👗 Petite Styling Secrets: Dresses Worth Hemming After 60!

Have you ever found the perfect dress, except it was too long? I discovered some perfectly proportional Amazon shirt dresses at a reasonable price for petite women over 60, except the hemline went all the way to my knees on my 5’0” petite body.

Since these dresses are one of my favorite styles of casual dresses, I decided to learn to hem a dress! I bought three different colors and patterns. I hemmed each dress at different lengths to wear for different social occasions.

With over 2800 views of each of these dresses on Pinterest in just a few weeks, I decided I should share the secret to making these dresses so desirable.

Dress #1 The Red and White Vertical Dress

This is the perfect length of a dress that has a hemline above my knees. I cut off 4” and hemmed it by the directions below. This length elongates my legs, but I can still sit down without the length being too short! This is a great dress with a great length that is perfect for running errands, shopping, attending casual church, doctor appointments, and casual dining out.

Dress hemmed 4" above the knee

Dress #2 The Blue Paisley

I hemmed the blue paisley dress to be a mini dress by cutting 5” off and hemming it by the directions below. The beautiful blue paisley print gave movement to the dress that made it very elongating to my legs. I wear fitted shorts under it for extra coverage. It is a great dress when you want to portray a vibrant, youthful vibe. My husband loves me to wear this dress when we are out exploring and dining at a restaurant preferably by the water or a cozy bistro. Worn with the fitted shorts, the is a great dress to wear for everyday.

dress hemmed 5" above the knee for a mini dress

dress hemmed 5" above the knee (mini dress-wear fitted shorts underneath for extra coverage)

Dress # 3 The Conservative Wear All Vertical Dress

This blue and white thin striped vertical dress is a dress you can wear most anywhere. I cut off 2.5" and hemmed it using the directions below. This dress looks chic, polished and provides the most coverage. This dress is appropriate to wear to church (perhaps with a cardigan thrown over your shoulders). This dress can be worn to any meeting, doctor appointment, or visiting the little old lady who usually frowns at your dress being too short!

Dress hemmed 2.5" above the knee

Y

Dress hemmed 2.5" above the knee

Materials Needed To Hem A Dress

You will be amazed that really takes very little sewing tools. The most important tool is a great pair of fabric cutting scissors. This is the one sewing tool that you will not want to skimp on. Cutting a clean straigth line sets you up for success when hemming a dress. Here is a basic list of sewing materials needed to hem your next dress:

• fabric cutting scissors

• straight pins

• needles

• thread (same color as dress)

• ruler or straight hard object to mark a line on a dress

• chalk pen to mark inside of dress

• iron & ironing board

What is the best length for you?

You did it! You bought that beautiful dress that you have had your eye on and you finally have the nerve to tackle hemming the dress. For petite women the best length for a short dress is 3-4 inches above the knee. For a midi to maxi dress, the best length is about 3 inches above your ankle. This hits past the largest part of your calves. Those two lengths provide an elongating effect on a petite body.

How to hem a dress

Iron the dress and try it on with the shoes you plan to wear with the dress. Pin your dress up to the desired length. Have someone help pin it to the desired length as you stand in front of a mirror so you can view it from behind and all angles with another mirror. You may need to do this yourself and that is fine. It will just take a little longer.

Remove the dress. Turn it inside out and lay on a flat surface (tabletop or counter). Measure from the pin downward to determine how much of the dress is too long. If it is more than 1/2" too long, cut off the excess leaving 1/2" to fold under twice before hemming in place. For example, if your dress is 4 " too long, measure, mark, and cut off 3 1/2". Before you cut, measure the amount that needs to be cut off and mark it with a chalk pen all of the way across the dress as seen in the picture below.

Dress marked for cutting (leave 1/2 inch for folding under twice before hemming) If your dress is not ironed well as shown in the image above, iron it again!

With a ruler or other straight surface, draw a line through all of the points. This will ensure that you cut a straight line with the correct measurements all of the way across the dress.

Connect your marks with your chalk marker to make a straight line to cut the exact amount off equally. (I cut through the front and back at the same time to keep it equal.)

Cut off excess of more than 1/2" and discard.

After you cut off the excess of more than 1/2", fold the hem under 1/4". Then fold it under again, so you have no exposed frayed threads. It will be helpful to pin it and iron it to keep it flat and smooth. (It has been tempting to skip this step, but it is crucial to having a professional looking hem job. Don't skip this step!)

Iron two folds before sewing the hem. Fold it 1/4", iron, fold it another 1/4" iron it and them hem it.

Make sure you iron both folds before attempting to hem it, so everything stays in place and makes it easier to hem.

Now, you are ready to start hemming the dress. Make certain you are using a similar color thread. If it is a thin- white-striped dress as shown in this image, use white thread and make your stitches in the white stripes of the dress. Start sewing at the edge of the dress (where the buttons meet for a shirtdress or at the sides where the seams meet for other dresses.). Always add double stitching at the end of the edge of the dress for reinforcement.

Make sure your need enters and exits inside the thin white stripes. Use tiny stitches where it grasps the fabric to keep it looking smooth.

Keep your stitches small and equally spaced apart. Do not pull the fabric. Let the fabric relax and make certain your stripes line up as you stitch the dress. You may need to pull the fabric and let it overlap slightly as you sew into the side seams since dresses curve and are not totally straight. This will ensure that your stitches line up all of the way around the dress. Reinforce your last stitches, so they do not pull out when the dress is washed.

Overlap fabric in the seam of the dress.

Remove the dress, press it well, and you are ready to enjoy your freshly hemmed dress.

The whole process takes about 30 minutes once you have a good understanding of how to do it and if you have someone who can help you pin your dress while you stand in front of the mirror (husbands are great for this!).

Important points:

• Take the time to measure and mark properly. If you are not certain, try the dress on again after marking it before you cut it.

• Make certain your marks are the same amount all of the way across the dress before cutting.

• Take the time to iron the double folded hem in place and pin securely.

• Keep your stitches equal and spaced as demonstrated in the images above. Insert the needle in white stripes if you are hemming a dress with vertical stripes.

• Use similar shades of thread to match the fabric as much as possible.

• Don't try to hem the dress leaving a lot of excess fabric. If you fold up more than 1/2", your hem will look bulky.

• 
  

Stop settling for maxi dresses that drag on the floor or short dresses that fall past your knees! Discover the best dress styles for petite women over 60 that are incredibly easy to hem yourself!

Learning to hem is a total game-changer for your wardrobe. It saves money, guarantees a flawless fit, and is a beautiful, practical skill to pass down to daughters or friends. Our foolproof, beginner-friendly guide breaks down the process with simple, step-by-step instructions—no advanced sewing experience required.

From casual cotton sundresses to elegant midi dresses, you will learn exactly how to measure, pin, and stitch your way to the perfect length. Take control of your style, embrace your petite frame, and master a lifelong skill today!

With a few simple sewing tools and knowledge of a few simple steps, you will discover how to hem a petite dress to elongate your legs and never have to pass on a dress that fits great except for the length again!

What is your favorite hem length? Would you like dresses of different lengths for different social occasions? We hope you will give this method a try and hopefully pass it along as something as simple as hemming a dress has been lost in recent generations. It is such a valuable skill to have even if you don't plan to use it. You just never know when you may be traveling and find that perfect dress, that just needs a little nip/tuck.

We hope you enjoyed this blog and will leave a comment below. Follow me on Pinterest for more petite fashion styles at Loving Petite and follow the website: www.lovingpetite.com for more Petite Fashions Over 60.