Learn How to Hem A Pair of Pants
I'm short, >>>extremely short<<< so every time I buy new jeans I HAVE to hem them. The only exception is when they are purchased in the girls section.
This lens will show you step-by-step on how you can hem your own pants and save a lot of money. Even if you don't have a sewing machine, and you have to go and buy one, you will still end up saving money in the long run.
It's fast, fun and easy enough for anyone to do. When hemming your pants for the first time, it might take you a while, but once you have the hang of it, you can do it in as little as 20-30 minutes.
This lens will show you step-by-step on how you can hem your own pants and save a lot of money. Even if you don't have a sewing machine, and you have to go and buy one, you will still end up saving money in the long run.
It's fast, fun and easy enough for anyone to do. When hemming your pants for the first time, it might take you a while, but once you have the hang of it, you can do it in as little as 20-30 minutes.
Table of Contents
Things You'll Need
1) Your favorite pair of shoes
2) Measuring device, such as a ruler or measuring tape
3) Cutting mat, straight edge, rotary cutter, OR pair of scissors
4) Iron
5) Sewing Machine
6) Ironing board or other surface suitable for ironing
7) Needle and thread compatible with your pant material
2) Measuring device, such as a ruler or measuring tape
3) Cutting mat, straight edge, rotary cutter, OR pair of scissors
4) Iron
5) Sewing Machine
6) Ironing board or other surface suitable for ironing
7) Needle and thread compatible with your pant material
Getting Started
1) Wash and dry your jeans to shrink them down a bit
2) Put them on...
3) Now put on your favorite pair of shoes. This will help you determine the length of your pants if you're planning on wearing high heels or platforms with these pants.
2) Put them on...
3) Now put on your favorite pair of shoes. This will help you determine the length of your pants if you're planning on wearing high heels or platforms with these pants.
Measuring
4) Roll your pants up to the desired length and measure the excess length. Here we see it's 4 inches to long. Do NOT cut yet.
5) Decide how wide your seam should be. In this case the seam is ½ inch so I will make mine the same. That means I will need about 1 inch of fabric to make my seam.
6) Minus the 1 inch of fabric needed to make the seam from the 4 inches of excess length. This leaves you with only 3 inches of excess material which you will need to cut off.
5) Decide how wide your seam should be. In this case the seam is ½ inch so I will make mine the same. That means I will need about 1 inch of fabric to make my seam.
6) Minus the 1 inch of fabric needed to make the seam from the 4 inches of excess length. This leaves you with only 3 inches of excess material which you will need to cut off.
Cutting
7) Line your pant leg up seam to seam, to allow for a more even cut.
8) Lay them on your cutting board evenly and using a straight-edge ruler, measure where to cut, and place on top. Press down firmly with one hand to keep the ruler in place and cut off the 3 inches of excess material using a rotary fabric cutter.
(If you don't have a cutting board and rotary fabric cutter, you may use scissors making sure to make an even cut across.
8) Lay them on your cutting board evenly and using a straight-edge ruler, measure where to cut, and place on top. Press down firmly with one hand to keep the ruler in place and cut off the 3 inches of excess material using a rotary fabric cutter.
(If you don't have a cutting board and rotary fabric cutter, you may use scissors making sure to make an even cut across.
Ironing--Preparing To Sew
9) Turn pants inside out
10) Fold over 1 inch of fabric to the wrong side of pants, and pin in place.
11) Iron. This will create a crease in the fabric.
12) Remove pins; fold in the fabric to the crease and replace the pins. Iron the edge being careful not to remove the crease created previously. This creates a fold just under ½ inch.
13) Now fold again at the first crease to hide the raw edges. Iron and pin to keep in place. You should have a fold of about 5/8 inch.
10) Fold over 1 inch of fabric to the wrong side of pants, and pin in place.
11) Iron. This will create a crease in the fabric.
12) Remove pins; fold in the fabric to the crease and replace the pins. Iron the edge being careful not to remove the crease created previously. This creates a fold just under ½ inch.
13) Now fold again at the first crease to hide the raw edges. Iron and pin to keep in place. You should have a fold of about 5/8 inch.
Sewing
14) Set your machine-make sure you are using the right needle and thread designed for the material of your pants. Set the tension using the scrap pieces which you cut off earlier.
15) Turn pants right-side out and sew.
16) Iron one more time from the wrong side to set in the new seam.
15) Turn pants right-side out and sew.
16) Iron one more time from the wrong side to set in the new seam.
TA-DA!
That's all there's to it!
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Comments
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- CCGAL CCGAL Oct 26, 2009 @ 9:42 am
- This is an excellent example of a useful how-to lens that is focused on a single objective. Very nicely done! 5* and a Fav from me!lens
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- ajgodinho ajgodinho Jun 30, 2009 @ 7:41 pm
- Beautifully done...I really like your personal touch to this lens and the work with all the pictures. I can tell you put in a lot of work into it...5*s and joined your fan club!
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- AppalachianCountry AppalachianCountry Jun 26, 2009 @ 8:26 am
- Awesome lens. This has become a lost art. 5 stars*****
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- rydigga rydigga Jan 17, 2009 @ 12:13 pm
- Hi Helen, Nice step by step instructions. Thanks for sharing.
Ryan
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- kiwisoutback kiwisoutback Dec 5, 2008 @ 8:05 pm
- Great tutorial! The pictures make it very easy to follow.
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by rhelena
My name is Helen, I reside in beautiful Southwestern Ontario, Canada. Lake Erie is only 30 minutes from my home! I wouldn't have it any other way!
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