Hand-Rolled Hems Class Overview

Welcome to “Hand-Rolled Hems.” This on-demand class is a recording of a live class from December 2021. This class will walk your through how to make a handkerchief with a delicate hand-rolled hem.

 Materials and Supplies

For the live class I collaborated with Zadie Grossman to curate a kit of white linen. You will hear me reference this in the recording. Those kits are sold out but this is all you need to get the same materials in the kit:

Linen

  • 1 yard of handkerchief weight white linen. Click here.

Thread

Needles

Beeswax

  • A beeswax candle will do. Or you can buy here.

Pins

Spray starch

  • This will be used to stabilize the fabric for sewing. Make it or buy it. Here is a nice choice but any will do.

Dressmakers shears: 8 inches.

  • My favorite shears are from William Whiteley and Co. in England who preserve the scissor making craft. Buy them here!

Small snips: Look for “embroidery” scissors.

  • My favorite small scissors are from William Whiteley and Co. in England who preserve the scissor making craft. Buy them here!

Soft measuring tape

Pencil or chalk

Thimble (optional but encouraged): Should fit on the middle finger of your dominate hand. Not too tight but not too loose it falls off. Learn how to use one here!

  • Where to buy: Antique malls, eBay, etsy, Lacis has a fantastic stock here.

Hand-Rolled Hems Class

This class has several different key moments to go specific sections here are the time stamps:

Introduction 0:00-8:27

Definition and applications of hand-rolled hems 8:28-16:56

Dimensions of hand-rolled hemmed items and sample piece for class 16:57-20:35

Materials and supplies overview 20:35-26:11

Cutting out hankies and sample 29:41-1:28:11

Cutting sample 1:30:30-1:35:00

Practice rolling the fabric 1:43:00-2:02:00

Practice hemming 2:02:51-2:33:40

Practicing rolled hems 2:41:50-2:56:00

Rolled hems around the corner of fabric 2:57:48-3:08:00