A Highly Underrated Seam Finish

Back in the day, humble lace hem tape was the popular way to attractively finish hems.  That technique has largely been replaced with super-fast clean finishing with sergers.  While I was finishing up my most recent garment, a skirt, I was reminded why this lovely finish was at one time so popular.  After turning up a narrow hem I wanted a way to cleanly finish the edge without adding the extra bulk that a double fold would have made.  I contemplated binding the edge but chose, instead, to cover the raw edge of the skirt with lace.  I didn't have in my stash any packaged lace hem tape but I did have some pretty cotton lace edging that I bought in bulk several years ago.  I thought it would do the job nicely.

I sewed the lace header to the skirt by machine and finished the hem by hand sewing the delicate, picot-like edge to the skirt's underlining by hand.  I think this makes for a lovely, feminine finish, and reminds me of the beautiful lace-trimmed undergarments once worn by women.  It feels like a little secret but adds an element of surprise if the hem is exposed during wearing.

This got me imagining all of the fun things you could use to finish your hems, including little bits of vintage lace edging.  I'm sure I've got some in a box somewhere.

I have, at last, finished this skirt that I've been working on for weeks now.  I'm working on a post for next week to share that with you.  You can have a little sneak peak of some of the details in the picture that opens this post.  Till then. . . .

Comments

[Cheryl]

Thank you! I just referenced this post for a flower girl dress I'm making; I couldn't find any other information about this anywhere else. I think lace on the inside of the hem is just the ticket to make it extra special.

[Elisa]

This seam is beautiful! I love the detail. Something you would not find in a ready made garment.