How To Sew A Hem Facing On A Circle Skirt

How to sew a wide hem on a circle skirt using a hem facing

I've got a project I'm working on that has been giving me a headache.  I've been itching to make a half-circle skirt but the hemline is just not turning out as I would like.  It really is impossible to sew a ‘regular' hem when the bottom of the skirt is so curved.  Usually, on a skirt, I would turn in half an inch and press, and then turn up another inch, inch and a half or even two inches on the bottom of a regular skirt, and sew.

But that's not going to work on a circular hemline simply because the length of the hem around the outside is longer than the length of the fabric you are turning into, so it's never going to lie flat.

Image courtesy of the Sewing Loft
Image courtesy of the Sewing Loft

Now you can sew a teeny tiny hem, by pressing up tiny 1/8th inch amounts and using a rolled hem foot.  (See the Sewing Loft article if you want to give this a try.) But the way my iron spews boiling hot water and steam randomly out of the front exactly where my fingers are, I didn't fancy my chances, and neither do I own the rolled hem foot.  And I really wanted a wide hem on this project.

So the only way to do this is with a hem facing.  The same as you can sew a facing to the neckline or armhole of a dress to get a neat finish and hide the raw edges, you can also sew a facing to the hemline of a circle skirt!  Who would have thought it?  But it's not difficult and creates a beautiful finish, even on lightweight fabrics, and it creates the wide hemline I was looking for.

Creating your facing pattern

The facing piece for the bottom of the skirt is basically exactly the same as the bottom of the skirt.  So making a pattern piece is easy.  Once you have used your pattern piece to cut all of the main pieces of the skirt, you can use the same for the facing.   I wanted a 1.5-inch wide hem.

How to sew a wide hem on a circle skirt using a hem facing

I folded my pattern for the circle skirt quarter into 4 and along the bottom, marked a line 2 inches away from the bottom of the skirt,  1.5 inches for the hem, and 0.5 for the seam. Then I simply chopped off the bottom of the skirt pattern to create the pattern piece for the facing.  Mine was a self-drafted pattern anyway, but if yours is a pattern you might want to use again make sure to copy or trace the pattern first before you go cutting it into pieces!

Voila, one skirt hemline facing pattern.  Cut your hem-facing pieces and join them in the same way you have joined the main skirt pieces, using the same seam allowance.

How to sew a wide hem on a circle skirt using a hem facing

Sewing the skirt hem facing

First, we need to finish the raw edge on the facing pieces, on the inside or shorter edge of the facing.  If you have a serger, go ahead and use that, or if you have a regular sewing machine, neaten the raw edge to prevent fraying with a zig-zag finish, or like I did with the overcasting stitch. Then give it a press because we want everything to lie as flat as possible.

Now match up the raw edges, the bottom of the skirt with the bottom of the facing, right sides together.  Pin to stop any shifting about on slippery or lightweight fabrics and take care not to stretch those bias pieces.  Stitch the two together with a 1/2-inch seam.

How to sew a wide hem on a circle skirt using a hem facing

Now give the seam a good press, pressing both of the allowances towards the facing.

How to sew a wide hem on a circle skirt using a hem facing

All about understitching. What is it, why and how do you do it?

Next comes the understitching.  This is also a technique used on neckline and arm-facing pieces to stop them from peeking out and will help us get the perfect smooth edge without the facing showing on our hemline.  With the seam allowances facing up, stitch through to join them to the facing, right through the middle of the seam allowance.

How to sew a wide hem on a circle skirt using a hem facing

Time to go back to the iron and this time, press the facing up towards the main body of the skirt, and with the help of the understitching, you should be able to see that the facing is neatly hidden and creates a perfect bottom edge to the skirt.  As you press, make sure everything is nice and flat, and pin the facing in place.

How to sew a wide hem on a circle skirt using a hem facing

Now back to the machine, and with the facing upwards, stitch close to the top edge, keeping an even distance from the bottom of the skirt, and there you are.  A beautifully finished skirt hemline on a curved skirt, but with a nice wide hem.  Give it a final press and admire your work.

How to sew a wide hem on a circle skirt using a hem facing

This technique can also be used to lengthen a skirt when you don't have much hem allowance to turn down because it just loses a half inch from the bottom and the facing can be a different fabric because it's hidden inside.

I'm still working on developing the pattern for this skirt.  If it turns out nicely, I'll share it with you soon.  If it doesn't I'll pretend it never happened 😉


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Anne
Anne

Look up ban roll hem. Try Downtown Tailoring on YouTube. ban rol is sold to put in waistbands but you can make a perfect rolled hem easily with this product.

quilter's momma
quilter's momma

Just what i was looking for for my granddaughter’s skirt. The skirt was plain gray, so I did the hem in pink. You can’t see it when she is walking, but it looks cute when she spins and her pink shorts peek out

Carolyn
Carolyn

Hello Betty,

Thank you for this, it was exactly what I was looking for. Just one thing, you called the hem facing a “bias” piece – have you cut it on the bias? Just wondering.

thanks,
Carolyn

stef
stef

À propos of hem facings and cutting on the bias. In her book Power Sewing Sandra Betzina suggests cutting a wide piece of fabric on the bias, the same length as the bottom of the skirt. The piece is then folded in half and used as a hem facing.

Lorraine

Oh Deby. You may just be my new favourite sewing blogger! I love your tutorials, they’re so clear for those of us who are self-taught, and your projects are lovely. I just went through your site and downloaded a ton of project ideas. Now all I need is time to play!! You’re such an inspiration, thank you for all your hard work in bringing us tutorials. I am trying the circle skirt first, I think, if I have a large enough piece of fabric… and I’ve never understitched before in my life so I’m looking forward to trying something new. 🙂

Suzan

You do the best tutorials, Deby! I was so happy to see the portion about understitching. It is a technique that works so well and I seldom see anyone using it.

Mariana

Ooooh! Yes, a circle skirt! I want one, too! The hem facing is a nice touch. I finished one half-circle skirt once, using a bias tape and an invisible hand-stitch, just to avoid turning the hem twice 😉

Jo
Jo

Hi Deby,
Once again a really clearly explained tutorial.

I’ve been following your site for a few months now and your gift for explaining techniques simply is fantastic! I hadn’t sewn in years due to a dodgy sewing machine and dodgy sewing skills ending in disappointing results all the time. Your Danielle dress was what caught my eye and got me going again. It was simple, flattering for my pear shaped postnatal body and looked achievable for me. I’ve since bought a good secondhand machine and am loving it!! It’s so different being able to search the net for instructions when I get stuck. And of course learning to just jump in and have ago rather than agonise too long! I just made your pencil skirt last week. I’m very happy with a well fitting skirt!!

Thanks Deby. You really have opened up a fresh new avenue of creativity (and a well fitting wardrobe) for me. You’re a real blessing.
🙂

anneweaver1974

Beautiful hem! I usually go for a narrow hem on a circle skirt, but your wide hem looks more finished. I’ve got a Craft Gossip post scheduled for tomorrow morning that links to your tutorial:
http://sewing.craftgossip.com/tutorial-give-a-circle-skirt-a-wide-hem-using-a-hem-facing/2014/09/29/
–Anne

paulineperry65

What beautiful fabric you have used for your skirt – like the colours too. Is this procedure also known as a false hem? I did this on my daughter’s wedding dress when there was not enough for a decent hem.
Pauline

yvettechilcott
yvettechilcott

Great tutorial! I’m thinking that the hem facing could probably be hemmed using the blind hem stitch on most sewing machines.

Diane
Diane

Excellent tutorial. Even I, as a sewing beginner, could understand! Thank you.

Loretta Clark
Loretta Clark

I’m just getting back into sewing after many years. You are such an inspiration & wonderful teacher. I’ve been buying classes from Craftsy too to give you credit. You’re not only a great help, but you’re beautiful too! What a combination.

Gracie
Gracie

I LOVE how you explain things so simply and completely! Nice job!

judy
judy

super job teaching.
I had to do this for a lady that had a high end Trumpet dress for a wedding. I had to cut off the bottom and reuse the hem facing because it had horsehair stiffener inside it. The only difference was the band was hand stitched to inside. I love your website you share your love of sewing, It comes through in your teaching so well.
thank you
Judy H sewing in NH USA

Cathee - St. Peters, MO
Cathee - St. Peters, MO

I feel exactly the same way about sewing. AND, I also agree with your other comment, “If it doesn’t turn out nicely, I will pretend it never happened!” Love following you. You do a fantastic job explaining techniques.

kathy Steffler
kathy Steffler

Great idea…and VERY well written tutorial. I’m so happy to receive your messages.

Dell Culver
Dell Culver

Brilliant. I’ve been sewing for many years (and made circle skirts when younger) and never would have thought of this method.
Dell

Kelly
Kelly

Thank you for the alternative method. It certainly would help with the bias edges. I always hate trying to get an even hem on those rounded edges anyway. However, I’d like to note that there is another way to do it that works too. I’m sorry that I’m a bit fuzzy on the details, but it involves using hem ribbon and uses only a blind hem stitch, so the thread doesn’t show as much. It’s on the Craftsy class called Sewing Vintage: The Flirty Day Dress. She uses this method on the circle skirt hem of the Tia Dress.

Mary
Mary

This is a great technique for a machine stitched hem in more casual applications, but an “old fashioned” hand stitched hem still wins , in my opinion, for fancier looks. Of course it’s best using primarily natural fabrics, but using a running stitch to ease in fabric like done in setting a sleeve makes a beautiful, soft hemline.

Marthese
Marthese

I use to use this trick when I was a bit short on fabric or wanted to lengthen a skirt or dress but I always used bias binding

cweetgal
cweetgal

Well explained Deby.. I love this method as I always hem my skirts like this. Execially when they are heavy or medium weight fabrics.. What is the material of the fabric yo have used here?

Betty
Betty

Terrific tutorial!! I’m just getting back into sewing after many years, and I love your website.

Betty
Betty

Yes, I sewed one years ago and my mother helped me. She was an extraordinary seamstress … come to think of it, she may have done something similar. I remember facing, so probably. Sorry, I simply can’t remember. 🙂

robindrush

Good tutorial. It ‘s a good alternative for hemming skirts to avoid those slanted ridges.