How to hem denim & keep the factory edge

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Hey guys. So, some of you have asked how I hemmed my <a href="http://adayinlifetoo.blogspot.com/2011/08/does-this-skirt-make-me-look-domestic.html" target="blank">denim skirt</a> by myself while keeping the factory-edge look. I've got bad news and good news for you. The good news: I'm not a great seamstress but it still wasn't hard! The bad news: I have nothing to hem right now, so for me to show you how I did it, you'll have to make do with the pics of the finished product.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Basically, you can do this to any garment in which the original hemline is as wide as or wider than the new hemline. As in, it won't work with skinnies or tapered anything. Here's how:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">First, figure out how long/short you want the denim garment. Measure it. Measure it again. Make sure, then once you're sure, cut it. Then head on down to the original hem (where the factory-edging resides) and cut it about a 1/2" up from the original edge seam. This will give you something to sew on that's not 18 layers thick. See the photo below.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj23v3kt2jK5OVtGRwRGY3ygSzAQAzUyVO1GWf3A66bJEZb41dZ5LT1CToKGRkmGpMwGRi-U-dOPNR2nkFPGsQg9dqoTiuv2v26MQBF0XnQwl3bFpNqvBhcBxpXPIOq34J1UFWZt3uyiRzt/s1600/hem_1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj23v3kt2jK5OVtGRwRGY3ygSzAQAzUyVO1GWf3A66bJEZb41dZ5LT1CToKGRkmGpMwGRi-U-dOPNR2nkFPGsQg9dqoTiuv2v26MQBF0XnQwl3bFpNqvBhcBxpXPIOq34J1UFWZt3uyiRzt/s640/hem_1.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Then pin the cut-off factory hem to the cut-off garment, right sides together and cut edges together. Here's a tip, though: depending on the garment you're doing, you'll want to match up any perpendicular seams first. For example, my skirt has a seam going all the way down the front-middle, so I lined up that seam as best as I could first, then pinned outward toward the back of the skirt. See photo below.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwtcaT5K5hcx8H5qvnC8KEQBywDfo6IRf0YX_thiz_WX3LUlF_FkWCfTE6c7xEI8iNLbKz8OGL20MrqjGOEhBLv80jMiugn1XxAnBZNnG89hTeRydEgAkcW1CQJJlYapUSea2OFhCJFLjN/s1600/hem_5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwtcaT5K5hcx8H5qvnC8KEQBywDfo6IRf0YX_thiz_WX3LUlF_FkWCfTE6c7xEI8iNLbKz8OGL20MrqjGOEhBLv80jMiugn1XxAnBZNnG89hTeRydEgAkcW1CQJJlYapUSea2OFhCJFLjN/s640/hem_5.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">In the case of my skirt, because it originally was a slight A-line, the factory-hem piece was longer (horizontally) than the new hemline. After lining up the front seam and the back edges (where the skirt slit is), I then determined where the side seams needed to be and took in/shortened the cut factory-hem piece there. Does that make sense? As in, because there's a side seam anyway, that's where I adjusted all the pieces so they were exactly the same length and all the factory seams could then line up when I sewed them together.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">[Editor's note: You guys, I just realized, I'm terrible at explaining things. Sorry if this is muddled. But now you know how my husband feels, and he's stuck with me forevah, so you guys really don't have it so bad. In fact, I redact my apology to you all.] [Assistant Editor's note: Not sure if "redact" is actually a word...]</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">So. Now we've cut everything, lined up the seams, taken things in if necessary, and pinned them (right sides together). Next, you just sew a straight line as close to the factory hem as possible. (See below, although I labeled this spot better in the first photo.) Here, I also took the opportunity to zigzag the raw edges together to minimize fraying.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPdkryXLArI3RamCC2KN9db4AymuKwpkAF8zvVfp-badtt2xMehrAWD7GZSOTRiF4ArHPB8TEPFmxw1FmzZXTkBYhxqMeOTOU4ixcpeW2hXHo3rjo0XRiHEl8yL67QZYX_jk06rM2bYeNv/s1600/hem_3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPdkryXLArI3RamCC2KN9db4AymuKwpkAF8zvVfp-badtt2xMehrAWD7GZSOTRiF4ArHPB8TEPFmxw1FmzZXTkBYhxqMeOTOU4ixcpeW2hXHo3rjo0XRiHEl8yL67QZYX_jk06rM2bYeNv/s640/hem_3.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Wah-lah. (Or "viola" if you're French.) Open up what you've sewn (as in, unfold it. <em>Not</em> rip it out...hopefully...) so that you're looking at the right sides. Iron it flat if you want or need to (I didn't). Then, to keep it flat, sew a topstitch. Ideally, you'd have a matching thread color. I didn't, so mine's chocolate brown. Surprisingly, though, it's hardly noticeable, so whatevs. See how the factory edge looks almost seamless here, even though you actually transplanted it? Magic.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbyuv5e8Jht0fK4Bt7H7pMdWNNBNrGGtlngZQuI5NTBYcV-pjR9PlBWpuxxsJXTKSifcH5ZIztN-J0x-dRRbt_dScoMhkpOSuXao-UlldEgLa31-uf18HIrR8zGXnAvV7-9lg26aJ4Ra9o/s1600/hem_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbyuv5e8Jht0fK4Bt7H7pMdWNNBNrGGtlngZQuI5NTBYcV-pjR9PlBWpuxxsJXTKSifcH5ZIztN-J0x-dRRbt_dScoMhkpOSuXao-UlldEgLa31-uf18HIrR8zGXnAvV7-9lg26aJ4Ra9o/s400/hem_2.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Maybe it looks obvious in these ultra-close-ups, but I promise...this is a great way to keep that professional-looking factory edge after you've done a home-grown hem job.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsNcirT7TMLB45gNnbLUIfHxa7Ttr68C2ypsUYB8srvVmxWKRSRvPIqOaz-8hf3WcfFQECBfSm0L8UDMhql_rGmeX8juvz7G-XhC_BODd3PETCkM581Of93blvuvalJ-0T1ZNTq2FHRy2m/s1600/hem_4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsNcirT7TMLB45gNnbLUIfHxa7Ttr68C2ypsUYB8srvVmxWKRSRvPIqOaz-8hf3WcfFQECBfSm0L8UDMhql_rGmeX8juvz7G-XhC_BODd3PETCkM581Of93blvuvalJ-0T1ZNTq2FHRy2m/s640/hem_4.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div align="center">If you're not convinced, check out how <a href="http://adayinlifetoo.blogspot.com/search/label/knee-length%20denim%20skirt">this skirt</a> looks in "real life." It took about 20 minutes to do and saved me at least $50 for a new skirt. Worth it.</div><div align="center"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Happy Wednesday!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Want this look but are confused by my tutorial? Shop below...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="background: white; border-bottom: #bfbfbf 1px solid; border-left: #bfbfbf 1px solid; border-right: #bfbfbf 1px solid; border-top: #bfbfbf 1px solid; display: block; position: relative; width: 430px;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="150" scrolling="no" src="http://widget.shopstyle.com/widget?pid=uid6676-2041974-73&look=3685782&size=Small&width=6&height=1&layouttype=0&border=0&footer=0" width="430"></iframe><br /><div style="bottom: 2px; height: 18px; left: 0px; line-height: 12px; position: absolute; width: 100%;"><div style="left: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 2px; position: absolute;"><a href="http://www.shopstyle.com/browse/Levis#pid=uid6676-2041974-73" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; color: #606060; font: 11px verdana, sans-serif; text-decoration: underline;">More Levi's...</a></div><div style="padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 3px; position: absolute; right: 0px;"><a href="http://www.shopstyle.com/#pid=uid6676-2041974-73" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;"><img alt="ShopStyle" src="http://resources.shopstyle.com/im/widget/ShopStyleLogo_powered_small.png" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></img></a></div></div></div></div>

How to hem denim & keep the factory edge

Hey guys. So, some of you have asked how I hemmed my denim skirt by myself while keeping the factory-edge look. I've got bad news and g...

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does this skirt make me look domestic?

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp6mzJFU1m-kaJu05FQeIC4pJCvALukaAt3u1gnXbf2OdGYAseyxu7tREsKy76NeEEUdzbAzYrhm0TglZnMSJ8Ziw0zBE-GgyQvwl-a11A3xdB_bfal49s5D2fPvlCk9P-eupe1V7YpFc/s1600/S1britt3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp6mzJFU1m-kaJu05FQeIC4pJCvALukaAt3u1gnXbf2OdGYAseyxu7tREsKy76NeEEUdzbAzYrhm0TglZnMSJ8Ziw0zBE-GgyQvwl-a11A3xdB_bfal49s5D2fPvlCk9P-eupe1V7YpFc/s400/S1britt3.JPG" width="317" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: x-small;">shoes: steve madden. skirt: secondhand (old navy, but then altered by moi). shirt: gift/vintage. belt: forever21.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWA6IeEPf-4m8Jm6ge3JLyFgW6_CznYNHlvMBfFzuS5tDhU_FANimmqI-jmrWZA8jvRqccM7BgK2B-0W2s-6zD1ncdMiVcXAQhwFOjkTbspKhOHXrKwQrXlU1iDKdudClExfFirHqIMoc/s1600/S1britt1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWA6IeEPf-4m8Jm6ge3JLyFgW6_CznYNHlvMBfFzuS5tDhU_FANimmqI-jmrWZA8jvRqccM7BgK2B-0W2s-6zD1ncdMiVcXAQhwFOjkTbspKhOHXrKwQrXlU1iDKdudClExfFirHqIMoc/s400/S1britt1.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPFV0wnvWQMAR7VPIKgUU-2B8Uw25-zCqBHyTymGj34PXSNxnSP_NGEAWSiUCpWyEBCaVowlDJFkTt2FnQAE77qKFQvB987_TN4OyG5tHga7s7VDw1sWKq0ObhMf1KCh1gynYsQ8Z6I1E/s1600/S1britt2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPFV0wnvWQMAR7VPIKgUU-2B8Uw25-zCqBHyTymGj34PXSNxnSP_NGEAWSiUCpWyEBCaVowlDJFkTt2FnQAE77qKFQvB987_TN4OyG5tHga7s7VDw1sWKq0ObhMf1KCh1gynYsQ8Z6I1E/s400/S1britt2.JPG" width="302" /></a></div><div align="center"><em>p.s. [Editor's note: Technically that stands for "post script," but I'm taking artistic license here and saying it stands for "pre script." Don't try this at home, though, kids. I'm a professional.] This skirt used to be <a href="http://adayinlifetoo.blogspot.com/2011/05/midi-length-denim-skirtnon-frump-stylei.html" target="blank">this skirt</a>, but because of its previous awkward/unflattering/frumpy length, and because I've worn it only once (ONCE!) since doing this blog, I re-hemmed it today to make it knee-length. I've been wanting a knee-length denim skirt (aside from my more formal denim <a href="http://adayinlifetoo.blogspot.com/search/label/denim%20pencil%20skirt" target="blank">pencil skirt</a>) for a long time, and I think I'll get more mileage out of it this way. So. Pat me on the back and give me a popsicle, I guess.</em></div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center">This week I'm grateful for: <br /><br />- classic (albeit cheesy) movies like "The Music Man" that I can and do start introducing to my children.<br />- a husband who comes home from a 2.5-day fishing trip unshaven, fulfilled, and happy to be home. And who also <em>didn't</em> get mauled by a mama bear when he & the guys spied a lone grizzly cub on the trail. Yipes...<br />- Campbell's chicken noodle soup for lunch. My kids love it. And I love Ms. Campbell for creating it. It's mmm-mmm-easy.<br />- Internet.<br />- Internet shopping.<br />- craigslist scores and the reupholstering/refinishing projects that ensue.<br />- having cute kids and taking the time to notice and appreciate their cuteness.<br />- chips-and-salsa as a snack.<br />- dishwashers. Specifically, mine.<br />- freshly shaved legs.<br />- my husband's employment. <br />- living in peace and (globally relative) prosperity. Believing in God. Enjoying good health. Being free. I'm so humbled to be so blessed.<br /><br />Happy Sunday.</div>

does this skirt make me look domestic?

  shoes: steve madden. skirt: secondhand (old navy, but then altered by moi). shirt: gift/vintage. belt: forever21. p.s. [Editor's note:...

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