Hem Folding Template

I don't really have a natural eye for straightness.  By which I mean I used to have a heck of a time cutting and sewing in a straight line.  I am getting better now with practice.

I've been getting quite a bit of good practice because I started to sew the bandanas and tapestries that we sell in our tie-dye business.  Its not a challenging sewing project (other than then having-to-cut-and-sew-straight part) and it make them so much more affordable to buy a bolt of fabric and just go to town sewing rather than purchasing a pre-made product.

But, when I was first getting started I was a little frustrated with how to get a nice straight edge on my bandanas.  But then I found this neat little folding template at a blog called The Scientific Seamstress.  It was just what I needed.

I printed it out and glued it to a piece of thin paperboard (it was a political mailer, actually, one of the many). It has guide lines that help make folding evenly a snap.  Soon I was able to make each bandana in no time.

The really cool part is...now I almost don't need the template anymore.  As I use it these days I almost always end up folding it just right without any fussing to get it even right off.  I think using it helped my eye finally establish a proper sense of is-this-even-or-not.  But is was sure a handy tool in the start.