Want to add extra lift or structure to the hem of a garment? Watch our guide on using horsehair braid to add structure to hems to cosplay costumes, gowns, and more!

Supplies List

• Sewing Machine
• Needle for hand sewing
• Color-matched thread
• Horsehair Braid (any width)
• Iron

Tutorial Video

In this instruction video, I used our 'Anime Princess Dress'  sewing pattern to create a cosplay inspired by Princess Serenity's gown from Sailor Moon. You can find the print-at-home sewing pattern used to make this dress here in our shop. Scroll down for a link!

I'm hemming the bottom layer of this Princess Serenity cosplay with a blind hand stitch, which makes a hemline stitch invisible from the right side of the fabric. If you're new to hand-sewing hems, watch the video!

Horsehair braids come in a variety of colors, widths, and stiffnesses. Common colors include white, black, eggshell, and cream (but it can also be found in fun colors like blue, pink, and purple!) Popular widths range from 1/4" to 6". Generally, the wider and stiffer the braid, the more exaggerated the flair added to your hem will appear.

For this project, I'm using a flexible white 1" braid. You can create more drastic results by using wider braid, but for this project I'm aiming to add only a little extra structure to the bottom layer of skirts to make the dress easier to walk in. Sewing in horsehair braid not only adds much-needed structure but it can be used to create gravity-defying elements on various parts of a cosplay costume! It's an excellent material to have on hand for much more than just gown hemming.