A hem dress, also known as a handkerchief hem dress, is a high-end fashion item made of light, airy fabric. The skirt can have four to eight points and can be made by using two large squares of fabric or attaching strips of fabric. It is a versatile garment suitable for summer or evening wear and is often worn by dancers.
A hem dress is a style of dress with a skirt hem that falls in points. This hem style is also known as a handkerchief hem dress. A hem dress is often made of light, airy fabric such as chiffon. They are considered a high-end fashion item and a good project for a novice sewer.
A hem dress is usually characterized by a bodice attached to a long, double-layered skirt. The skirt can be created in several ways. Some require careful planning and measuring, while others are suitable for the novice sewer. The skirt of a hem dress may have only four points, while other variations have as many as eight. This style of dress is considered versatile and can be worn as a summer garment or as an evening garment depending on the fabric it is made from.
The easiest method to create the skirt is to use two large squares of fabric. The sewer places the two squares on top of each other, rotating the top square so that the points on the square form a pinwheel. The squares can be sewn together so that the layers stay in place or are allowed to move freely.
To finish the skirt, the double fabric is folded in half. A circle is drawn from the right circumference in the center. Once cut, the circle will form the waistband of the skirt. The waist can be attached to the bodice.
Some designers have taken the layered skirt design even further by using more than two layers of fabric. The squares can be stacked on top of each other in descending size. When finished, the dress will have tiered pointed hems.
Another way to create the distinctive hem is to attach strips of fabric. Each strip has a pointed end, and the number of strips used to create the skirt determines how many stitches the finished product will have. Some eco-minded seamstresses have reinterpreted this more complex method of creating a scarf skirt to recycle ties. The ties already end in finished stitches and can be sewn together to make the skirt.
A hem dress is also a garment often worn by dancers. When made of chiffon, the multiple layers stand up and float, accentuating the movement of the limbs. Gypsies and belly dancers have been shown wearing a romantic skirt in the kerchief style.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
