Hoppo Bumpo (n): A children's game. Played by folding one's arms and hopping on one leg. Aim is to bump opponents, so that they lose their balance. Last person standing wins.


April 01, 2009

A-hem ... may I have your attention ...



Please select the correct answer.
A hem is:

  1. The noise you make when clearing your throat
    Sample usage: A-Hem. What's going on here? (pointing to floor)

  2. An accusation used by small children
    Sample usage: It wasn't me that poured that all over the floor; it was Hem (pointing to brother)

  3. A song frequently mimed due to poor eyesight and small print
    Sample usage: Please turn to Hem number ...

  4. Neatened lower edge of a garment or other sewn item. Generally turned up and held in place by a safety pin stitching

If you have an interest in hems of the sewn variety, please visit in the coming weeks when I will conduct a series of completely haphazard hem experiments (in the same line as Seam Along).

There will be a veritable hem-o-rama of blind hems, hem facings, rolled hems, covered hems .... and more. Both the sewing machine and overlocker will be gainfully employed and I will be using soft lens photography to pass off some very dodgy hand sewing. And, when I work up the courage, there will be a sprinkling of tricks like mitring corners and turning up tapers.

I might even show you some of my very own secret short-cuts ... the ones you won't hear about in your sewing class or in books. (Think of the potential of the humble staple, here people).

Next Wednesday: Starting at the beginning. I will be looking at the the basic turned up hem on both woven and stretch fabrics. Hope you will come back for Hem-Along!

19 comments:

  1. NOW you tease me with mitred corner hems! Saturday was when I neede that information. (Sigh) I shall just have to come back next week then.

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  2. I look forward to it! My best effort at hems thus far has been Micropore Tape, which is a papery kind of tape found in hospital environments, very handy at holding up those pesky droopy hems, even through several washes!

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  3. I am so interested in this. I am not a big fan of hemming. Any tips much appreciated!

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  4. Oooh Ahhh I cann't wait for this one! I have lots of pants to make for little boys this winter so I need all the hem help I can get.

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  5. My last hemming activity involved lots of masking tape. In fact, I think it's still there.... I ought to check!

    I sure could do with some skill improvement...

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  6. Don't tell anyone but I once used sticky tape. EEE-gads.

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  7. I am a bodger as well, I look forward to this as I actually put projects off if I don't enjoy part of it, as in 'hems', Yuk!

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  8. Be sure I'll be here!
    Even not commenting! :)
    These "alongs" are essential for me.

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  9. I had no idea there were so many types of hems!!!! You are quite the boffin!

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  10. Sticky tape (the wide kind) is also quite useful in an emergency! I had a pair of pants sticky taped up for about six months before I got around to fixing them properly. The sticky tape even survived the washing!

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  11. I found you yesterday and real all the Seam Along posts - loved them! Thank you. Looking forward to the hems, I have a skirt that is much too long (I barely grace 5'2") but I so wanted to wear it that I pulled it up to my ribcage and pinned it. Fortunately(?) I have a mommy tummy so it stayed just fine. Never thought it was a benefit to have a waist be bigger than a ribcage!

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  12. I really like series this like. Looking forward to your future posts! BTW, I mentioned you on my blog today :)

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  13. Oooh, I could do with some help on hems.

    BTW could you get on with setting up an Etsy shop already? I have two little boys who desperately need some nice hand-made pants!! By the time I get around to sewing them some, they'll be teenagers.

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  14. Thank you thank you thank you! I cannot wait for your hemming tips. I am getting more adventurous with my overlocker now, and have even bought and pre-washed some stretch fabric to make a tshirt with. However I'm nervous about the hemming (mine doesn't do cover stitch), so I can't wait for your tutorials! Oh, and to top it off, I am doing a praying mantis freezer paper stencil on my tshirt ;-)

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  15. I am really looking forward to seeing this series! I enjoyed your last...it is great to see all the options and learn!

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  16. Oh I'm there. Front row seat for me. I've done white colored overlocking on black pants (too lazy to change the spools), the double-sided or rolled sticky tape and the stapler method.

    Nothing more embarassing than when the hem on a pair of dark tailored work trousers falls down to expose a white colored tape hanging to the floor, in the middle of a presentation for all the room to see...

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Thanks for dropping by! I love hearing what people have to say. Leave a comment if you like.