Thread: Wired hem skirts

Has anyone here tried making a full circle skirt with a wired hem? If so, how'd you do it? I've been thinking of giving it a try. I usually do a narrow rolled hem on my skirts (same as described on Shira's web site). I was thinking when I roll the unfinished edge under and pin, that I would feed the wire in then. I think it's acutally fishing line that is used, not wire.

Anyone got any tips?

I do the hemming and add the fishing line in one step, much faster and easier. I leave at least 1" of fishing line exposed on all ends and use a tight zigzag stitch. I pull the fabric taunt as I stitch, the fabric being stretched causes the curl of the fishing line to be more pronounced.

To keep the fishing line from slipping out I do an extra step. I fold the 1" of fishing line along the stitching lines and tack it in place. I heat the fold with a hair dryer so the bend is flat and add a dab of Elmer's or FrayCheck to hold everything in place.

What size fishing line do you usually use txchic?

Sorry, forgot that info. Have to look, haven't used it in a while. I recall it was certainly not the heaviest I saw in the fishing dept. (Only time I visited that part of any store was for such a project. I was en route home from a gig wearing a floor-length raincoat over my costume. I did notice a few unusual looks but while dressing I noticed the fishing line in my Pharaonics skirt was pulling out. Had to shop before I forgot.)

I will PM you that info later, hopefully today. For some reason 10 pound line is sticking in my mind but I could be wrong. Best for me to check.

OMG, that is too funny. Yes, let me know when you have a minute. I'm not in a big hurry, it's just something I want to try.

There is a lot of good info in this thread:

http://www.bhuz.com/forum/m/2791-wir...ight=wired+hem

Oh, thanks Fayrouz, that was helpful. I don't have a serger, so I'm trying to piece together how to do it without.

You could use a zig-zag stitch with the wire inside a rolled hem.

do you have to store these kind of skirts differently to avoid bending them? I'd guess the fishing line is pretty resilient, but from what I recall of childhood fishing trips, it can get permanent kinks in it. Does anyone use actual wire?

As far as I know, you're not supposed to hang these skirts. If they're circle skirts, they're going to keep stretching along the bias, which will make the hem uneven. I keep mine in a Rubbermaid bin (larger than shoebox size, but not too huge...I think they're 16 quart size) with some silica gel packets. I've never had any problems with the fishing line getting wonky from storing them this way.