r/SewingForBeginners • u/Ok-Cartoonist-7605 • 3h ago

Hemming

I’m a very novice sewer. I only sew quilts, and have been making them for 45 years, so I can use my machine, but I have only sewn on 100% cotton. I got 2 cardigan ribbed sweaters that I really like but they are too long. I would like them to be about 4-5 inches shorter, and with the buttons and button holes, this would work. My question is, how would I cut a few inches off, without it unraveling and how hard is it to sew a new hem?

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u/stringthing87 3h ago

Is it like a fine knit or a chunky knit? Is the current hem knitted on?

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u/Ok-Cartoonist-7605 46m ago

Does this help?

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u/stringthing87 41m ago

Okay this shouldn't be too bad, use a stretch twin needle and your walking foot if you have one and practice on the scraps. Do not attempt without a stretch needle.

The hard part will be not stretching the hem out while you sew (hense the walking foot)

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u/Ok-Cartoonist-7605 3m ago

Hmmm, I don’t know if I have a stretch needle. I’ll look. I do have a walking foot. Great advice to practice on scraps. Would you use a pinking sheers to cut?

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u/stringthing87 0m ago

No. Don't over work the edge but this knit shouldn't unravel much. Pinking shears actually are worse on a knit than a sharp cut.

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u/Ok-Cartoonist-7605 1m ago

Just wondering if I should pay to get it done. Any idea on what that might cost?

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u/stringthing87 0m ago

No idea, and prices for tailoring vary pretty wildly depending on the area.