By learning how to a hem a skirt yourself, you'll find it is unecessary to pay out money having your clothes professionally altered.

You might also want to go through your closet and make alterations to clothes you no longer wear because they are the wrong length. This is very simple to do with basic sewing skills, minimum materials and by following these easy instructions.

If you have sewn a straight line before or simply know how to use a needle and thread, are familiar with the use of scissors and an iron, then you can alter your own clothes to exactly how you want them. If you can follow these simple instructions you will quickly learn how to hem a skirt.

You will want to gather the following items before you begin:

• Seam Ripper
• Ironing Board
• Iron
• Dressmaker Pins
• Pin Cushion
• Tailors Chalk
• Needle
• Thimble
• Appropriate coloured sewing thread
• Scissors

Now that you have the materials you need, and understand the level of skill required, your are ready to start your skirt hemming project.

The existing hem of the skirt will need to be "ripped out" and for this you will use the seam ripper. Be careful not to tear any fabric when removing the old stitches.

Now iron out any visible hem creases and you are ready to measure the required length.

Put your skirt on and stand in front of a full length mirror, using dressmaker pins determine the length required, you may want to enlist the help of a friend to place the pins while you stand up straight. Otherwise, pin carefully yourself, stand up straight and keep adjusting until you are happy with the length achieved.

Now follow the hemline with a tailors chalk to determine where the "hem fold" will be, turn hem up at that point and secure using dressmaker pins and iron the crease into the fabric as required. Should the hemmed back section be more than 1 inch then cut back the hem to 1 inch.

You can now machine or hand stitch the hem into place.

Stitch using a sewing machine

1. Make sure your machine has a blind-hemming stitch setting.
2. Turn hem under and baste ½ inch below the hem edge as a substitute for pins.
3. Ensure you have the "wrong" side of the fabric facing up
4. Position fabric so that the straight stitches of the blind-hemming stitch fall on the hem and the zigzag stitches catch the fold.

Stitching by Hand

1. Work a blind-hemming stitch by hand from right to left.
2. Fold back the edge of the hem and fasten thread inside it.
3. Make a small stitch in the main body, then one in the hem. Keep stitches ¼ inch apart and especially small when taken through the garments main body.
4. Continue to alternate in this manner until hem is sewn.