Two Simple Ways To Finish A Leather Garment's Hem
When working with leather for the first time, you'll find that this unique material behaves completely different than all other conventional woven and knit fabrics.
In the dressmaking process, one of the main aspects of completing a leather garment is choosing the appropriate technique to finish its hem. Luckily, leather does not fray and has the ability to maintain its strength and structure along its cut edges. For that reason, these finishing techniques are not particularly complex.
There are two common hemming methods you can use with leather garments, and they are applied based on whether a visual topstitch is desired along the garment's hemline.
In the dressmaking process, one of the main aspects of completing a leather garment is choosing the appropriate technique to finish its hem. Luckily, leather does not fray and has the ability to maintain its strength and structure along its cut edges. For that reason, these finishing techniques are not particularly complex.
There are two common hemming methods you can use with leather garments, and they are applied based on whether a visual topstitch is desired along the garment's hemline.
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Topstitching is perhaps one of the most widely-used techniques with leather. This method entails folding the garment's hem allowance up, toward the garment's wrong side, and simply topstitching the folded layers in this position.
This finish leaves visible topstitching on both the wrong and right side of the garment which naturally, becomes part of its design. It is just as much a functional finish as it is decorative. As a design element, you can use a single, double or even triple row of topstitching for a more decorative visual effect.
This finish leaves visible topstitching on both the wrong and right side of the garment which naturally, becomes part of its design. It is just as much a functional finish as it is decorative. As a design element, you can use a single, double or even triple row of topstitching for a more decorative visual effect.
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If your garment design calls for no visible topstitching, then your best option is to complete the hem with a specialized leather glue/cement.
Similar to a topstitched finish, the hem allowance is folded toward the wrong side of the garment. However, instead of securing the folded hem with topstitching, the layers are permanently adhered together using a leather glue or leather cement. These adhesives are quite durable and should withstand the garment's life cycle.
Similar to a topstitched finish, the hem allowance is folded toward the wrong side of the garment. However, instead of securing the folded hem with topstitching, the layers are permanently adhered together using a leather glue or leather cement. These adhesives are quite durable and should withstand the garment's life cycle.
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When applying the leather adhesive it is important to follow the directions indicated on the packaging as accurately as possible. The adhesive is applied to both the hem allowance surface and the area above the hemline which will be covered by the hem allowance layer when in folded position.
You can purchase leather glue or cement online or at your local fabric stores. Even if you don't end up using it at the garment's hem, if you'll be sewing with leather in the feature, leather glue is a useful tool to keep other leather edges and layers permanently flat.
You can purchase leather glue or cement online or at your local fabric stores. Even if you don't end up using it at the garment's hem, if you'll be sewing with leather in the feature, leather glue is a useful tool to keep other leather edges and layers permanently flat.
