Are you tired of your t-shirts looking frumpy and ill-fitting after a few washes? Do you wish you could achieve that polished, professional look without spending a fortune on alterations? Well, you’re in luck! In this comprehensive guide, AGOTEE will walk you through the step-by-step process of how to hem a t-shirt and transforming it into a garment that looks like it came straight from a high-end boutique.
1. How to hem at shirt?
Hemming a T-shirt is an essential sewing technique that helps give the garment a finished look and prevents the fabric from unraveling. There are various methods you can use to hem a T-shirt, depending on your skill level and the equipment available to you. Here are three commonly used methods for hemming T-shirts:
1.1. How to hem at shirt with a sewing machine
- Fold the raw edge of the T-shirt’s hem towards the inside by about 1/2 inch (1.27 cm).
- Press the folded edge with an iron to create a crease.
- Using a sewing machine, set it to a straight stitch or a zigzag stitch.
- Align the folded edge under the presser foot of the sewing machine, keeping the raw edge tucked inside.
- Stitch along the folded edge, securing the hem in place.
- Trim any excess fabric if necessary.
1.2. How to hem a shirt by hand
- Gather your materials: You’ll need a needle, thread (matching the color of the shirt), scissors, pins (optional), and an iron.
- Prepare the hem: Determine the desired length of the shirt and add an additional 1 inch (2.5 cm) for the hem allowance.
- Secure the hem: Starting from the inside of the shirt, insert the needle into the folded edge of the fabric, close to the crease. Take a small stitch, about 1/4 inch (0.6 cm) long, catching only a few threads of the fabric. This stitch should be nearly invisible from the right side of the shirt.
- Continue stitching: Insert the needle back into the folded edge, slightly ahead of the previous stitch. Take another small stitch, keeping the stitches evenly spaced and consistent in length. Repeat this process, working your way around the hem of the shirt.
- Knot the thread: When you reach the starting point, take a small backstitch by inserting the needle through the fold of the fabric and then back out. This will secure the last stitch. Tie a knot close to the fabric, making sure it’s secure.
1.3. Basic Folded Hem
- Measure and mark the desired length of the shirt.
- Fold the raw edge of the shirt’s hem towards the inside by about 1/2 inch (1.27 cm).
- Press the folded edge with an iron to create a crease.
- Fold the hem up one more time, this time by about 1/2 inch (1.27 cm), enclosing the raw edge within the fold.
- Press the second fold with an iron to create another crease.
- Pin the folded hem in place to keep it secure.
- Hand stitch or use a sewing machine to stitch along the inner edge of the fold, ensuring you catch both layers of fabric.
1.4. Double Folded Hem
- Measure and mark the desired length of the shirt.
- Fold the raw edge of the shirt’s hem towards the inside by about 1/4 inch (0.6 cm).
- Press the folded edge with an iron to create a crease.
- Fold the hem up one more time by about 1/4 inch (0.6 cm), enclosing the raw edge within the fold.
- Press the second fold with an iron to create another crease.
- Pin the double-folded hem in place to keep it secure.
- Hand stitch or use a sewing machine to stitch along the inner edge of the fold, ensuring you catch both layers of fabric.
1.5. Rolled Hem
- Measure and mark the desired length of the shirt.
- Roll the raw edge of the shirt’s hem towards the inside, about 1/8 inch (0.3 cm) at a time.
- Use your fingers to roll and shape the fabric, creating a narrow, neat rolled edge.
- Pin the rolled hem in place as you go, ensuring it stays secure.
- Hand stitch or use a sewing machine to stitch close to the inner edge of the rolled fabric, making sure to catch the fabric layers.
1.6. Blind Hem Stitch
- Measure and mark the desired length of the shirt.
- Fold the raw edge of the shirt’s hem towards the inside by about 1/2 inch (1.27 cm).
- Press the folded edge with an iron to create a crease.
- Fold the hem up one more time by about 1/2 inch (1.27 cm), enclosing the raw edge within the fold.
- Press the second fold with an iron to create another crease.
- Pin the folded hem in place along the inner fold.
- Use a blind hem stitch, either by hand or with a sewing machine, to stitch the hem in place. This stitch is designed to be nearly invisible from the outside of the fabric.
1.7. Stretch Stitch
- Measure and mark the desired length of the shirt.
- Use a stretch stitch on your sewing machine, such as a zigzag stitch or a stretch straight stitch.
- Fold the raw edge of the shirt’s hem towards the inside by about 1/2 inch (1.27 cm).
- Press the folded edge with an iron to create a crease.
- Fold the hem up one more time by about 1/2 inch (1.27 cm), enclosing the raw edge within the fold.
- Press the second fold with an iron to create another crease.
- Pin the folded hem in place to keep it secure.
- Stitch along the inner edge of the fold, using the selected stretch stitch, ensuring you catch both layers of fabric.
1.8. Coverstitch
- Measure and mark the desired length of the shirt.
- Use a coverstitch machine or a twin needle on a regular sewing machine.
- Fold the raw edge of the shirt’s hem towards the inside by about 1/2 inch (1.27 cm).
- Press the folded edge with an iron to create a crease.
- Fold the hem up one more time by about 1/2 inch (1.27 cm), enclosing the raw edge within the fold.
- Press the second fold with an iron to create another crease.
- Pin the folded hem in place to keep it secure.
- Use the coverstitch machine or twin needle to stitch along the inner edge of the fold, creating a professional-looking coverstitch finish.
1.9. Bias Tape Hem
- Measure and mark the desired length of the shirt.
- Cut a piece of bias tape that matches the circumference of the shirt’s hem.
- Fold the raw edge of the shirt’s hem towards the inside by about 1/4 inch (0.6 cm).
- Press the folded edge with an iron to create a crease.
- Open the bias tape and align its raw edge with the raw edge of the hem, right sides together.
- Pin the bias tape in place along the hem, sandwiching the raw edge inside.
- Stitch along the fold line of the bias tape, securing it to the shirt and encasing the raw edge.
- Trim any excess bias tape and fabric if necessary.
1.10. Fringed Hem
- Measure and mark the desired length of the shirt.
- Cut off the desired length of the shirt, leaving an additional 1-2 inches (2.5-5 cm) for the fringe.
- Make small horizontal cuts along the bottom edge of the shirt, about 1/2 inch (1.27 cm) apart.
- Stop the cuts about 1-2 inches (2.5-5 cm) from the folded edge of the fabric.
- Gently pull on each fringe to encourage the fabric to curl and create a fringed effect.
- You can leave the fringed hem as is or secure the fringes with a hand stitch or a line of machine stitches to prevent them from unravelling.
1.11. No-Sew Hem Tape
- Measure and mark the desired length of the shirt.
- Cut a length of no-sew hem tape that matches the circumference of the shirt’s hem.
- Fold the raw edge of the shirt’s hem towards the inside by about 1/2 inch (1.27 cm).
- Press the folded edge with an iron to create a crease.
- Place the no-sew hem tape along the folded edge, sandwiching the raw edge inside.
- Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to adhere the hem tape to the fabric using heat or an iron.
- Ensure the hem tape is securely bonded to the fabric before wearing the shirt.
- These are nine different methods you can use to hem a T-shirt. Choose the one that suits your preferences, skill level, and available tools. Always practice on scrap fabric or inconspicuous areas before applying any method to the final garment.
2. How do you hem stretchy fabric?
Hemming stretchy fabric requires a slightly different approach to ensure the finished hem maintains its stretch and doesn’t become too rigid. Here’s how you can hem stretchy fabric:
- Prepare the fabric: Mark the desired length of the garment using pins or fabric chalk. Try the garment on and make sure it fits as desired before proceeding.
- Test the stitch: Test a few stitches on a scrap piece of fabric to see how your machine handles the stretchy fabric. Use a zigzag stitch or a stretch stitch that allows for flexibility.
- Cut the excess fabric: Cut the fabric about 1 inch (2.5 cm) below the desired hemline. Leave this extra fabric to accommodate the hem allowance.
- Fold the hem: Fold the raw edge of the fabric up towards the inside by about 1/4 inch (0.6 cm) and press it with an iron. This initial fold helps stabilize the edge and prevent fraying.
- Fold the hem again: Fold the fabric up one more time, this time to the desired hem length. The amount folded will depend on your preference and the fabric’s stretch. Typically, a 1-inch (2.5 cm) fold works well for most stretchy fabrics.
- Pin the hem: Use pins to secure the folded hem in place. Make sure the fabric lies flat and smooth without stretching or puckering.
- Sew the hem: Set your sewing machine to a zigzag stitch or a stretch stitch. Sew along the folded edge of the hem, keeping the stitching close to the folded edge. As you sew, gently stretch the fabric to match the stretch of the garment, ensuring the hem remains flexible.
- Trim excess fabric: Trim any excess fabric close to the stitching, leaving a small seam allowance. Be careful not to cut the stitches.
- Finish the seam (optional): If desired, you can finish the raw edge of the seam by using a serger, overlock stitch, or a zigzag stitch along the edge. This step helps prevent fraying and adds extra durability to the hem.
Hemming stretchy fabric requires a balance between maintaining the fabric’s stretch and securing the hem in place. By using the right stitches and handling the fabric gently, you can achieve a neat and flexible hem on stretchy garments.
3. How much does it cost to hem a T-Shirt?
The cost of hemming a T-shirt can vary depending on several factors, including the location, the tailor or alteration service you choose, the complexity of the hem, and the fabric of the T-shirt. Here are some general guidelines regarding the cost of hemming a T-shirt:
- Basic hem: For a basic hem where the length is simply shortened, you can expect to pay around $5 to $15. This cost can vary based on the tailor’s pricing structure and the region.
- Hemming with intricate details: If the shirt has complex details like pleats, cuffs, or multiple layers, the cost may be slightly higher. These additional features require more time and skill, and the cost can range from $10 to $20 or more.
- Tailored hem: If you want a customized hem that involves reshaping the T-shirt or adjusting the proportions, the cost may increase. This can involve additional measurements and alterations, which may range from $15 to $30 or higher, depending on the extent of the tailoring.
- Premium fabrics: Some tailors or alteration services may charge more for hemming shirts made from delicate or expensive fabrics like silk, satin, or sequined materials. The additional care and expertise required for handling such fabrics can increase the cost.
- It’s important to note that these are approximate cost ranges, and prices can vary significantly depending on the specific tailor or alteration service you choose. It’s always a good idea to inquire about the pricing beforehand and discuss any specific requirements or details of your shirt to get an accurate estimate.
Additionally, if you have the necessary skills and tools, hemming a shirt yourself can save you the cost of professional alteration services. However, this depends on your comfort level with sewing and the complexity of the hemming required.
4. Conclusion
Hemming a t-shirt is a simple yet effective way to elevate its appearance and make it look professional. By following the step-by-step process outlined in this guide, you can achieve impeccable results that will rival any high-end garment. So go ahead, grab your materials, and get ready to transform your t-shirts into stylish, perfectly-fitted essentials.
I hope that through the above article from Agotee, it has helped you answer your question on how to hem a shirt. Thank you for following our article.
