Gowns That Are Slightly Too Long

• If your bridesmaid dress is slightly too long, this problem can be remedied by turning up the existing hemline and sewing it in place. To do this, fold the excess fabric under the dress and pin it in place. Try the gown on to ensure that it is now the correct length. Press the new hem with a cool iron, as this will help it retain its shape while you sew. Hand sew the hem to the underside of the dress, using a small, diagonal stitch that does not go all the way through the outside of the satin. This keeps your stitches invisible.
  
  

Gowns That Are Far Too Long

• If you are tripping on your bridesmaid gown when you walk, it may require more than an upturned hem to keep the length in check. Try the dress on and measure how much excess fabric there is at the hemline. Leave an inch behind to allow for the hem selvage and cut away the excess fabric. Turn up the hem and pin it in place. Press the fabric with a cool iron and hand sew the hem in place, using the same invisible diagonal stitch from Section 1.
  
  

Slightly Too-Short Gowns

• One of the best features of satin gowns is that they usually have a 1 to 2-inch hem selvage. If your dress is too short, take advantage of the excess hem fabric and take out the stitching with a seam ripper. This is a better choice than scissors, as seam rippers perpetrate less damage on delicate fabrics than scissors do. Iron the old hemline flat and turn up the unfinished edge. Pin the new hem in place and hand sew it with an invisible stitch.
  
  

Much Too-Short Gowns

• If your bridesmaid gown is far too short for the hem selvage to provide any help, go back to the shop where you purchased the gown and ask for an extra yard of matching fabric. Measure the circumference of the gown's hemline and add an inch to allow for the seam. Next, measure the amount of fabric you will need to make the gown long enough. Cut a panel of fabric bearing these measurements and sew the panel into a circular band, keeping right sides together. In this case, the right sides are the sides that will face out on the garment when it is complete. Pin the band to the gown's hemline, keeping right sides together. Sew it in place, either by hand or with a sewing machine. Hem the band with an invisible hem to finish the look.