” towels (I weave a little over double the depth of the tuck in I want for each towel.  At the halfway mark between the towels I throw in a bright contrasting colour of larger yarn – like a bit of 8/4.  When my towels are off the loom I zigzag across the hems on both towels, and cut them apart along that contrasting yarn.  I then should have a secure section of sewing thread hem that will lie flat between the two layers of the towel.

Maybe others will share their methods of finishing their hems.

[Sarasvati Lynn]

New hemming question!

 

As I’ve taken a few towel projects off the loom, I want to do the zigzag-secured machine stitch.

No matter how I adjust the stitch length & width, the machine sucks in the loose edges of my project rather than stitch it!

Please help.  I almost cried last time 🙂

 

S

[Ginette]

Hi Sarasvati Lynn,

I feel for you! Are you able to do a straight stitch?I always use straight stitch, just because I don’t sew much and straight has always worked for me. I’m thinking maybe your sewing machine foot may need adjusting?

Also, Jane did a bonus video in Season 1 Episode 10 on Finishing where it’s all on hemming, machine & by hand that you may find some answers.

Hoping someone with more experience will chime in 🙂

[Mary Williams]

I find I have better success when I don’t start the zig zag right at the end. I try to make sure the machine foot is firmly on the fabric. I haven’t found I need to since, but when I first started doing this I kept a finger on the corner (which is always on my right dominant side). After I take a few zigs and zags I backstitch to beginning of the fabric to include the missed area. From there I just proceed and finish down the length of the fabric. Does this make sense? I have not had an issue with my foot or feed dog ‘eating’ any of my fabric since.

[Joslyn Wilson]

Hi Sarasvati Lynn,

You could try using a  piece of tissue paper or water-soluble interfacing underneath the edge of your weaving when you are sewing your edges. Then you can just tear away the tissue paper once your seam is finished. This avoids the sewing machine eating your weaving 🙂

[Author]

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