Blind hems are one of those things that look scary and aren't.  As a new seamstress, the idea of doing a hem that you can't see from the outside seems like some sort of magic you aren't sure that you can do yourself. That's an advanced seamstress technique only, right?  Right? Don't be silly! If you can do a regular hem, you can do a blind hem. So get ready to gather your tools, do a bit of ironing, and sew your first perfect blind hem like a pro!

How to Sew a Blind Hem in 5 Easy Steps

*****First, before you do anything, PIN THIS POST!!*****
Ok, got it pinned on Pinterest? Great! Before we start sewing, let's gather our tools. You will need:

• A sewing machine with a blind stitch function - most modern machines have them. Check your manual or look for this stitch. On my Brother it looks like the picture above.
• A ruler of some sort to measure your folds
• An iron because we want perfectly crisp hems
• Pins or clips to hold those folds in place

• Blind Stitch Foot - This is a "R" foot for my Brother sewing machine.  It may have a different name or label for your machine, but it looks exactly like above.  Most machines come with this foot, but if yours didn't, you can get if for cheap off Amazon through this link.

Alright, on to the good stuff.  I said I would teach you in 5 easy steps so, let's start counting!

Step 1: Fold the bottom main edge wrong sides together 1/2”. Press.

First thing to do is to fold the raw edge you want to hem up 1/2". Typically with a  normal hem you would only fold this 1/4", but we are going to need a little extra room with our stitches which is why 1/2" is needed here.

Step 2: Fold again 1-1/2”. Press and Pin.

OK, this amount honestly could vary.  If you prefer a larger hem, fold more here. If you prefer a narrower hem, then fold less.  The type of silhouette and the type of fabric should determine how small or large your hem is.

Step 3: Fold the entire hem under towards the main side of the fabric leaving 1/4” of the fold showing.

Now here is where we start to divert from a traditional hem. You want to take that entire folded amount and fold it under leaving just a 1/4" of the folded edge showing. This may seem confusing the first time you do it, but it will make sense as we move on in the tutorial.

Step 4: Blind hem the main skirt bottom using the blind hem foot and blind hem stitch on your sewing machine.

Using the blind stitch presser foot on your machine as well as the blind hem stitch, you should be stitching mainly on the fold and catching just a tiny bit of the wrong side of the main fabric. See how the edge of the fold is perfectly aligned with the middle part of the presser foot?  That's what you want. Go slow and be patient to ensure your hem is mostly invisible from the right side.

This is what it will look like from the wrong side when you are done stitching. Notice how the stitched just barely catch the fold of the fabric.  If you are too far over, your hem is not going to lay flat and will be visible.  If you are not over far enough, you will miss the fold entirely and the hem won't be... well... hemmed.



Once you have hemmed all the way around the garment, do a little check to make sure your stitches have hit through the fold.  Have any gaps? No need to take out the stitching, just re-stitch those parts.  The great thing about a blind hem is that its nearly invisible, so its easy to fix the parts where you goofed.  No one will ever notice, and they will think you are a blind hem ninja.

Step 5: Unfold the hem and iron.

Here comes the fun part!  Unfold the last fold you did on the hem and look at your new, beautifully done, blind hem! How perfect is that?  And it only took 5 steps!  I knew you could do it!

Ok, now that you see how easy it is, are you going to blind hem all the things? I have to admit it, this is one of my favorite ways to finish off a garment.  It looks so professional and people always ooh and ahh over it.  Any parts of the tutorial confusing to you? Let me know in the comments!  Also, if you have any other tutorials you have been looking for, let me know as well.  I'm always up to teaching new techniques!