How to Hem Leather: Tips and Techniques for Beginners

Hemming leather is quite different from hemming other fabrics because of the leather’s thickness. You will need your leather fabric, rotary cutter or sharp scissors, straight edge or ruler, leather sewing needles or heavy-duty sewing needles, leather clips or pins, a mallet, the right sewing machine, leather glue, optional edge beveller, and optional edge slicker. Be sure to check the top sewing product comparisons to choose the right materials to hem leather.

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Prepare Your Leather and Mark the Hem Line

Lay the leather fabric on a clean, fat surface, then determine the width but as a beginner, use a narrow edge with ¼” width. Measure and mark the leather’s width along the edge of the leather with a ruler or straight edge to maintain a straight line. Cut the leather with sharp scissors or a rotary cutter and cut carefully along the marked line. Take the cutting slowly to maintain a clean cut. Remember the leather can be difficult to correct when hemming goes wrong.

Sew Your Leather Hem

Fold and secure your hem by folding the leather along the marked hem with the wrong side facing up. Clip the hem to secure it and ensure the hem is even and straight along the fabric length.

Choose a heavy-duty sewing machine to hem the leather. Also, choose a heavy-duty thread and needle for this work. Position your leather under the sewing machine’s presser foot, then align the folded edge with the edge of the presser foot before you sew a straight stitch along the folded edge. Backstitch and the beginning and the end of your sewing to secure the hem. Please visit our website CraftsSelection.com and check out Amazon product reviews on heavy-duty sewing machines for hemming leather to make the right choice.

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Finish the Edges

Now that you have completed sewing your leather fabric, you should trim excess threads to leave a clean finish. You can use an edge beveled to round the leather edges and also you may add an edge slicker to smoothen and round the edges further. You may also apply a leather glue or cement along the folded edge to reinforce the hem, at this stage. Allow the hem to cool down before going further.

Hammer Your Hem if Necessary

Sometimes, you may need to flatten and smoothen the hem further. You can place a scrap leather fabric over your leather material and gently tap it with a mallet hammer.

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Hemming leather will require some patience and precision to create a perfect finished product. As a beginner, you need to take your time and practice on leather scraps and then work your way through complex hemming projects. With experience and proper guidance, you will eventually become skilled in hemming leather and other thicker materials. One right way to start learning is by checking the Top Product Reviews and Buying Guide CraftsSelection pages. Also, use the product comparison pages to compare your hemming sewing machines before making your final choice.