How To: Split Hem Finish

What seems like eons ago now, ( just before The Refashioners took over my blog!) I promised a “how to” on this split hem finish….

As is often the case with me it was a happy accident born of a bodge up! A solution to a too short top that I ended up quite liking!

So in this instance I’m making another Maya top. At this stage everything is finished, except the hem which I have overlocked to limit any fraying.  I cut long /wide strips from my leftover fabric, just a little bit wider than the top, laid flat. The bands folded in half RS together.

I measured from side seam to side seam on my top…

And marked this width on my fabric…

Using those marks as a guide I drew out my bands. A line perpendicular from the folded edge at either end (where I just marked the width of the top). In this instance about 6cm from the folded edge. Then those joined  up with one long line.

Cut 2 bands. One for the front. One for the back. (Measure both the front and back of the shirt as these can differ depending on style). I cut my back band a bit wider for an asymmetric look. I pinned along the long open edge to stop everything moving about and left my original markings in place as a stitching guide…

Just sewing the short edges at either end of the band (not the long edge) stitch directly on top of that pen line, press and trim the excess right down for turning…

Turn through, poke out corners and press thoroughly…

And you have your two bands 🙂

Now just attach them the the hem of your top. Line up the open edges of your bandwith the unfinished edge of the hem. Have the bands meet at the side seams. Pin in place at this point in particular and all along the edge…

Serge/Stitch in place. Flip down and press…

 

Done!!