BLIND STITCH Hem {How to Sew a Blind Hem, Machine & Hand}

A blind stitch hem is a fantastic way to create an invisible hem for your projects. If you look in your cupboard you are bound to find several pairs of pants and a skirt or two that use this technique. Traditionally a blind stitch hem was done by hand but did you know that you can stitch invisibly on most modern machines? Learn how to sew a hem that is invisible!

Blind Stitch Hem Tutorial

What is a Blind Stitch Hem?

A blind stitch hem is simply a hem where the stitches are not showing on the outside of the garment. The invisibility is enhanced by using a matching thread and creating minute vertical stitches that blend into the fabric. It is particularly successful in patterned fabrics that are light to mediumweight.

Blind hems are also called invisible stitch hems.

When to Use a Blind Stitch Hem?

Blind hems are best suited to straight hems such as those found on a skirt or pant legs. A blind hem should be used where you require a wider hem with an invisible finish on the right side of the garment. If you have a round hem or are using really thick fabric, it would be best to use a bias tape hem rather than a blind stitch hem.

Blind Stitch Hem vs Ladder (Slip) Stitch

The blind stitch outlined in this article is purely for sewing the hems on pants and skirts. If you are looking for an invisible stitch to sew seams shut with (for example on stuffed toys or on a lined garment), then you need a ladder stitch or a slip stitch which is created by hand stitching the seam with small stitches.

Supplies to Sew a Blind Hem

In order to sew a blind hem, you don't really need any fancy supplies. Here is a rundown of the essentials.

• Blind Hem Presser Foot
• Matching Thread
• Basic Sewing Supplies - Sewing machine, scissors, thread.

Best Thread to Sew a Blind Hem:

• The whole point of doing a blind hem is to make it invisible so make sure your thread matches as closely as possible. If you can't find a match, going darker is normally best, but trust your instinct.
• Your thread should be strong since the stitches will need to be gently pulled through the fabric in the last step. (Read: Sewing thread types)
• Specialty blind hemming thread is available but I generally just use a strong polyester thread such as Rasant or Coats.

Best Foot to Sew a Blind Stitch Hem:

Most mid-range machines come with a blind hem foot in their kit but you can also use an all-purpose sewing foot or a zig-zag foot

The main difference between the blind hem foot is that it has a guide to help you stitch straight. Equally good results can be found with a regular sewing foot and the careful use of a ruler. Having a good eye helps too - I always find myself drifting left when sewing so anything with a guide helps keep me on track.

Sewing Supplies

All you need is your basics - a ruler, some pins, and an iron! If you are just learning how to sew, read my article on beginner sewing kit.

Adjusting the Length of the Pattern for Blind Hem Stitch

Because a blind hem works best on wider hems of over 1 inch (2.5cm), you may need to add a little extra seam allowance to your hem if it was originally designed for a narrower hem.

Just check your pattern for the current hem allowance and adjust accordingly.

How to Sew a Blind Stitch Hem (By Machine) Step by Step Instructions

Step 1 - Press The Raw Edge

If you are using a lightweight fabric, press the raw edge of the hem up by ¼ inch (6mm) on the wrong side.

Alternatively, if your fabric is really bulky you could simply serger or zig-zag the edge. If you use your serger, just be careful to only cut the minimum amount from the raw edge.

Step 2: Press the Folded Hem Again

On the wrong side of the fabric, press the edge up again by the seam allowance. Here I am making a 1 inch (2.5cm) wide hem. Place pins along the hem vertical to the edge as shown.

Step 3: Fold Backwards

Fold the hem under towards the back so about ⅛ inch (3mm) is poking out of the edge.

Step 4 - Select the Blind Hem Stitch

Make sure your machine is threaded with a matching thread for the best results. Now set your machine on the blind stitch setting. You will want a stitch width of 2-3 and a stitch length of 2-3.

This is what the stitches generally look like. There will be some variations between machine brands and not all machines will have a stretch fabric blind hem option.

Step 5 - Stitch the Blind Hem

Most machines will come with a special presser foot for blind hemming. If your machine doesn’t have one don’t worry – you will just have to concentrate a little harder to sew straight.

Position the fabric underneath your machine so that the zig-zag part of the stitch just pieces through the folded top edge of the fabric.

If you have a blind stitch foot the guide will be aligned with the folded edge. Keep it aligned as you sew. Make sure you don’t sew over your pins!

I have used a contrasting thread color so you can see the stitching more easily but you should be using a matching thread.

Step 6 - Fold Down the Hem

Fold the hem down. The stitches will pull vertically very slightly. This is what it looks like on the front and back.

Final Tip for Sewing a Blind Stitch Hem

If you give your fabric a good press it will help meld the stitches into the hem making them even more invisible. Use some steam or water spray if it is a stubborn crease across the stitching anchors.

I used a contrast stitch so you could see what I was doing, but here is the same fabric with a matching thread. Invisible or at least nearly invisible!

Blind Hem by Hand

If you want to do a blind stitch hem by hand there are several ways you can do this. Below is how to do a blind hem by hand using a similar method to that done above with the sewing machine.

Read my article on the best hemming stitches.

• Step 1 - Measure and fold a double fold hem to suit the required length of your garment. 
• Step 2 - Fold the folded hem back to the right side leaving ⅛” (3mm) showing over the top of the folded fabric. 
• Step 3 - Hide the knot of your thread in the fold.
• Step 4 - With the needle, catch a small bit of the fabric in the folded edge.  (Next to but not inside the hem.) Catch in just one layer of fabric.
• Step 5 - Move the needle ½” (12mm) to the left. Pick up a small stitch in the hem. 
• Step 6 - Continue to the end of the hem.
• Step 7 - Fold the hem down and press.

More Hem Articles

1. GENERAL HEMS – How to Sew a Hem 
2. NARROW HEMS – Sew a Narrow Hem
3. ROLLED HEM FOOT – How to Use a Rolled Hem Foot
4. WIDE HEMS – How to Sew Wide Hems
5. CIRCULAR HEMS – How to Sew Round Hems
6. BLIND HEMS – How to Sew a Blind Hem
7. RUFFLED HEMS – Lettuce Hems
8. KNIT FABRIC HEMS – How to Hem Knit Fabric, Catch Stitch
9. KNIT HEMS – Twin Needle
10. SQUARE HEMS – How to Sew Mitered Corners
11. HAND HEMS – Hemming Stitch
12. NO SEW HEMS - How to Use Hemming Tape
13. SIMPLE HEMS - Single Fold Hems
14. DOUBLE HEMS - Double Fold Hems
15. BIAS - Bias Tape Hems
16. SCALLOPS - Scalloped Edges
17. INVISIBLE HEMS - Blind Hem Stitch

More Presser Feet

1. Gathering Foot
2. Ruffler
3. Rolled Hem Foot
4. Blind Hem Foot
5. 10 Best Sewing Machine Feet
6. Teflon Foot
7. All-Purpose Foot
8. Walking Foot
9. Binder Foot
10. Edge Stitch Foot