Today we will be sharing our tips for how to sew a narrow curved hem. We will be sewing View A of the Lela Skirt pattern but this method can also be used for View B. The curve of the Lela Skirt hem was designed in such a way that it is possible to turn the hem twice to the wrong side and does not require a facing or bias facing. (By the way, if you’re curious about how to sew a hem facing, check out this post from the Lou Box Dress 1 sewalong.)
The key tip for sewing a narrow curved hem is to do a line of basting stitches where you want to make the first fold (.25 inch in this case). Then gently pull on the basting stitches to ease the fabric into the second fold of the hem. It takes a little bit of fabric manipulation and patience but it’s not too hard to achieve a nice, flat, wrinkle free curved hem.
In the photos above, you can see the two options for sewing the side seam vent. The wrong side of the fabric may be somewhat visible while you’re wearing the skirt. So, if you don’t want the finishing stitches to be visible, you can fold under the side seam twice. We do it both ways, depending on how friendly the fabric is.
Make sure to check out the rest of the Lela Skirt Sewalong posts and if you haven’t picked up your copy of the pattern yet, head over to the shop. (Btw, it’s also available in a discounted bundle with the Lou Box Top right here.) Happy sewing!
