Christine Sews

Hemming from the waist is a great way to preserve a hemline that you really like.  This skirt happens to have a flared shape and inset pleats. Hemming from the waist also allows you to compensate for figure imperfections, like a sloping waistline, or large or small tummy, bottom, or hips.

How to hem from the waist and attach elastic quarter pin

Note:  These instructions are for a slinky knit skirt.

1. To hem from the waist, get a piece of one inch wide elastic and cut it to fit your waist comfortably. Stitch ends together.
2. Cut off the original waistband of your skirt.
3. Pull on the elastic.
4. Pull your skirt up under the elastic until the hemline is the height you want and level. You will probably see an obvious arc or arcs forming in one direction or another above the elastic.  This is good.
5. Draw a line with washable marker or chalk one inch above the top edge of your elastic.  This is your cut line.
6. Remove skirt and elastic.  Cut off the excess fabric at the cut line.
7. Mark the side seams and mid way between the side seams on the elastic and skirt fabric.  These are your quarters.
8. Pin the skirt fabric and elastic together.  Elastic should be pinned to the wrong side of the skirt.
9. Set sewing machine to stretch stitch.  Stretch fabric and elastic so they lay flat between pins.
10. Turn the elastic in.  Stretch the elastic and fabric and stitch over them again, forming a mock casing.

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