I need to hem the skirt of my gown as it's too long. How far up from the ground should it be with the hoop on? I don't want it to be too long or too short!! Thank you.
It should just grace the ground for most styles.
For practical purposes (as in you don't want every woodchip on the grounds stuck to your hem) 1 to 1 1/2 inches off the ground is good. If you don't have a helper to measure and mark your hem for you, give the skirt length worksheet (http://www.sempstress.org/patterns/math/skirtlengthworksheet.shtml) a try. It worked perfectly for me.
I hem all my skirts 4" off the ground. I got married outdoors in the days of big poofy wedding gowns, and my seamstress told me she always hemmed skirts for outdoor weddings at 4", because it's long enough to cover everything, but not so long as to drag in the ground or risk you stepping on it.
Oh... I can tell you are a LOT younger than me, Gem! 4" off the ground is NORMAL skirt length for daytime me: just about ankle length. Doesn't count as a long skirt, indoors or out. Long is 1/2" off the ground in either flats or heels. I used to wear long skirts all the time back in the 70's when I was a student. I only wore shorter skirts in 6" of snow or the classroom if I was teaching! ;D Not stepping on it is a matter of deportment and management. You cannot stride about as if you were wearing jeans! ;D For me a 'short' skirt is anything mid calf or above.
I got married in 1982, a year after Charles and Di. Now THAT was a Big Poofy Wedding Gown! ;) Mine was based on the Burda copy of that dress, and was hemmed about half an inch off the ground. I failed miserably to step on it all day.
If you look at portraits of the period that show feet, hems DO go up and down a bit, though some of this must be due to artistic license. For practical and aesthetic purposes, I'd opt for an inch off the ground, and remember to lift the skirt a little at the front for going up slopes, lift the back when going down steps, and practice before you wear it all day.
Quote from: Kate XXXXXX on September 30, 2008, 06:26:10 PM
If you look at portraits of the period that show feet, hems DO go up and down a bit, though some of this must be due to artistic license. For practical and aesthetic purposes, I'd opt for an inch off the ground, and remember to lift the skirt a little at the front for going up slopes, lift the back when going down steps, and practice before you wear it all day.
When my neighbors see me walking up and down my driveway dressed in my skirts and a t-shirt I always jsut let them know that I am not really all that crazy - just taking my skirts for a test drive. ;D
I hem my skirts to 1" above the ground for about 12" right in front and 1/2" for the rest.
I always advise brides to test drive their skirts or long frocks if they aren't used to wearing them. And I used to teach 'skirt management' classes when costuming shows involving kids in long frocks.
This is why I dont wear hoops! I am a disaster and trip over every thing!
Good tips to know though!
...So, what would be the easiest way to hem a gown without the help of a dress form?
This gown is obviously too long, and I made due on my wedding day. I only tripped a few times - my Husband stepped on my skirts more than once or twice in the lanes as well ( but not coming down the aisle, thankfully ;) ) causing a 'wardrobe malfunction' that could have proven most embarrassing had one of the Queen's Ladies (also a costumer - what luck!) not come by with some safety pins!
(http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b155/tigereatsfire/20080816034.jpg)
I want to wear it again when we go to BARF this spring, so I've got some time....should I try to do it myself, see if I can get a costumer-friend to help, or look for a professional? I'm really nervous about screwing it up...
*...just my wedding gown...want to wear it to Renewal of Vows ( or whenever I'm in the mood to go Noble) for years to come...no pressure, though ;)*
Try the skirt length worksheet that I linked earlier in this thread. It involes some math (which is NOT my strong suit LOL) but I used it to calculate the length over both a farthingale and a bum roll when I had neither a dress form nor a helper and my skirt came out the perfect length! :)
Thanks Sealion! I'll be sure to give that a go! :)
Luckily the underskirt is serged but not hemmed, so I won't have to wrestle with any undoing of seams there, but the overskirt is another matter entirely...
I'm guessing I'd be better off undoing the hem and re-doing at the appropriate height - that only makes me a little nervous ;)
That's what I'm going to do when I make my next gown - I'm going to try the shirt length worksheet! I do have a dress form but I can't seem to get it the right height set on it - my skirts always end up being just a wee bit too long no matter what.
Thanks for posting that sealion!