Sewing/Fabric knowledgable people. Help please

[lurker172602]

I have a skirt made from cotton/elastin fabric (I think, it hasn't got a label but it's a poplin sort of weight and a bit stretchy). The hem has gone all "frilly". It looked as if the sewing thread had shrunk and gathered the fabric. I have tried unpicking it, pressing the fabric and sewing it back up but it still looks the same.

What can I do to fix it, or is it irreparable?

[gleee58]

Can you post a photo of the hem?

Has the hem pulled tighter or has it flared out like a frill?

[2106greencat]

You lost me at  "I have a skirt"

good luck lurker

[lurker172602]

It has pulled it tighter, like gathering. It's almost as if the fabric has deformed. Do you think the elastin (or whatever it is) may have failed in some way?

[creative*crisis]

I've seen them sold that way. I think it happens when the fabric isn't sewn with the correct stretch stitch and deforms that area. I don't think you can actually fix it once that happens.

A complete new hem might be the answer with the old one cut off if the skirt is long enough but it would have to be stitched on a machine capable of stretch stitch.
All stretch fabrics react in this way if incorrectly sewn

[gleee58]

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@lurker172602 wrote:
It has pulled it tighter, like gathering. It's almost as if the fabric has deformed. Do you think the elastin (or whatever it is) may have failed in some way?

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I want to see a photo  😄  

Did you unpick the hem or trim it off?

It could be stretching of the fabric.  Does it have a tightly rolled overlocked hem or is it turned under and stitched?

[gleee58]

do you mean the frilly effect is between the stitch line and the fold line?

Is it like that all the way or only in patches, if yes?

[kopenhagen5]

Like cc says. 

If it has elastin in it, I am guessing it's been stretched at some point.

Caught on something and now it won't return again.

You could perhaps try a hot iron on the area but I doubt anything can be done if it has been stretched to nearly breaking point.

[lurker172602]

Its the skirt part of a skort that I wear to golf so I can't cut any of the length off.  

I just unpicked the hem, pressed it and sewed it back on the same stitching line.  

The raw edge is overlooked but not turned under, and the hem is machine sewn with a regulat straight stitch. 

Ummm, What other questions were there?

hey, what happened?  I started that post by saying, I am trying to post a picture but it keeps turning itself upside down.

[gleee58]

Don't use a hot iron. It will burn the elastane and leave shiny marks.

It sounds like a new hem would be better.

Either unpick all round then iron and fold or trim it off then start again.