Learn the secrets for sewing the perfect rolled hem on lightweight fabrics using a rolled hem foot. Here's the best technique for a professional finish, every time.
Prep Time5 minutesmins
Active Time10 minutesmins
Total Time15 minutesmins
Course: Sewing
Cuisine: International
Keyword: how to make a rolled hem, how to sew a rolled hem, rolled hem, what is a rolled hem
If you're using lightweight, slippery fabric, start by lightly spraying the hem line with a little hair spray or with your own spray starch. Allow to dry before proceeding to the next step.
Prepare the first couple of inches of the hem edge. Make a tiny fold in the desired allowance and also to match your rolled hem foot (they come in different sizes). I like to match the fold in my hem with the edge of my foot. With tiny hems on sheer fabrics, I like to use my tweezers too, to help me make that super tiny fold. Finger press to keep it in place then press with your iron. Repeat the process for a second fold, in the same manner.
With the fabric wrong side up, feed the folded part of the hem under the foot, making sure you leave some thread tails behind the foot.
Now carefully line up the folded outer edge of the folded hem to the inner edge of the presser foot’s right leg. While gently pulling the thread tails away from the machine, slowly stitch 2-3 stitches into the hem to secure it in place, using the hand wheel.
Lift the foot but keep the needle into the fabric. Begin to feed the folded hem into the funnel (curled portion of the presser foot). Use the thread tails and a pair of tweezers to make this process easier and faster as feeding teeny tiny hems through that teeny tiny funnel can prove to be a challenge.
Lower the foot and sew slowly, making sure to keep the fold positioned over the funnel portion of the rolled foot. With your right hand continue to help the fabric fold down as you sew, while feeding the folded edge into the funnel with your left hand, as evenly as possible.
Work in small sections and stop whenever needed to re-feed the folded fabric through the funnel (this particularly happens with the smallest size of the hemmer foot)