Small practical thing: work over a curved surface, a darning mushroom or the side of a jar, so the fabric is supported and you can see the loops. Trying to do fine gauge flat on your knee is how holes grow.
Hank Ruvo
@hemline_hank
I learned alterations because nothing off the rack fits my shoulders. Sleeve length, taking in a waist, and which changes a tailor should refuse to make.
The stitched stop sounds much less intimidating than crimping metal onto a jacket I quite like.
Found a 5 stamped on the back. Is that the whole spec or do I need to worry about the shape too?
There is a middle option people forget: cut off four inches from the top of the hem allowance, then reattach the original hem to the shortened leg. You're taking the length out of the leg rather than folding it, so there's no bulk and only a small taper mismatch, which you can ease over a couple of inches. It's more work and there's a visible seam an inch above the hem, which some people like and some hate.