As a genre, spy fiction is thematically related to the novel of adventure (The Prisoner of Zenda, 1894, The Scarlet Pimpernel, 1905), the thriller (such as the works of Edgar Wallace) and the politicoâmilitary thriller (The Schirmer Inheritance, 1953, The Quiet American, 1955).
Hems can be adjusted by hand stitching, by sewing with a machine, or by using hemming tape that is melted with a warm iron to glue the material together. This page explains how to hem using a sewing machine that can do blind stitching. Many sewing machines costing less than $100 Dollars have this capability. In addition to the sewing machine, you will need scissors, a seam ripper, thread matching the color of the material, a tape measure, an iron, and an ironing board.
Use one hand to hold the garment, and the other to stretch the elastic as it is fed through the sewing machine, elastic side up. Use a zig-zag stitch to stitch the elastic into place. Be sure that the stitch encloses the edge of the elastic (in diagram on right the zig-zag goes to the outer edge of the elastic). When the elastic is in place, turn the outer edge under. Pin into place. Stitch the hem using a zig-zag or straight stitch, stretching firmly as you go. NOTE: You can use this same method for the arm opening and neckline, depending on the pattern style. Check your pattern instructions.