Learning about rolled hem feet

[Scouter_Ken]

I made a discovery about rolled hem feet that may help others

After spending several hours trying to use a narrow rolled hem feet, and watching Jellyfish's youtube videos too many times to count, I got so frustrated that I finally asked my wife for help. She has been sewing for about 40+ years. Lots of experience with making clothes, slip covers, drapes, etc. but not tarps.

She watched Jellyfish's videos, read the manual from her old singer featherweight (70+ yrs old) as well as the Singer I am using and after about an hour came back and told me that I had the wrong size narrow rolled hem foot.

Evidently narrow rolled hem feet for Singer machines come in 3 sizes. 2mm, 4mm and 6mm. I had ordered the 2mm and it was way too small for what is needed to finish the edges of a 1.1 Silpoly XL that I am assembling. Perfect for making handkerchiefs or lacy things, but not a monster winter tarp.

just ordered both the 4mm and 6mm feet from Amazon, should be here on Sunday and I should have a better feel by mid-week which size is going to work for what is needed.

If any has some suggestions on which I should try first, please chime in.

[MikekiM]

I have both the 4mm and 6mm feet and use both on my glorious 1941 Singer Featherweight 221 Blackside. What a machine. The 6mm is easier to use and I've used successfully on silpoly, nylon and utility grade ripstop. The 4mm is challenging on silpoly, but with practice you can get it to work.

I've watched Jelly's vid and picked up some tips. I haven yet to try the tissue paper, but I hear it works wonders.

This vid shows the technique that works best for me..
https://youtu.be/zFeLzscngJY?list=PL...rrv6j4Tipa2gHD

Sometimes, Silpoly is just too much work to get the hemmer foot to yield good results and I just double fold it with some clips.

[underserviced]

Thank you!!!!!!!!!! I too watched the videos and ultimately gave up. I had no idea there were different sizes. I need to get rid of my 2mm and get a bigger foot. I'll give it a try.

[Pennsy Camp and Canoe]

i think this is part of my issue too! Fish makes it looks so easy

[JackM]

I recently purchased a set of these https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
It makes wider rolled hems from 1/4" (~6mm) to 1" in 1/8" increments. Fits most if not all low shank snap in adapters, apparently some Singers require an adapter. It fits my wife's Elna, but I don't have much experience yet.

I'm working on a 12' X 10' rectangular tarp now, but when I finish that, and if my purple and gold hammock fabric hasn't arrived by then, I will make a wide silpoly asymmetric tarp to match my asymmetric hammock using a 3/8" rolled hem all the way around including 3/8" of the selvedge on both sides to maximize width. The 3/8" of selvedge will, of course, be rolled under.

[jellyfish]

I think my foot is 3 mm. I love the 1.1 silpoly xl and didn't need to use any tissue paper. Let us know how a wider foot works out for you!

[JackM]

I think my foot is 3 mm. I love the 1.1 silpoly xl and didn't need to use any tissue paper. Let us know how a wider foot works out for you!

Have you noticed any difference depending on which side is down? One of the first projects I did was an asymmetric tarp with the silpoly xl and had no problem. Now I am trying to do a rectangular with the regular silpoly and it is an entirely different "breed of cat". My first pass on the center seam was a disaster, no control on stitch length at all, from full length 4 to microscopic with no apparent difference in what I was doing, even with the walking foot. I just ripped it out. Tomorrow when I am fresh I will start over with tissue paper.

[jellyfish]

Have you noticed any difference depending on which side is down? One of the first projects I did was an asymmetric tarp with the silpoly xl and had no problem. Now I am trying to do a rectangular with the regular silpoly and it is an entirely different "breed of cat". My first pass on the center seam was a disaster, no control on stitch length at all, from full length 4 to microscopic with no apparent difference in what I was doing, even with the walking foot. I just ripped it out. Tomorrow when I am fresh I will start over with tissue paper.

The silpoly xl is much easier to work with than the regular width. I definitely would use tissue paper with the regular.

I am not sure that I can tell one side from the other on the regular. They both look the same to me.

[MikekiM]

On the silpoly I would opt to clip (or pin, ugh) the hem and use a walking foot.

The walking foot makes slippery fabric soooo much more fun to work with.



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[jellyfish]

On the silpoly I would opt to clip (or pin, ugh) the hem and use a walking foot.

The walking foot makes slippery fabric soooo much more fun to work with.



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I do love a walking foot, especially on the ridgeline.