Can we have a stupid questions thread?

SnShne322

Anything that you've always wanted to know, but have been too shy/embarrassed to ask?

For instance, I'm short.  On top of being short, I have short legs.  I am a 32 year old woman and I've never had a pair of pants hemmed.  I find this utterly ridiculous, but I'm embarrassed (I realize this is silly) to walk in and ask the people questions.  So, how do they do it? Do I drop them off and say I want 3 inches hemmed? Or do they have me put the pants on?

I work in a casual environment so having rolled pants or cut offs isn't weird, but I know I would be SO much happier having properly hemmed jeans.  I'd like to say I'd learn to do it myself, but if I'm being honest, I won't.  And if I did, I think I'd rather just have someone else do it.  I currently have a brand new pair of pants that are short/petite that I can't even wear with 4 1/2 inch heels because they are too long.  I don't want to spend all that money on jeans to never wear them.  Also,  do you hem your skinnies?  I think I'd have to so I can wear my flats in the summer, but I'm just currently wearing them with my boots so it doesn't matter.  I feel so silly asking these questions.

CeeCeeSugaPie

SnShne322 said:

Anything that you've always wanted to know, but have been too shy/embarrassed to ask?

For instance, I'm short.  On top of being short, I have short legs.  I am a 32 year old woman and I've never had a pair of pants hemmed.  I find this utterly ridiculous, but I'm embarrassed (I realize this is silly) to walk in and ask the people questions.  So, how do they do it? Do I drop them off and say I want 3 inches hemmed? Or do they have me put the pants on?

I work in a casual environment so having rolled pants or cut offs isn't weird, but I know I would be SO much happier having properly hemmed jeans.  I'd like to say I'd learn to do it myself, but if I'm being honest, I won't.  And if I did, I think I'd rather just have someone else do it.  I currently have a brand new pair of pants that are short/petite that I can't even wear with 4 1/2 inch heels because they are too long.  I don't want to spend all that money on jeans to never wear them.  Also,  do you hem your skinnies?  I think I'd have to so I can wear my flats in the summer, but I'm just currently wearing them with my boots so it doesn't matter.  I feel so silly asking these questions.

I've never had jeans hemmed, but I have taken work pants and scrub pants to be hemmed. I felt a little awkward about it the first time too. I had to put the pants on and then point out to them where I would like to have them hemmed. They pin them and then you go take them off. Easy, peasy. I guess you could also just bring them to them marked with chalk or folded to where you want them hemmed though. Make sure you have washed them a couple times before having them hemmed. I didn't do that the first and the stupid pants shrunk. For the first time in my life, I had high-waters. lol. I want to start taking my jeans too. I just want to make sure that they reattach the original hem.

sneetches

I go to a tailor sometimes.  You'll go in, try on the pants for them, and they will mark where to hem.  You should bring the shoes you will be wearing with them. 

jackiback

I have gotten a handful of pants and a couple of sundresses (they make those suckers for people who are at least 6'2") and they just have you put the clothes on, tell them what shoes you'll wear with them and they'll pin them, you'll take them off and come back for them  

Jen748

I just have my mom hem my pants!

booknerd226

Fellow shortie here. I hate getting pants hemmed, if only because I just bought new pants and I want to wear them already haha. It's definitely worth it though. No rolled up bottoms or folded/safety pinned bottoms. No adjusting, no frayed bottoms. 

You just put them on, tell them where you want them hemmed, and they pin it and you take them off. Just make sure you are wearing shoes that you want to wear with them. Don't wear flats if you want to wear heels, etc.

SusieBW

I used to have a 4'11" friend and she had all her pants hemmed, including jeans and skinny jeans.

I think I'm a decent seamstress, I made T a pretty basic dress, I've made a bunch of stuff that I'm pretty proud of, but I'm terrified to hem my own pants!  I'm positive that I will make them uneven.

booneybear

This is why I wear skirts to work every day.  I hate having to take my pants to the tailor to get them hemmed.  It is easier just to buy skirts.

RiverPlate

I hem my own pants, it's really not hard.  I watched a bunch of videos on YouTube, lol.  Because I can't really pin my own pants, I measure them against the inseam of a different pair of pants that are similar to where I want them.

I've never hemmed jeans though.  How would you get that crinkly seam?

MrsC7

I use hemming tape when I don't have time for the tailor. Just iron and done.

It doesn't always last and I'll have to do it again, but I'm lazy and scared of sewing so this works for me.

SacGeoLover

RiverPlate said:

I hem my own pants, it's really not hard.  I watched a bunch of videos on YouTube, lol.  Because I can't really pin my own pants, I measure them against the inseam of a different pair of pants that are similar to where I want them.

I've never hemmed jeans though.  How would you get that crinkly seam?

I do too. Here's a tutorial on keeping the hem . http://refashionmama.wordpress.com/2011/12/17/alteration-my-new-favorite-way-to-keep-original-hem-on-jeans/

Mrs.GinTN

My mom hems my pants almost all the time.  The one time I have had someone else do it, I pinned the pants to length that I wanted them before I took them in. 

MrsC7

For the people who hem their own pants, do you have your own sewing machine?  

RiverPlate

MrsC7 said:

For the people who hem their own pants, do you have your own sewing machine?  

Yes, but a "cheap" Singer from Target.  Don't bother with one of those hemming-only things, those break immediately.  Mine was around $100.  The fancy ones they have at the fabric store are expensive!  And kinda scary.

MrsC7

RiverPlate said:

MrsC7 said:

For the people who hem their own pants, do you have your own sewing machine?  

Yes, but a "cheap" Singer from Target.  Don't bother with one of those hemming-only things, those break immediately.  Mine was around $100.  The fancy ones they have at the fabric store are expensive!  And kinda scary.

Sewing machines scare me.  I also don't have anywhere to keep it.

CeeCeeSugaPie

MrsC7 said:

RiverPlate said:

MrsC7 said:

For the people who hem their own pants, do you have your own sewing machine?  

Yes, but a "cheap" Singer from Target.  Don't bother with one of those hemming-only things, those break immediately.  Mine was around $100.  The fancy ones they have at the fabric store are expensive!  And kinda scary.

Sewing machines scare me.  I also don't have anywhere to keep it.

Same here. I remember mangling one during Home Ec. class way back when.

RevJen

I used one once.  It took forever because it scared me when the thing went too fast.  Plus I couldn't keep the material straight.  Sewing is not my friend.

booneybear

CeeCeeSugaPie said:

MrsC7 said:

RiverPlate said:

MrsC7 said:

For the people who hem their own pants, do you have your own sewing machine?  

Yes, but a "cheap" Singer from Target.  Don't bother with one of those hemming-only things, those break immediately.  Mine was around $100.  The fancy ones they have at the fabric store are expensive!  And kinda scary.

Sewing machines scare me.  I also don't have anywhere to keep it.

Same here. I remember mangling one during Home Ec. class way back when.

Sewing machines were half the reason I failed Home Ec.  Yes, I failed home ec.  I suck.

sfgiantsjo

I had to take a "costuming" class as part of my major in College, so I did learn how to sew, particularly hemming things and taking things in. We used these heavy, industrial size machines that were really furniture and irons that are permanently on. It was terrifying. However, I got used to the power in those things. They flew right through crazy jean seams. Now, I can't sew on little "home" machines, all I ever do is break needles. 

CeeCeeSugaPie

booneybear said:

CeeCeeSugaPie said:

MrsC7 said:

RiverPlate said:

MrsC7 said:

For the people who hem their own pants, do you have your own sewing machine?  

Yes, but a "cheap" Singer from Target.  Don't bother with one of those hemming-only things, those break immediately.  Mine was around $100.  The fancy ones they have at the fabric store are expensive!  And kinda scary.

Sewing machines scare me.  I also don't have anywhere to keep it.

Same here. I remember mangling one during Home Ec. class way back when.

Sewing machines were half the reason I failed Home Ec.  Yes, I failed home ec.  I suck.

With your mad cooking skills? Crazy!

sfgiantsjo

I have a stupid question.

Is it ok to post reviews of an ARC on Amazon/B&N/GR prior to release date? I know I've read such reviews, but I wasn't sure if authors hated it or if they love it and it helps them. I'm never sure of the "rules" when reviewing a book. I need a primer on writing a review. Anyone want to give me some dos and don'ts?

Kate&Mark

booneybear said:

CeeCeeSugaPie said:

MrsC7 said:

RiverPlate said:

MrsC7 said:

For the people who hem their own pants, do you have your own sewing machine?  

Yes, but a "cheap" Singer from Target.  Don't bother with one of those hemming-only things, those break immediately.  Mine was around $100.  The fancy ones they have at the fabric store are expensive!  And kinda scary.

Sewing machines scare me.  I also don't have anywhere to keep it.

Same here. I remember mangling one during Home Ec. class way back when.

Sewing machines were half the reason I failed Home Ec.  Yes, I failed home ec.  I suck.

Any sewing machine you would buy now is a million times more user-friendly than what you had in Home Ec!

Young_Love

jackiback said:

I have gotten a handful of pants and a couple of sundresses (they make those suckers for people who are at least 6'2") and they just have you put the clothes on, tell them what shoes you'll wear with them and they'll pin them, you'll take them off and come back for them  

I promise they don't! I try on sundresses and my entire behind is hanging out. I can't even alter that!

SacGeoLover

Young_Love said:

jackiback said:

I have gotten a handful of pants and a couple of sundresses (they make those suckers for people who are at least 6'2") and they just have you put the clothes on, tell them what shoes you'll wear with them and they'll pin them, you'll take them off and come back for them  

I promise they don't! I try on sundresses and my entire behind is hanging out. I can't even alter that!


This I'm only 5'8" and my butt is uncomfortaby close to hanging out of a lot of short dresses and tunics. This is the main reason I don't wear leggings- there are no shirts (that aren't huge tents) that are long enough to cover my entire behind. And capris? Just long ugly knee shorts. I feel really sorry for people taller than me. And FYI, the only pants I've hemmed have been the few times that long lengths were actually hittin the floor (gasp!) or I accidentally bought talls (extra long length).

julie37619

sfgiantsjo said:

I have a stupid question.

Is it ok to post reviews of an ARC on Amazon/B&N/GR prior to release date? I know I've read such reviews, but I wasn't sure if authors hated it or if they love it and it helps them. I'm never sure of the "rules" when reviewing a book. I need a primer on writing a review. Anyone want to give me some dos and don'ts?

Guidelines from publishers to bloggers usually ask that it not be posted more than a month in advance, and I think most prefer posting the week of, but the authors may want to correct me on that.

Young_Love

julie37619 said:

sfgiantsjo said:

I have a stupid question.

Is it ok to post reviews of an ARC on Amazon/B&N/GR prior to release date? I know I've read such reviews, but I wasn't sure if authors hated it or if they love it and it helps them. I'm never sure of the "rules" when reviewing a book. I need a primer on writing a review. Anyone want to give me some dos and don'ts?

Guidelines from publishers to bloggers usually ask that it not be posted more than a month in advance, and I think most prefer posting the week of, but the authors may want to correct me on that.

Amazon actually won't let you post a review prior to the release date, and I think B&N is the same.

I'd be happy to get a review whenever, but I think the publishers prefer the reviews to go on blogs/GR no more than a month in advance.

sfgiantsjo

Thanks for the helpful answers. I had no idea!

fabk

I sew and do a lot of hemming. Between mh's uniform pants and my reg pants (shorty mcshorterson here) I started doing it myself.
I was doing them by hand and still do his uniform that way but use my machine for the rest.

jackiback

Young_Love said:

julie37619 said:

sfgiantsjo said:

I have a stupid question.

Is it ok to post reviews of an ARC on Amazon/B&N/GR prior to release date? I know I've read such reviews, but I wasn't sure if authors hated it or if they love it and it helps them. I'm never sure of the "rules" when reviewing a book. I need a primer on writing a review. Anyone want to give me some dos and don'ts?

Guidelines from publishers to bloggers usually ask that it not be posted more than a month in advance, and I think most prefer posting the week of, but the authors may want to correct me on that.

Amazon actually won't let you post a review prior to the release date, and I think B&N is the same.

I'd be happy to get a review whenever, but I think the publishers prefer the reviews to go on blogs/GR no more than a month in advance.

I sorta wish GR would follow suit. I get annoyed that before release date there are 99 5 star "OMG CAN'T WAIT!" reviews. Grr. 

julie37619

jackiback said:

Young_Love said:

julie37619 said:

sfgiantsjo said:

I have a stupid question.

Is it ok to post reviews of an ARC on Amazon/B&N/GR prior to release date? I know I've read such reviews, but I wasn't sure if authors hated it or if they love it and it helps them. I'm never sure of the "rules" when reviewing a book. I need a primer on writing a review. Anyone want to give me some dos and don'ts?

Guidelines from publishers to bloggers usually ask that it not be posted more than a month in advance, and I think most prefer posting the week of, but the authors may want to correct me on that.

Amazon actually won't let you post a review prior to the release date, and I think B&N is the same.

I'd be happy to get a review whenever, but I think the publishers prefer the reviews to go on blogs/GR no more than a month in advance.

I sorta wish GR would follow suit. I get annoyed that before release date there are 99 5 star "OMG CAN'T WAIT!" reviews. Grr. 

YES!  Or you're trying to find a review for the book after the release date and all of the "top reviews" are gifs of people who were SO SUPER EXCITED for the release and haven't read it yet.  That drives me nuts.