help? hemming a mens dress shirt
 

my dad wants me to hem up is dress shirt 1/2 inch, but i'm not sure i cut the entire original hem out or just take it up and re-sew. i'm fairly new to sewing garments and don't wanna mess up the entire shirt. anyhelp from you seasoned sewers? or garment sewers?

thanks so much
keena

I would cut the shirt tail off and put a new hem if, IF I would consent to rehem a men's dress shirt for a measly 1/2 " difference at all. Doesn't he wear his dress shirt tucked into his slacks like everyone else? What is the deal with 1/2"?

only 1/2 inch would mean you should take the current hem apart. then press and measure again, mark with chalk marker, pin up and sew. you need enough fabric to fold over once, just like it is now. good luck. Cleaners do alterations if this is too much for you.

Unless the shirt bottom is straight, I would pay to have some else do it. I only make quilts and sew on a button, every so often.

I agree with the others, in that it seems rather strange, to want a dress shirt hemmed only 1/2". If it's a curved shirttail, it really isn't that difficult (the hem is "rolled", stitched, then pressed) but just makes no sense, as it's tucked in. Even if it's the type that's worn outside the pants, 1/2" too long isn't even noticeable. Eat a big meal and it's 1/2" shorter. Breathe in, it's 1/2" shorter. Raise arms, it's at least 1/2" shorter.

Well it sounds like it must be your punishment for something!<o:p></o:p>
If you fall for it,,,,,,, if I made one from scratch I would straight stitch the fabric then turn it up and stitch or I would straight stitch and then put it in a rolled hem foot.<o:p></o:p>
But not for ½” to humor him!!!!<o:p></o:p>

I put this in the same category with "Will you sew on a button for me? Please? Pretty pretty please?" My answer...yeah, but I can assure you that you won't like the way it looks...I'M A QUILTER, NOT AN ALTERATIONISTA!!!!! I'm afraid your dad would just have to take care of this one himself....

A measly 1/2 inch? Is he pulling your leg? I made garments for more than 40 years and would never take the time to raise a hem 1/2". If it's a standard man's dress shirt, you will have to ease the fullness in the curves. More work than it's worth. I hope he's kidding! Good luck! :)

A half an inch to your elders is half an inch. I would hem it. What I do, is cut exactly right above the existing hem all the way around. It is probably a 1/4" hem? Then I would use a chalk line and measure and mark 1/4" above the cut line. Take the edge and fold up to touch the chalk line. Press this down. This is where a Clover mini iron comes in handy. Then, go around and fold up the edge again. Press. Sew the hem. You have just hemmed up 1/2". May not be professional, but it works for me. I have changed many hemlines on men's shirts. Mainly because when my DH gives my sons newer used dress shirts, they are too long as DH is 6'2" and my sons are 5'10" and 5'11". At the curves near the side seams, you may have to snip one or two 1/8" snips on the fabric edge to be able to ease the curve and fold over for the hem. I have not had any issues doing this, and it does work.

Hey, No biggie, just cut the old hem off and then do another rolled hem (fold 1/4" then fold second time and sew) I just do it by eye ball and fold and fold then sew so I keep folding and sewing till it is done! Do one see how he likes it and then you can do the rest. He will so love you for it.

Yeah, really! I'm thinking your dad is like mine was. He wants something done and you should do it because he said so. I can't imagine either what 1/2" would matter, except that he doesn't have anything else to worry about except this. If you have the time and want to humor him, I would remove the hem, cut some off and rehem it. Or, this might be the point where you can see it's not about the hem, but his making sure you will do something he wants. Maybe the time is better spent taking him out for ice cream.

This sounds like the best way to me!

I don't mind mending for family but 1/2 " on a shirt hem I would tell him to tuck it in.