Cut and Go: The Best Fabrics That Don’t Need Hemming

Have you ever sewn a garment to the point where you try it on and think, “Woohoo, I’m done. It looks great,” only to realize that you still have to hem it and finish off the details?

Or have you decided to sew a dress in a hurry for an event in a few hours?

Maybe you just hate hemming!

If any of these sound familiar, speed up your sewing projects with fabric that doesn’t need hemming.

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Scuba

Scuba is a heavyweight, textured synthetic fabric that is often used for formalwear and evening gowns. It is quite stiff and has a smooth, glossy finish. Cutting scuba fabric gives a clean, finished edge that won’t unravel or fray. It’s a great choice for those who want to sew quickly and easily, as there is no need to hem the fabric. Additionally, scuba fabric holds its shape well, so garments made from it look polished and professional.

Ponte Roma/Ponti de Roma

Ponte Roma, also known as Ponti de Roma, is a medium-weight, stretchy knit fabric that is often used for pants, skirts, and dresses. It has a textured surface and a comfortable, four-way stretch. The edges of the fabric have a clean, finished look that won’t unravel or fray, so all you have to do is cut it to the right size or length and it’s ready to go. Ponte Roma is also very forgiving and supportive, so it’s easy to fit garments. All in all, Ponte Roma is a great choice when you’re short on time but still want your clothing to look good.

Fleece

Fleece is a soft, lightweight fabric that is typically made from polyester, wool, or cotton. It is warm and comfortable, and is great for keeping warm. It’s a popular choice for sweaters, hoodies, sweatpants and blankets, as well as other garments that need to be warm and durable. It’s popular for no-sew, knotted edge blankets.

You can get away with not hemming fleece for clothing, but if the hem regularly gets stretched (such as for slim sleeves or more fitted designs), it can stretch and distort with time and wear. But it’s fine not to hem for looser, over-sized hoodies and ponchos.

Leather

Leather is a durable material made from the hide of an animal. It is often used for jackets, boots, and other clothing that needs to be stain-resistant and weather-proof. Leather doesn’t have fibers that can unravel, so doesn’t need to be hemmed. In fact, the natural thickness of leather can make it difficult to fold and sew a traditional hem.

The raw edge of leather often has a clean, crisp appearance and can be a design feature in itself. Many leather goods are designed to showcase the material’s natural edges.

Suede

Suede is a soft, pliable material made from the underside of an animal skin (such as cows or sheep). Just like leather, it is often used for shoes, jackets, and other clothing. It is not made from fibers that can unravel and doesn’t need hemming.

Faux leather/suede

Faux leather, also known as synthetic leather, pleather or leatherette, typically does not need to be hemmed because, like genuine leather, it does not fray. The material is made by bonding a plastic coating to a fabric backing, and the edges can be left raw without the risk of unraveling.

Vinyl

Vinyl is a durable and waterproof material made from polyvinyl chloride. It is often used for car seats, shower curtains, and other outdoor gear.

Vinyl is a non-woven synthetic material, which means it doesn’t have threads that can unravel at the edges. As a plastic-based material, it is generally durable and can withstand handling and wear without the edges deteriorating.

Felt

Felt is a non-woven fabric produced by matting and pressing fibers together (also known as felting). It is typically made from wool or acrylic. The process of creating felt doesn’t involve spinning, weaving, or knitting fibers. Instead, it uses a combination of heat, moisture, and pressure, often with the addition of agitation, to entangle the fibers into a solid cloth that won’t fray.

Jersey

Jersey is a stretchy knit fabric often used for t-shirts and other comfortable clothing.

Jersey fabric doesn’t necessarily need to be hemmed because it doesn’t fray like woven fabrics do. The edges of jersey fabric can roll up when cut due to the structure of the knit , but they will not unravel. While hemming isn’t a necessity, the cut edge will look worn and stretched more quickly than if it was hemmed.

So if you need to get out the door quickly in your new dress, you can get away without hemming, but you might want to hem it later if you want your garment to last longer!

Tips when not hemming fabric

Use sharp scissors or a rotary cutter to get a smooth even hem – you will need to take more care when cutting the fabric. A poorly cut hemline will look shabby.

Test the fabric: Before deciding not to hem, test a scrap of the fabric to see how the cut edge behaves with handling, making sure it won’t get stretched or distorted (and end up looking cheap and unfinished).

Why should you hem fabric that doesn’t need hemming?

Although some fabrics don’t require hemming, you may still want to hem them for several reasons, including: