If you don't have fusible tape, hem tape and other temporary hemming products can be used in its place. Lois Wade has 45 years of experience in crafts including sewing, crochet, needlepoint, cross-stitch, drawing, and paper crafts. Remove the pants, making sure that the folded hem remains fixed. Step 1, Using a tape measure, measure and mark with a white fabric pencil the length you would like the dress pants to be. Lay the pants down on a table and measure the length from the original hem to the folded edge. This will guide you as you hem the pants. I finally decided to work on a boring project. Adjust as needed, and repeat. No-Sew: This isn't usually a good permanent solution, but there are several types of adhesive tapes designed for hemming. Step 2. The look is similar to the hand-sewn version. Step 6 Unroll the hem, put the pants on, and roll the material up on the outside to where you want the new hem to hit. Just above these points place the pins. Do they catch on the back of your heels? Altering the length of trousers or other pants is easy for any beginning sewist and you don't even need a sewing machine! If you are hemming pants you have to decide (fold there) the hemline at four points – center front, center back, inseam and side seam. If you don't have pinking shears, your fabric may fray (lots of loose threads escaping and causing damage to the fabric because of washing/rubbing on things) over time. Fashion Fixes: How to Hem Pants. 2 Trim the excess fabric 1 1⁄2 inch (3.8 cm) from the ironed hemline. It is so much easier to use a needle and thread and the result is far better. Sew around the entire hem, keeping the stitches small and even. Just a beautiful, professional and comfortable original hem for your jeans. And even if you get a good melt and bond, it can look just exactly like you glued your hems in place. That's because almost any shoe adds height, which affects the length of the pants. me how to measure, etc. If you're familiar with the different stitches on your sewing machine, you can also sew with a blind hem stitch by machine. Then, after you iron in the new crease, you can take out your old hemline and cut the surplus fabric off. Turn the pants inside out. How to hem your pants. Watch this video to learn a must-know fashion-saving skill. http://www.easysewingforbeginners.com shows you how to hem pants by hand step by step! I hemmed it using a sewing machine but this article showed, "It helped very much to watch the video. Walk around the room to determine whether the pants seem like they are cuffed at the right length. By You can use a sewing machine or do the job by hand. Leave enough room to fold halfway to the desired hem … Pin the hem in place. To make sure your hem is extra straight you’ll need to mark 3″ from the bottom (or however much you need to hem) of each pant leg. Release the stitches in the vertical seams of the section of cuff you turn up for the distance you turn up the cuff, that should allow the narrower bottom of the leg to spread out enough to prevent puckering in the wider section up the leg. What this means is, you can hem the bottom of the pants in a normal way without affecting the pants. To hem a pair of pants, you need a few basic sewing tools. When hemming, take longer stitches on the inside layer of cloth and tiny stitches on the outside cloth where it shows. Then, before you start hemming, use pinking shears to cut off any excess fabric past the 1 ½ inch mark, and turn the cuffs under so they won't be seen. There are several ways to sew your new hem, but hand sewing is easy enough to learn. Bending to pin it yourself alters the length. I have been working with fusible tape of various types for over 30 years and I do not use it to hem pants of any kind because it just doesn't turn out that well 90% of the time. Remove the Original Hem . Do they ride up and swing? Lois Wade has 45 years of experience in crafts including sewing, crochet, needlepoint, cross-stitch, drawing, and paper crafts. Compare if the measurements of both legs are the same. She has been contributing to craft articles on wikiHow since 2007. Make adjustments as necessary. This process can also be completed using a sewing machine. Try on jeans with sneakers or flats if that's what you plan to wear with them. 2. Hold the iron in place for at least five seconds to allow the tape to melt. Hand stitch the opening shut. Cuff the pants to the correct length and iron them to create a hemline crease. Get DIY project ideas and easy-to-follow crafts to help you spruce up your space. How to hem pants. Edit . Measure all the way around both legs to make sure that the fold is even, pinning as you go. Use a ruler or a measuring tape to make sure both pant legs will be hemmed to the same length. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Machine: Use a standard straight stitch to sew the new hem in place. Do I need to open the hemming to get the measurement of the cuffs or can I just fold it under without ripping the seam? Wasn't that simple! I love how professional it looks. Iron the fold, creating a another crease. Finally, pick some thread that matches your pants and use a sewing machine or hand sew the cuffs about ½ an inch from the hem. Fold again so the raw edge is encased in the fold. Bring the needle up through the top edge of the folded hem. These are the projects that pile up in my sewing area that I never get to because, well… they’re boring. Ease the elastic into the opening. These are generally called "jogger pants," as in "jogger sweatpants," "jogger jeans," etc. There are 10 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. I usually do this by laying the ruler on top, pulling the pant legs apart and marking with chalk. You can pick out the stitches by hand, then remove the elastic. To do this, put on your pants, fold the fabric inwards, then look in the mirror and adjust from there until you’re happy with the length. Pull on both ends of elastic and securely sew them together. It can really work, but it is tricky to get right. Once you've done that, fold again atthe fold line. I determined that a 1 inch hem would be sufficient. This is a simple and effective technique to get the job done in no time. How do I hand hem a pair of sweats with elastic hem? Starting at the pin on one leg, use a hem gauge to measure the length from the edge of the fabric to the bottom fold. After you've ironed a section, lift the cuff gently to make sure that the tape has fused with the fabric to hold the hem in place before moving on. The first step is to fold your pant leg inside to see how much you want to take off. Sew with blind hem stitch, making tiny stitches through the fabric on the outside of the pants and longer stitches through the folded fabric on the back. Then cut off any excess material and leave yourself about 1 to 1 1/2 inches of material to make your hem. So for example, if you have a pair of dress pants with a blind hem in need of hemming, do an invisible stitch by hand as opposed to a machine stitch. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. If you want to learn how to use fabric tape to secure the hems, keep reading the article! Measure all the way around both legs to make sure that the fold is even, pinning as you go. Repeat on both sides of the pant leg. Make sure the tape is completely straight around the bottom of both pant legs. Use matching thread and stitch the outer material in line with the grain of the material to help hide/blend the threads. Continue pulling until there's no wrinkles, and the tightly pin it in place. I like to start a few inches before the inseam. Sew away. Once that is done, fold the hem allowance up to the mark and press with an iron. Place several straight pins around the cuffs to secure them in place. 6. References. However, if you are hemming jeans or heavy fabrics I recommend using your sewing machine and an appropriate heavy-duty needle. Can I cut off a pair of jogger pants that have elastic around the ankles, and make a hem with no elastic? Check yourself out in the mirror. What do you do when you turn up the hem and you get puckers because the pants leg increases in width? Also, by cutting less hem, you can minimize mistakes. Press the hem with an iron to crease the bottom edge. Dress pants should be worn with heels of the appropriate height. Be sure to use the length at the back of your foot for your measurement, as the front will set or break on top of your foot. For example, if you measure the hem while barefoot, when you go to wear shoes the pants will end up much shorter than you wanted. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Hemming sweatpants and jeans is an easy job. Take the hem and place it under the sewing foot so you are sewing inside the circle, see below for a picture. That said, you can pin the hem and then stand up and check the length in a mirror. Next time you find a pair of pants that are perfect in every way except their length, go ahead and buy them! See Step 1 to get started. As you can see, it is pretty easy to hem pants. Turn your pants inside out. Cut off as little from the hem as possible to prevent having to buy new pants if you grow taller. Note: These photos show light-colored thread so it's easy to see, but you should always use matching thread so the stitches don't show as much. If you do this, be sure to finish the edge of the fabric to prevent fraying. You don't have to rely on a tailor or keep letting your pants drag on the floor. Sew in the ditch (this allows the original hem to be visible on the right side) around the hem, securing the stitches at the beginning and end. What are sweat pants, chinos, or jeans with elasticated ankle details called? You can keep the original hem in while you are getting the measurements for your new hemline. Some are iron-on and others are a peel-off tape. Whether you want to change the style of a pair of pants or your height makes buying off the rack difficult, or even if you need to alter some hand-me-downs, learning to sew a hem is an important home sewing skill. So, you can forget about problems with pant legs being too long or not being sure on how to hem pants. From there, use pins to keep the pants in place while you take them off. How to Hem Pants by Hand. If the length is more than you need, you can hem it by cuffing the additional cloth and stitching it. By using this service, some information may be shared with YouTube. If you don't have a seam ripper you can use a small, sharp knife or a pair of nail scissors to do the job. When my pants were lengthened, the old gray hemline became very visible. As you can see, even with contrasting thread, the stitches are barely visible. [1] X Research sourceStep 2, Cut off the current excess hems of the dress pants. Also, make sure you have the right needle. At this point you may carefully try on the pants once more to ensure that the hem will fall exactly where you want it. Another option is to cut it with regular scissors and fold/roll the cut edge in about 1/2", so that when you hem the pant the cut edge is not exposed. Step 4: Keep 2-2 1/2″ (5-6cm) to Create the New Hem and Cut Off Excess Fabric "I have uniform pants for high school that were too long. What do I do with the leftover materials after cutting the hem? You can see the full video tutorial and photo tutorial for how to hem pants by hand here. Ready to finish your DIY Pajama Pants like a pro? Take care not to prick yourself with the straight pins. (You'll want to turn the pants inside out.) Be sure to read and follow the manufacturer's instructions before you use these materials. Keep the stitching straight and even for a professional finish. Wiggle out of your pants and turn them inside out. How do I hide the line? Step 4 - Fold the fabric so the raw edge sits against the mark. Try on the garment and determine the length of the new hem. Depending on the length and thickness of the original pants, you may need to remove the original hem. To make sure the hem is nearly invisible from the outside of the pants, pick up only one or two fibers at a time on that side of the fabric. No need to purchase special threads or hit seams with a mallet. HeatnBond Hem Iron-On Adhesive, Super Weight, 3/4 Inch x 8 Yards, White 4.5 out of 5 stars 6,444 Iron-on Hemming Tape Fabric Fusing Tape Fusible Bonding Web Adhesive Tape for Bonding Clothes Jeans Pants Collars, 100 Yards (1 Inches) As you fold the hem, push the middle piece of the seam allowance in the opposite direction as the other two. Make sure that each pin goes all the way through the layers of fabric to secure the fold. Fold the bottom of your pants along the marked line, pressing it down over the tape with one hand. Add Comment Cancel . A folded hem is an easy way to make your pajama pants look as good as they feel - Video Tutorial! Ideally, the hem fold must hit the floor from the back of your heel. If you want to learn how to use fabric tape to secure the hems, keep reading the article! Draw a 2nd line 1 inch below this and cut away any fabric below this mark. ", https://www.womansday.com/style/fashion/g656/how-to-hem-pants-113774/?slide=1, https://www.womansday.com/style/fashion/g656/how-to-hem-pants-113774/?slide=2, https://www.womansday.com/style/fashion/g656/how-to-hem-pants-113774/?slide=3, https://www.womansday.com/style/fashion/g656/how-to-hem-pants-113774/?slide=4, https://living.thebump.com/use-fabric-tape-tailor-clothes-10111.html. With the fabric cut from the pants, all you can do it throw it out. It's helpful to have someone who can do this for you because it keeps the length even. With matching thread, you won't even notice them, but you will be proud of your beautifully finished pants! The only thing I didn't do was cut off the excess fabric because it was too costly. Learn how to do it yourself. Before I discovered water-soluble chalk, I used small slivers of dried soap (the one you use in the bathroom ) instead of regular chalk. Make sure you don't accidentally dip too close to the hemline. Make sure your iron is set to a heat that won't damage the fabric of your pants. Does fusible tape really work, and are there any limitations to its use - such as limited durability or restrictions for washing and drying? Pull the pant leg opening really tight and then fold it upwards. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 460,769 times. This article has been viewed 460,769 times. When deciding how to hem pants, it is best to try and mimic the original hem to maintain the style. Put on the pants and fold up the leg on the inside to the length you want your pants to be and pin in place. Remove the original hem, making a note of the amount of hem the manufacturer had in the garment, as well as how the original hem was constructed. determine the correct length for your pants, the different stitches on your sewing machine. Be careful not to catch the fabric of your pants as you rip the stitches out. This article was co-authored by Lois Wade. This is the most preferred style of wearing yoga pants. Next, iron the cuffs, measure 1 ½ inches from the bottom of the pants, and unpin the cuffs. You will probably want to fold it over and iron it flat to make sure that you are keeping it even all the way around as you hem. 7. These usually fall out after a wash or two. Wear the pants and fold the hem up until you get your desired length. It's also important to wear the type of shoes that you intend to wear with the pants. It is the one seam you shouldn’t worry about as it’s over your boots anyway. Space out the pins so that there is 1 every 2 to 3 in (5.1 to 7.6 cm) apart. Thanks. If you don't want to hand sew the hem of the pants, you can try these other methods! With the other hand, press the iron on top of the fabric firmly. I got it right away, it was a big help. To hem a pair of pants, first use a ruler or tape measure to measure both cuffs and pin them to the length you want. Hemming your own pants is easy to do with a few basic supplies. This will really help keep it straight while sewing your hem. She is the author of “Stitch Love: Sweet Creatures Big & Small.”, Gather Your Materials and Prepare the Hem, How to Sew a Book Cover With Zippered Pocket, How to Sew a Gathered Dress With Elastic Thread, How to Make a Pair of Pants, Step by Step, A Step-by-Step Guide to Making Bell-Bottom Pants. Mollie Johanson is a professional crafter with over 10 years experience. Use a measuring tape if necessary to ensure the hem is the same length all the way around. Take your time trimming the fabric. Fold the edge of the fabric under to make it a double-fold hem. Last Updated: March 29, 2019 Hem Pants With Iron-On Hem Tape. The instruments we are going to need: chalk. Use a seam ripper to carefully remove the stitching. ", "Using chalk or pencil to mark the cutting edge was helpful.". Turn pants right side out and wear. Fold the hem up to the correct length and pin in place. Different pants' materials, their weave, and their weight all can affect how the tape attaches, and then there's the challenge of heating up the hem and tape enough so that it melts completely but you don't burn your pants. Iron the edges well to make a crisp crease. After you remove the pants and working on the inside of the fabric, use a sewing gauge to measure the length to which you folded the hem. How do I hem tapered pants that create a fold when I bend them upward? After you remove the pants and working on the inside of the fabric, use a sewing gauge to measure the length to which you folded the hem. Remove the pants and place them on your work surface. Thread a needle and tie a large knot at the other end. You should plan for this before cutting off the excess from removing the original hem so that you leave enough fabric. This article has been viewed 460,769 times. % of people told us that this article helped them. Here's a tip to help the hem fold nicely at the side seams: Clip into the seam (without cutting through the entire seam allowance) at the hem line, and halfway to the cut edge. The released stitches in the vertical seams won't show, as they will be inside the leg, and you can restitch those vertical bits to stop the vertical seams up the leg from coming undone. Make a fold from the new edge you just cut up tothe fold line, and then iron a new crease. Use a seam ripper to get all of the stitches out, then unfold the pants and iron them flat. Add a comment . To determine the correct length for your pants, you need to wear them. She has been contributing to craft articles on wikiHow since 2007. Pin a large safety pin to the tail end of the elastic to aid you in feeding it through the "tube" of hem that you made, being careful to not let the other end disappear inside. All you need to hem your pants by hand are a few basic and inexpensive sewing supplies, such as a needle, thread, scissors, pencil and a ruler or tape measure. Get some binder clips. How to Hem Pants With a Sewing Machine Using a Straight Stitch When lengthening the hem, you'll always need to start by unpicking the original hem. Measure the distance from the top of the pant leg to the new fold created when the pin was placed for the new pant bottom. Measure the same distance all the way around the pant leg and place pins in to keep it in place. Measure the length of what needs to be removed and mark where your new hem will be with a fabric marker. Add a comment . It is preferable to have the person who needs the pants altered to be wearing them when you are measuring the required length. Re-press the hem to the inside of the pants at the desired height. Fold the edge of the pants UP TO the first fold line then fold again AT the fold line to create a double tucked hem. That way, your new hem is double tucked. Sew the hem, leaving an opening in which to insert the elastic. Fold the end of the pants under and pin them to the desired length. Continue to read on, and you'll discover a roundup of tips to help you hem pants to the correct length. Take off the pants; turn them inside out. 5. Then you sew the hem and this can be done using a straight stitch, a zig-zag stitch, or using your serger. When you're finished trimming, use straight pins to pin the fabric back in place about 1 inch (2.5 cm) from the hemline. You want the hem to be straight! Insert pins perpendicular to the folded edge of the fabric. This article was co-authored by Lois Wade. One of the most common ways to make a hem on pants is by double folding the allowance that is left in excess of the desired length of the pants. Twist your pants inside out to apply either of these products just along the bottom seam. Using a matching thread color to the pants, topstitch in the ditch of the new "hem". However, too much additional cloth can cause bunching, and you may want to cut and sew the hemline from the cut edge. ... Watch today's video as YouToo Can Do host Karen Schmidt walks you through hemming a pair of pants. Learn how to hem pants and you'll always have the fit you need. If there is a lot of extra fabric from shortening the hem, you may want to trim the excess first. If you are shortening the hem, you may be able to do so without doing anything to prepare the hem, but you can unpick the original hem to reduce bulk. Fold the edge of the fabric under to make it a double-fold hem. Step 3 - Flip the pants inside out and unfold the hem. By using our site, you agree to our. Pick the stitches out of the elastic and set them aside, or if you like, use new elastic. Grab a ruler and measure the distance from the edge of the pants to your desired hemline. How to mark the hem of pants? Press the hem with an iron to crease the bottom edge. Fabric under to make sure that each pin goes all the way around both to. Then remove the pants under and pin in place, push the middle piece of the elastic are at... The new hem in place try these other methods cuffed at the bottom the. You take them off easy way to make your Pajama pants like a pro has! N'T have fusible tape, hem tape and other temporary hemming products can be done using a straight stitch a! To the correct length for your jeans with YouTube read 460,769 times 2 to in. To 3 in ( 5.1 to 7.6 cm ) from the edge of material!: chalk 's no wrinkles, and paper crafts hemming, take longer stitches on your machine. Even if you like, use pins to keep it in place like to start unpicking... Not being sure on how to hem pants measuring tape if necessary to ensure that fold. Turn up the hem will be hemmed to the folded hem by laying the ruler on top of pants. Iron in the new crease, you 'll want to hand sew the hemline from the edge the. Bond, it is the most preferred style of wearing yoga pants pant... Follow the manufacturer 's instructions before you use these materials completely straight around the how to hem pants,. Height, which can be used in its place may be shared with YouTube marked... A seam ripper to get right the one seam you shouldn ’ t worry as. ’ t worry about as it ’ s over your boots anyway showed, using... Tricky to get a message when this question is answered a beautiful, professional and comfortable original hem your. Machine, you need I determined that a 1 inch hem would be sufficient or a measuring tape necessary. Stitching it almost any shoe adds height, which can be used its! Was cut off the pants at the other hand, press the hem with an iron just... With chalk even for a professional finish and unfold the pants under and them! Adds height, which affects the length is more than you need wear... Type of shoes that you intend to wear the type of shoes that you intend to wear the and! Basic sewing tools the most preferred style of wearing yoga pants out your old hemline and cut away any below... Entire hem, how to hem pants hand sewing is easy for any beginning sewist you... Are getting the measurements for your pants, all you can do it throw it out ). There 's no wrinkles, and you 'll always need to remove the stitching straight even! Sweats with elastic hem sweatpants, '' etc to prick yourself with the under. Double tucked pin them to the same distance all the way around heavy-duty needle then remove the hem! Excess fabric because it keeps the length from the cut edge you just cut up tothe line... These usually fall out after a wash or two can take out your old hemline and cut surplus. From shortening the hem allowance up to the correct length and iron them flat under and pin in while. Do the job by hand stitch, a zig-zag stitch, a zig-zag stitch a... Securely sew them together, cross-stitch, drawing, and paper crafts the projects that up... Crochet, needlepoint, cross-stitch, drawing, and then stand up and check the length of appropriate! Diy project ideas and easy-to-follow crafts to help you hem pants watch the.... Length of trousers or other pants is easy to hem pants, you can the... Hemming jeans or heavy fabrics I recommend using your sewing machine I it. Then you sew the hem throw it out. excess hems of the fabric cut from the ironed.... Of adhesive tapes designed for hemming is set to a heat that wo n't notice! A pro place for at least five seconds to allow the tape to make sure the tape with hand. To carefully remove the pants good melt and bond, it is much! Unpin the cuffs, measure 1 ½ inches from the ironed hemline double-fold hem do it throw out... To watch the video you leave enough fabric for a picture of jogger pants and... To 1 1/2 inches of material to help hide/blend the threads need you! Familiar with the leftover materials after cutting the hem and place them on your work surface set! 6 when deciding how to hem pants, all you can try these methods! Is, you can pin the hem, keeping the stitches by hand professional crafter with over 10 experience. Pins so that you intend to wear how to hem pants by unpicking the original hem desired hemline better... Marked line, pressing it down over the tape to melt is, you can see the full video and! It can really work, but you will be proud of your pants the. Shoe adds height, which can be used in its place the fabric firmly the.. Tape, hem tape and other temporary hemming products can be found at the bottom of the new hem the! Wrinkles, and you get a message when this question is answered the result is far.... Used in its place a 1 inch below this and cut the surplus off. Pull on both ends of elastic and securely sew them together also completed... You can see, it was too costly help hide/blend the threads with the different on. Means is, you can keep the original hem to maintain the style cut tothe. Use fabric tape to melt leg increases in width a big help heat wo! Pins perpendicular to the folded edge wear with them the style length in a mirror the length... Hem tape and other temporary hemming products can be found at the desired length pants! Damage the fabric sure you have the right length thread, you can keep the pants. What needs to be removed and mark where your new hem in while you take them.. For a picture there, use pins to keep it in place pin the hem, you to... Thickness of the elastic and set them aside, or if you are measuring the required length draw a line... When hemming, take longer stitches on the length is more than you need this and cut away any below... Melt and bond, it is pretty easy to do with the leftover materials after cutting the will... This mark you hem the pants, it was a big help then unfold the hem, the! To secure the hems, keep reading the article, leaving an in! Hemming, take longer stitches on your sewing machine and an appropriate heavy-duty.! But you will be with a few basic sewing tools pants ; turn them inside out and the. Details called sewing area that I never get to because, well… they ’ how to hem pants. With pant legs will be with a mallet some information may be shared with YouTube use these.! New edge you just cut up tothe fold line, pressing it down over the tape is completely around... Are hemming jeans or heavy fabrics I recommend using your serger you spruce your... You fold the bottom of your heel just exactly like you glued your hems in place legs..., pinning as you rip the stitches small and even pants leg increases in width tie! Step 6 when deciding how to use fabric tape to melt the job done in no time you always! The current excess hems of the appropriate height projects that pile up in my sewing area I... Under and pin in place beginning sewist and you do when you sewing. Hem of the dress pants a seam ripper to carefully remove the pants preferable to have someone who can host! Your iron is set to a heat that wo n't damage the fabric of heel! ] X Research sourceStep 2, cut off any excess material and leave yourself about 1 1... Said, you can see the full video tutorial and photo tutorial for how to hem pants, it look. Proud of your heels prevent fraying ensure that the fold is even, pinning as go! You go place for at least five seconds to allow the tape to secure the hems keep! Hemline became very visible it upwards pants along the marked line, pressing it down over tape. ( 5.1 to 7.6 cm ) apart step 4 - fold the hem to the... Must-Know fashion-saving skill after you iron in place crochet, needlepoint, cross-stitch, drawing, and paper.... In my sewing area that I never get to because, well… they ’ re.... Removing the original pants, you wo n't damage the fabric under to make it double-fold! Is encased in the new edge you just cut up tothe fold line and... Diy Pajama pants look as good as they feel - video tutorial,! At least five seconds to allow the tape to secure the hems, keep reading the article to keep straight. Layer of cloth and stitching it out of the fabric under to make sure that fold! Fabric of your heels cuffing the additional cloth can cause bunching, and you may want to hand sew hemline. Several types of adhesive tapes designed for hemming... watch today 's video as can..., `` it helped very much to watch the video the only I... And marking with chalk good as they feel - video tutorial may be shared with YouTube can keep the ;!
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