Hemming Jeans Like a Pro

20 Comments »

July 8th, 2008 by Brian E. Young

Want to easily hem your jeans, keeping the original seam? Originally posted on Fig and Plum‘s post Hemming Jeans Without Looking Stoopid, Redux was a Word document that had disappeared from Cavaricci’s site. I had put up an html version just to make it easier to read a while back. Not everyone has Word and seeing it in your web browser is convenient. I’m reformatting it today as a WordPress post for easy content management. Make sure to send your thanks to Fig and Plum, a great site to add to your RSS reader!

Step 1

Start by making a cuff, like this one. The idea is to have the wear on the hem stitching show. Then figure out how many inches you need to take off.

Step 2

Now for the fun stuff! Divide the amount your taking off in 1/2 and place your tape measure or small ruler on the edge of the hem. Measure the same amount all around the hem, and pin in sections to make sure you will take off the same amount all around.

Step 3

Place the sewing foot on the edge of the hem, like shown above, and slowly stitch the cuff all the way around. Make sure that it measures the same all the way around.

Step 4

Okay, the hard work is all over. The original worn hem and stitching should be visible. If it’s not, then it’s either time to start over, or it’s time to let the pros handle it.

Step 5

Push the extra fabric inside upwards if it is a small amount. If it’s a huge wad of fabric then grab your scissors and cut off some of the extra fabric, leaving about 3/4″ to allow for fraying in the wash.

Step 6

Turn the leg right side out and lay it flat. With your fingertips, press the seam you just created flat.

Step 7

On the inside of the leg, use your iron to press the extra fabric upwards.

Step 8

Then press the outside of the leg until it is nice and flat.

Admire your work!

There you have it! Can you tell the difference?

Update Aug 8, 2008. This forum thread linked to this page with some additional suggestions to ensure an even better hem. “just line everything up, and every couple of inches, make a stitch through the folded fabric, and then through your jeans (be sure to go vertically so it blends better). Go around a couple times in the same area (1mm apart x 3stitches is the best bet) and then tie them in double, triple, whatever knots, tie very well, and tight, and then snip off your excess. Maybe hit the fabric glue right on the knot to stabilize it.” Visit that thread for the full conversation

Sewing Books

Sewing 101: A Beginner’s Guide to Sewing

Complete Photo Guide to Sewing – Revised + Expanded Edition: 1200 Full-Color How-To Photos (Singer)

More resources

How to Hem Jeans from Dacia Ray

Hemming Jeans, A Tutorial from Canadian Crafter

Blind Hem Jeans from Burda Style

20 Responses:

From Tanya
August 4th, 2008 at 10:02 am
Fantastic!! I’m absolutely thrilled with the result. I can barely notice any altering has been done, and I still have my original hem. ) I’m a novice when it comes to sewing, and I found this method very easy to follow and achieve! Thanks so much.
From Les
August 24th, 2008 at 3:55 pm
Very cool technique. I’ve always liked it best if they fit properly off the shelf.

Less last blog post..Custom Jeans For $135?! Well, Sort of… (http://fashionhobo.com)
From Roar (from Norway)
August 28th, 2008 at 5:30 pm
Thank you, oh thank you, thank you, thank you!! I always have to hem my pants after having bought them from the store, and I usually just remove the excess length, fold once and stitch a straight seam all the way around. Your method is just as easy as that, but the end result is sooo much better! Thanks for sharing
From heather
September 6th, 2008 at 9:27 am
omg this is fantastic, ive just done this and it didnt take long at all, and the result is great.
seen as im young it is the first time i have sewed, and the first time ive used an iron and still the result is great
thankyou ever so much =]=]=]=]=]=]=]
x
From Ashley
November 16th, 2008 at 6:44 am
Thanks!

This is so fantastically simple!
From Dawn
January 10th, 2009 at 7:25 pm
This method allows you to unstitch the hem if you get it too short/long, then redue it. You can then trim off the excess inside the pant if it bugs you. Thanks to much !
From Linda
January 22nd, 2009 at 11:48 am
THANKS! I have been sewing for over 40 years. I am tiny, under 5 feet. My daughter is even shorter. I have always hemmed jeans by the labor-intensive, cutting and remaking a new hem. It never looked original -always home-made. So even though I am an experienced seamstress, having sewn for theatre productions -this was NEW and exciting! You CAN always teach an old dog NEW tricks!!!
From Maria
July 28th, 2009 at 1:31 pm
I sew. I have never done a blind hem and I get confused VERY easily. This was -so- easy! My hems came out beautifully! They were even destroyed with huge holes from my heels! I was able to work around it using your directions. You are awesome! Thanks!!!
From Shannon
September 3rd, 2009 at 11:00 am
Thanks for this great tip. I used to wear “longs” but all of a sudden, “longs: are way too – you guessed it – long! I have been sewing for years, but never would have thought to use this method on my own. It was super easy and came out really great. I had to take off 3 inches from a pair of jeans, and it was not too bulky on the bottom. You can’t even tell when you look at them that I altered them. They came out perfect!
From Amber
September 30th, 2009 at 3:20 pm
I loved it! The directions were easy to use and it took me less that 1/2 hour to hem my pants instead of how long it takes when you cut and fold to make an original hem.
From Anh
October 9th, 2009 at 2:03 pm
It worked and I love it. I am a beginner in sewing and I did it in less than 1/2 per pair. It is so easy and thanks so much for your help.
From ABRIELLE
October 10th, 2009 at 7:12 am
Ohhh.. Perfect job ! thanks a lot.
From Vicky
October 14th, 2009 at 12:00 pm
Hi, So, If I need to shorten the pants 3 inches, I need to turn up just 1 1/2 inches to start with? Is this correct? I have heard about hemming this way but never tried it. I am doing some jeans for someone else so sure don’t want to ruin them , most especially since they are high dollar jeans. But they recommended doing them this way. So, thanks for any additional tips. Vicky
From Brian E. Young
Twitter: Sketchee

October 24th, 2009 at 2:01 am

That sounds right, Vicky! You can always practice the folding and steps before you do the sewing. Pin it to make sure you get the length right
Brian E. Young´s last blog ..TwitterLink Comments Let’s Readers Add Their Twitter Name to WordPress Posts
From uberVU - social comments
December 1st, 2009 at 10:07 am
Social comments and analytics for this post…

This post was mentioned on Twitter by aoiwowie: @elorg Don’t feel bad. I have to hem my pants that don’t come in “short” length. It sucks to have inadequate legs. BTW, http://tr.im/qiPA...
From Gayla
December 12th, 2009 at 2:16 pm
In response to Vicky…you are correct. Fold and measure half the amount you want to shorten making sure to measure from the existing hem not including the hem. The reason you measure half is because when it is folded you are looking at half the measurement and the other half is on the other side.
From Ali
January 21st, 2010 at 8:05 pm
Ingenious!!!! What a great tutorial! Thank you so much for posting it!
From Annie
January 28th, 2010 at 12:11 am
Excellent! A friend asked me to hem her jeans and I needed to make sure I was planning on doing it the correct way before actually doing the alteration. Question: is there a special thread for denim that I should have her pick up? Thanks!
From bolsas
February 2nd, 2010 at 8:16 pm
Loved reading this post, do you also have some sort of newsletter?
From Melisa Jones-Brown
July 12th, 2010 at 3:29 pm
I bought jeans in Turkey and they were too long in the legs,One minute,said the shopkeeper,our man will fix them and I`ll be back in 15 min.Ok,said I and was wondering how anybody could hem jeans that fast.15 min.later he came back with my new bought jeans and the right lenght and the jeans hem intact.How on earth did he do that? I was intriqued and had a good look when I got back to the hotel.I could not believe it to hem jeans could be that simple.Wonderful. To day I found this page and just done a pair of my husbands jeans and a pair of his black cargos.Thank you very much.