Replies

1. 
   kjp | Feb 13, 2005 12:38am | #1

   Since it's an evening dress, I would serge the edge to give you a clean finish and then hand stitch the hem.  However, I've seen more and more serger finishes on formal wear in ready-to-wear.  You would have to play with the differential feed if you use a narrow hem on your serger.  I also like to use wooly nylon in the looper.  Hmm - as I think of it, a rolled hem or narrow hem using wooly nylon might be very subtle and quick! 

1. 
   ma7 | Feb 13, 2005 01:08am | #2

   I have never used wooley nylon in my serger.  What would it look like just serged and then turned up a scant 1/4" and sewn on the sewing machine?  That would be fast too.  I have seen serged edges on evening wear too but I guess I am too fussy for that kind of a hem.  I like it hidden a bit.  This is a crinkled stretch velvet and the stitches pretty much disappear.  M A

1. 
   FitnessNut | Feb 13, 2005 03:16am | #3

   I, too, dislike the idea of a serged finish on evening wear. If the stitches pretty well disappear into the texture of the fabric, why don't you consider serging the edge, turning up a hem and machine blind hemming it? It would be fast, secure and virtually invisible. Otherwise, I would hand stitch the hem. I suggest experimenting on a scrap to see if you like the effect.

2. 
   kjp | Feb 13, 2005 10:34pm | #4

   I also think the blind hem would be your best bet.  I take it you don't like to hand sew.  I usually prefer a hand stitched hem, but if the stitches disappear, you'll get the same look in a fraction of the time!  Good luck!

1. 
   mem1 | Feb 14, 2005 07:56am | #5

   I have yo say that a serged rolled hem wouldbe fine particularly if you want to take advantage of the lettuce edge which is often seen on stretch fabric garments . Does the skirt flutter out at the bottom or is it more tailored?

2. 
   suesew | Feb 20, 2005 02:39am | #6

   I have an ankle length stretch velvet that I hemmed with a double needle so it looks like a serger coverstitch. I folded up the hem about an inch and stitched with a double needle from the top. I wouldn't have thought to use this which is used on sport knit hems all the time but I saw it on RTW and it looked great.