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Aunt Norie’s Sewing Room

By Eleanor Mckee - | Sep 27, 2011

A very serious young mother, sewing for her little girl, on her new (old “my grandmother’s”) sewing machine called me with a problem recently. She is making a, “whirley” circle skirt for her daughter. And that tiny hem: “I just can’t get it,” she said. That one is different but there is a simple little trick and it works like a charm.

When you have that tiny, also called the hander-kerchief, hem to do, it does take special consideration, but then becomes so easy. I like to first, when cutting the fabric, cut that skirt bottom at least an inch too long. Then just do a plain stitch along the hem line (where you will later turn it under). When you have made that line of stitching completely around the skirt bottom your next step will be to trim the excess away, very carefully now, leaving just an eighth of an inch beyond your line of stitching, to turn under with the thread line you first stitched.

Before you actually make the hem on the garment, practice, practice, practice. Until you get it under control.

To do that hem, just turn on that line of stitching. Actually turning under the threads of your line you stitched makes for a stronger better hem  (it will be easy to control now and won’t stretch in its bias sections) even without any basting etc., you will be able to do a very narrow and neat hem.

If we humans would always remember, stop and think, hold our tongues. Remember, once uttered there is no recalling those words.

Like the old Indian gem, “Until you walk a mile in another’s moccasins,” be very careful of the words you let roll off your tongue. Far better you offer a smile, a friendly greeting and a silent prayer.

Bye and God bless.

— Aunt Norie, P O Box 265, Tonganoxie, 66086; auntnorie@att.net.