craftgrrl | help for sewing strechy fabric?

I made a skirt yesterday because i needed it in the evening for a concert - so i rather rushed it. It looks acceptable (aka there isn't a great big sign on my butt saying "lookie here, home made skirt") but im not 100% happy with it.

My seems are fine, but my hem and waist band are a little messy. The fabric is light/shiny/strechy- polyester with a little lycra maybe.

Any tips for nicer hems for this type of material?

(i seem to remember reading somewhere to sew through paper - but i cant find the source and i dont want to blunt a needle over a vague memory)