Removing the band from a banded hem sweater? - YouLookFab Forum

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Removing the band from a banded hem sweater?

Janet

(website)

Veteran

In a moment of weakness, months ago, I purchased a not cheap sweater that I love, but the hem is exactly wrong on me. I don't know what I was thinking. Ugh.

I love everything else about it, so I'm wondering if anyone has had success cutting off a nice fine knit and redoing the hem. It's a wool/nylon/viscose blend. I am not a seamstress so I would probably try to find someone to do this for me. What do you think? Any advice?

I've attached a bad pic. This hem is perfect for someone with skinny little hips. Alas, that is not me. I'd like to shorten it to just to the point where the grey band is no longer there.

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14 replies

Latest reply was from Janet

ramya

Veteran

Hmmmm can you just fold it in Janet? I have a sweater like that and it does stay once you fold it in.
Or tuck in the sweater;)

Diana

Veteran

What does the seam on the hem look like? Is it knitted separately and sewn on? (If so there should be a seam on the underside). Or is it knit down from the body of the sweater? Both are removable but how you do it depends on the construction. If it's sewn on, you would need to carefully pick out the seam, and the resulting edge should already be finished (at least, inasmuch as it will not start to unravel). If it's knit down from the body the edge will unravel, and it will have to be bound off or stitched into place.

Be aware that when you remove a band or ribbing from a sweater, what is left may curl, and it may curl a lot. (Like, you could lose an inch or two of length at the bottom in addition to the hem.) Sweaters are often finished with ribbed hems for this reason because ribbing does not curl and stockinette stitch (the "normal" flat knitting) curls like mad. So you might want to consider a folded hem instead. The easiest way is actually as Ramya suggests, just fold the band inside and tack it down w/ a couple of stitches. Since it looks like a split band it should not make the bottom too narrow.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Thanks for the ideas, Ramya, but it is fine enough that it doesn't stay folded, and I like sweaters untucked.

amiable

Veteran

I agree - fold the band under and hand stitch it up so that it doesn't come back down. It's a lot safer than trying to remove it altogether

Sarah A

Veteran

Another vote to fold under and hand stitch into place.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Thanks, all. I'll try folding and hand-stitching. I guess if it looks funky, I can take the stitching out and sell it on eBay.

So, to clarify, would you just space some short sections of stitching a few inches apart, all around the hem? To preserve the stretch of the knit?

Eta: here's a close up of how the bottom of the sweater is constructed. It's all one piece, but they changed the stitching in the grey part.

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Diana

Veteran

Yeah, that's a continuous hem. You do NOT want to cut that. I would fold, loosely hand stitch, and then possibly reblock the whole thing (basically hand wash and reshape it flat to dry; that should get rid of any residual weirdness from the stitching.) You could also press the new hem with an iron.

Liz A.

Veteran

Janet, the sweater doesn't look bad at all in that pic. I would hate for you to lose the fab detail of the grey hem. Any chance it might stretch to fit?

unfrumped

Veteran

The seamstress has spoken!

And I agree--try a loose running stitch.

I don't think it looks bad on you at all, but I have had similar issues shopping for sweaters this year. Some of the split hem and hi-low had this contrasting band and while I might do a banded hem, I found myself thinking, I do not need this bold horizontal color line right here.

AJ

Veteran

That is a pretty sweater, Janet. I hope the fold and stitch works.

Kim

Veteran

I know you're not a knitter, (but I used to be) so you *could* have someone (a master knitter?) find the end of the sweater and unravel the hem to the place you want it and get it finished again at that point. It would be a bit of work, but it's possible I think, judging from the pic.

catgirl

Veteran

What about cutting and then attaching a piece of bias cut binding hem (I can't think what this is called but it's basically a hemming material folded on the bias) in a similar color to cover and bind the raw edge?

viva

Veteran

I'm just in awe of all of you sewers and knitters who even think of such transformations.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Thanks for saying it doesn't look bad, but trust me, in a straight on shot, it's not a good look. Unfrumped called it. Even with stretching, it's too much horizontal stripe contrast right in my worst spot. The length is not great on me either, and the back view is bad. This is why I don't do tunics. I'm also feeling a little "big" today so that's not helping, but I keep passing by this sweater, so I know I need to do something to make it work or let it go. I'd rather do the former!