A narrow hem is one of the easiest and quickest ways to finish a fabric edge. This tutorial will walk you through the steps of finishing your cut & sew challah cover with a narrow hem. You’ll have a cover finished and ready for your Shabbat and holiday table in no time.

First, cut out the cover along the cutting lines.

Fold 5/8” (1.6cm) of one edge to the wrong (unprinted) side of the fabric and press.

Fold the raw edge in again to meet the first fold, and press again. Pin the hem in place

Prepare the remaining three edges the same way.

At each corner, unfold the hem and clip the corner to remove some of the bulk – When cutting, stay within the fold lines. Refold the hem and pin in place.

Sew around all four edges, ¼” (6mm) from the edge, to secure the hem to the cover.
Tip: While sewing, keep an eye on the needle to make sure the stitches say on the hem – adjust the hem width if you need to.

Press the hem on the front and back sides. Beautiful!

Variations:

• Sew the hem using a decorative machine stitch and thread in a coordinating color. If using a decorative stitch, sew on the right (printed) side of the fabric.
• Sew the hem by hand using slip stitch or blanket stitch.

Maria Bywater is the author of Sew Jewish: The 18 Projects You Need for Jewish Holidays, Weddings, Bar/Bat Mitzvah Celebrations, and Home. She teaches hands-on Judaica sewing workshops.