Dress and skirt hemming in Tomball, TX

What this alteration involves

Hemming a dress or skirt is rarely a single cut. A lined dress has a separate lining that is usually finished shorter than the outer fabric so it does not peek out. Layered skirts with tulle, chiffon or netting have several layers that each need shortening. Light fabrics like chiffon and georgette usually get a narrow rolled hem rather than a deep folded one. Circle and bias cut skirts stretch unevenly as they hang, so the hem often has to be leveled from the floor up rather than measured from the waist down. Heel height matters more than people expect, because two inches of heel changes the right length by about two inches. Details at the hem such as lace, beading, slits or a scalloped edge also change what is possible.

How to get the best fit

• Bring or wear the shoes you will wear with the dress. For an event, this matters more than anything else.
• Wear the undergarments or shapewear you plan to wear, since they can change how the skirt hangs.
• If the dress is for a wedding or event, give the date when you drop it off and ask what is possible before then.
• Stand naturally at the fitting. Lifting your shoulders or rising on your toes changes the length.
• Say whether you want the hem to clear the floor, just touch it, or sit at a specific point on your leg.

What can and cannot be done

Shortening is usually possible, but hems with lace, beading, embroidery or a decorative border may need that trim removed and moved up, which is not always practical. Lengthening depends on how much fabric sits in the current hem, and many dresses have very little. Old fold lines can show on silk and satin. Slits and front closures limit how far a skirt can come up. At the counter we can look at your dress and say what can be done.