What is the blind hem foot?
I truly believe the blind hem foot is the best versatile foot that comes with most sewing machines. There are two different types of blind hem feet. The regular and the adjustable blind hem feet. If you turn the foot over you will notice that one side is higher up than the other side of the foot. It’s like a little channel that runs the length of the foot. With the adjustable blind hem foot, there is an extra piece which is the guide where the fabrics butts against that you can move them to the left or the right. The guide is adjustable for using different thicknesses of fabric. I use the blind hem foot for at least three different techniques. Of course the obvious is a blind hem. Next would be topstitching and the third is putting in a zipper.
The Blind hem explained.
Measure the right length on your pants and cut off the access. Be sure to leave an additional ¾ of an inch of fabric. Overcast the raw cut edge with a serger or your sewing machine. With the pants turned inside out, fold up the ¾ of an inch and press with an iron on the correct setting for your pants fabric. Then fold the newly pressed seam towards the right side of the pants. Note this will now be the inside of the inside out. Leaving only a ¼ of an inch of the fabric showing beyond the new fold. Put the blind hem foot on and place the fold against that raised portion of the foot. Choose the blind hem stitch on your machine and hem away. This can be a tricky one but once you get the folding concept down you will be hemming away.
Top Stitching with the blind hem foot?
The second way I use this foot is to do a real close top stitch around the edge of my seam. It gives the project I’m working on a clean crisp look and makes the seams lay nicely. I’m able to use this foot this way because of the one side being higher than the other. It makes a nice ridge that you can butt the fabric right up against and keep an even distance from the edge all the all the way around. Zipper installation can be easily done.
The third way I use this foot is when I am sewing a zipper into a bag or in a garment. Place the zipper under the blind hem foot and use the channel on the foot as a guide. Keep the outside of the zipper to the raw edge of the fabric and sew nice and straight. Repeat on the other side. Next, I flip over the fabric and trim an 1/8 of an inch away from the raw edge of the fabric only. Sewing on the wrong side of the fabric I have the zipper folded over and I topstitch like I do on garment seems with this foot. By doing this it does two things. It encloses the raw edge of the fabric under the zipper so it will not get caught while zipping or unzipping and it creates a nice top stitch that is even and straight.
My favorite foot.
When I teach classes, my students will ask me what is my favorite foot. I would have to say most of all it is the blind hem foot. I love that I can use it for so many other techniques than it was originally designed for. Therefore how can you go wrong with this foot? It comes included with your sewing machine and you don’t have to spend extra money to add it to your collection. When you have the right foot for any project makes sewing so much easier and fun.
