How to Determine the Appropriate Width of a Hem for a Garment
- 1). Put on the garment that needs to be hemmed.
- 2). Put on the shoes you will most regularly wear with the garment. If you are hemming a pair of dress slacks, wear dress shoes. If you are wearing high-heeled shoes, make sure you are wearing a pair when you measure as it will impact measurements. If the garment you are hemming is a shirt, wear proper-fitting undergarments.
- 3). Fold over the ends of the garment so the material hits where you desire. For pants, the fabric should end at the top of the front of the shoe and cover part of the heel in the back. If you are hemming a skirt, the hem should be either 2 inches above the knee or mid-calf length. Shirts can be hemmed at whatever length you are comfortable.
- 4). Pin the material with straight pins at the correct length.
- 5). Remove the garment and turn the item inside out so the pinned hem is facing you.
- 6). Measure the width of the hem using a measuring tape. If your hem is more than 3 inches wide, you will need to trim the material before hemming. A hem that is wider than that will look awkward. Hems are traditionally 1 1/2 to 2 inches wide.
Source...