Difficulty

Easy

Steps

10

Time Required

                          15 - 40 minutes

Sections

1

  • How to Reinforce Seams by Hand
  • 10 steps

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Introduction

What you need

Step 1

              How to Reinforce Seams by Hand
  • Turn your clothes inside out and locate the seam you want to reinforce.

Turn your clothes inside out and locate the seam you want to reinforce.

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Step 2

  • Measure the clear elastic so it is a few centimeters longer than the hem you are reinforcing.

Measure the clear elastic so it is a few centimeters longer than the hem you are reinforcing.

Step 3

  • Poke a straight pin through the clear elastic and fabric at one end of the seam you are reinforcing.
  • Bend the fabric when part of your pin is through so it is visible on your side again.
  • Make the fabric level so it is not bunched up. Continue this process of putting pins in until you reach the other end of the seam.

Poke a straight pin through the clear elastic and fabric at one end of the seam you are reinforcing.

Bend the fabric when part of your pin is through so it is visible on your side again.

Make the fabric level so it is not bunched up. Continue this process of putting pins in until you reach the other end of the seam.

Step 4

  • Cut the clear elastic so you have a few extra centimeters on both ends.

Cut the clear elastic so you have a few extra centimeters on both ends.

Step 5

  • Thread a sewing needle with a thread color that matches your garment.
  • Pull the thread through so that the string is longer than an arm’s length.

Thread a sewing needle with a thread color that matches your garment.

Pull the thread through so that the string is longer than an arm’s length.

Step 6

  • Make sure both string sides are roughly the same length and cut the string that is still connected to the spool of thread.
  • Tie a knot at the end of your string to hold your thread together. Make the knot by forming a circle and putting your sewing needle through it.
  • Cut off the excess thread that is past the knot.

Make sure both string sides are roughly the same length and cut the string that is still connected to the spool of thread.

Tie a knot at the end of your string to hold your thread together. Make the knot by forming a circle and putting your sewing needle through it.

Cut off the excess thread that is past the knot.

Step 7

  • Poke the needle through the back of the fabric at the end of the seam so that it is closer to the top of the clear elastic.
  • Pull the thread through until you feel the knot hit the fabric.

Poke the needle through the back of the fabric at the end of the seam so that it is closer to the top of the clear elastic.

Pull the thread through until you feel the knot hit the fabric.

Step 8

  • Make a zigzag stitch by poking your needle down and to the left (or right if you started on the left).
  • Remove the pins as you are going along if they are getting in your way.
  • Pull your needle until you feel a tug and thread the needle back through around the same hole and continue doing this until you reach the end.

Make a zigzag stitch by poking your needle down and to the left (or right if you started on the left).

Remove the pins as you are going along if they are getting in your way.

Pull your needle until you feel a tug and thread the needle back through around the same hole and continue doing this until you reach the end.

Step 9

  • At the end of the seam, poke the needle through the fabric down then back up so that a small loop forms.
  • Take your needle and put it under the loop and pull. Do this twice to make sure the seam stays.

At the end of the seam, poke the needle through the fabric down then back up so that a small loop forms.

Take your needle and put it under the loop and pull. Do this twice to make sure the seam stays.

Step 10

  • Cut off the excess thread that remains.
  • Your reinforced seam should look something like this.

Cut off the excess thread that remains.

Your reinforced seam should look something like this.

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                    Miguel

Member since: 01/26/2022

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                       CSU Los Angeles, Team 8-4, Briggs Spring 2022                        

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