How to Hem Pants with a Rolled Hem

Creating a simple rolled, top stitched hem is really easy to do!

Here are a pair of pants needing to be shortened.  Decide how wide of a hem you want (here I'm doing a 1/2" hem.)  For a 1/2" hem, double it because you will be turning it over twice.  So I will need 1" hem allowance.  Mark the new hem and then add the 1" hem allowance.  Cut off the remaining fabric.  Press up 1", then fold down 1/2" and press.  The raw edge should now be enclosed.

Stitch close to the fold.  All done!  See the finished hem below.  (Below left shows outside of hem, right shows inside of hem).



Feline Friday- Free Motion Quilting

Good Feline Friday to you!  I stitched the kitty above without breaking my thread- one continuous line and totally free hand.  It was a fun warm up for this month's free motion quilting challenge on sewcalgal! You can still join in too.  I loved the exercise this month by Leah Day.

Spontaneous and wiggly!  Otherwise known as Double Stipple and Railroad Tracks.  I did not have any of the special tools she mentions, but was still able to do it.  I'll try the tools next time.



Examiner Interview

I got interviewed for the Examiner!

Cynthia Stockdon
Thanks Becky!

Feline Friday- Psykopaint

My daughter learned about psykopaint at school, in art class.  You paint over a picture.  There are different styles of painting to choose from.  I experimented using a picture of Alice and Emma.  The one above was my first attempt.

This one is paw prints!

It was fun to play around with, but now- back to sewing!

Student Projects

I teach sewing to students in organized classes as well as individuals.

Here are some projects by a young student of mine. 

(Sorry about the picture quality- I was using my phone.)

She sewed the above top, skirt and sash. 

 Top has a velcro closing in back and the skirt has an elastic waist.

This skirt has a back velcro closing.  On the pattern envelope, it showed a poodle skirt, but my student wanted a tiger skirt!  Very creative- good job!

We used Steam-A-Seam to attach the tiger.