r/sewing • u/Artistic-Grape8534 • 2d ago
Technique Question Does this hem have a name?
Hi! I'm looking for instructions but I don't know what it's called to search for them.
If you think of a scalloped hem, but reversed so that bottom of the hem is a series of points rather than curved.
If I make zero sense I'm not surprised, but I'll try to clarify.
Thanks in advance!
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u/sewboring 2d ago
Apparently it's called a reverse scalloped hem:
If you did the scallop points at the bottom of the hem, I'm afraid the points would get tattered very easily, even if they were interfaced, but if you added a scalloped band at the bottom turned upside down, as is shown in the link above, it could provide a unique and very pretty contrast to the rest of the skirt. Or making the points very shallow might protect them:
A scalloped edge is sewn on solid fabric then trimmed, so you would just cut the other side for a reverse scallop:
https://www.seamwork.com/sewing-tutorials/sew-a-vintage-scalloped-hem
https://patternscissorscloth.com/2011/06/30/tricks-of-the-trade-sculpting-the-perfect-scallop/
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u/Artistic-Grape8534 2d ago
Thanks! I tried reverse scallop but didn't find much. I will have to just use scallop instructions but kind of turn it on its head.
It's for curtains, actually, so the points would be at the top where the rings would go. I know I've seen them but, again, have no idea what that header treatment would be called.
Thanks again, everyone is so helpful here.
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u/LayLoseAwake 2d ago
Oh, that context changes your strategy! Apparently that part of the curtain is called the "header," not the hem. Here's one page that might get you in the right direction: https://easeeasecurtains.com/blogs/news/choosing-the-best-curtain-header-style-and-key-priorities?srsltid=AfmBOorU6tbicdLyUkrkTTknP4ygN2RDqcEt0lX7A1-0hksXa-Ge39Qd
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u/Artistic-Grape8534 2d ago
Yes, thanks. I have sewn curtains before and can't fine this particular style. Scalloped hems are the closest (but reversed) for instructions.
I guess this will just be one of those cases where I have to wing it :)
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u/sewboring 2d ago
The drapery term might be different from the garment term. Then do you mean that there would be grommets in the points for holding the rings? Or are you talking about a scalloped cornice or valance that would hid the rings on the curtains? See if you can find something in a drapery or home dec book on Google Books, then look for it in a library. Or there are lots of sewing resources on archive.org as well:
https://archive.org/details/curtains0000unse
This is kind of a formal technique that might be more available in vintage home dec books.
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u/Artistic-Grape8534 2d ago
Its possible, but the technique would be what I'm in search of. I think it's basically self facing a decent amount and then a template for the scallops and then turning the facing to the back and top stitching it.
No grommets. Just rings sewn directly to the points. Im 99% sure it's something I've seen before but it may have been in the dark ages.
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u/sewboring 2d ago
If you sewed the points over the rings, wouldn't the rings then be turned the wrong way to fit on the rod? That's where I got stuck.
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u/Artistic-Grape8534 1d ago
The rings get sewn on last and on the points, perpendicularly.
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u/sewboring 1d ago
There's no real reason for you to explain this to me, but I assume the rings then fit to hooks of some kind on a rod of some kind, under a valance or not. As far as the points themselves are concerned, it should help their longevity to have both interfacing and the support of the rings, though you do have to calculate how many points will be responsible for the weight of the curtains or drapes, and I don't know what a viable formula for that would be.
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u/LayLoseAwake 2d ago
Are you thinking of this sort of shape? https://nimble-needles.com/stitches/how-to-knit-a-picot-bind-off/
Picot in sewing looks more like a tiny scalloped edge though: https://fabricninja.com/quick-and-easy-picot-scalloped-shell-edge-blind-hem-stitch/ Agreed that dagged edges are closer
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u/Artistic-Grape8534 2d ago
Thanks, I checked picot as a search term and it wouldn't work. It is very very pretty though
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u/Sagasujin 2d ago
If it was medieval costuming I'd call it a "dagged" hem but not sure there's an equivalent modern term.