Rolled Hemmer Foot

This foot for Bernina works on the same principle as the flat felled foot.  I received so many requests about curved and special parts of hems, that I did a short little video to show how to do this.

Basically, this isn't all that difficult, but you just take it slowly through the difficult parts, and even though you are sewing slower than you might normally in sewing a seam, it is still much faster, much more efficient, and you have a much better result than if you were to do this by hand.  Believe me, I've done it by hand. (and by hand, I mean having to turn up the dang hem and pin it every 2" or 3" to get it to stay up while you sew the seam down.)  The foot makes it so much more uniform and professional looking.

The other method to be aware of is that you will curve this just slightly as you follow the curve of a hem - the same way you would as if you were putting in a blind hem, or any other type of hem in a curved hem.  I prefer to keep the left edge of the foot about ¹/₂" to ⁵/₈" from the edge of the fabric.  This allows enough fabric for a nice roll - too much (or too deep a hem) will cause the fabric roll to buckle and have tucks in it (not good!).  Too little hem allowance and there won't be enough to tuck under the fold and the raw edge will fold out.

Think about this for a minute....this isn't that difficult.  If you were just folding up hem and sewing one fold, you would curve around the seam to follow the curve of the hem.

 

You do exactly the same thing with the rolled hemmer...follow that same curve of the hem (or the edge of the fabric.)  If your hem is thick in some places and shallow in others, then you will need to cut the hem so it is the same thickness all the way around.  It's impossible to stick more fabric into the hem (on a thicker hem) without the hemmer causing the hem to buckle which will make the hem look sloppy.

Take out a piece of muslin and practice this.  This is often what design schools will direct you to do to learn a new or what may seem awkward technique.  After you learn it and can get a couple of good hems behind you, believe me you will get the hang of this.

Enjoy!

Comments

[Jennifer]

Thanks for the tutorial- it was great.

[Sigrid]

Great video. Thanks Claire.

[Ann's Fashion Studio]

Great great great tutorial.

[Gwensews]

That was a wonderful tutorial. Thank you so much.

[Fiona]

thank you so much for this video! i couldn't figure out how to use my foot, and i needed to do a narrow hem for a dress at work. still having a bit of trouble with the seams tho...practice practice practice =)

[Lisa]

Wow, thanks! This is just what I needed! The instructions that came with the rolled hem foot that I bought weren't very helpful at all. Now I think I can get that prom dress hemmed that I need to get done!

[Adriana]

Hi Claire! I love your tutorial, and will be very gratefull if you will explain us how to do the "corners" on a silk chiffon scarf.....Thank you so much!!!