Imagine this scenario: You go shopping and find a gorgeous pair of pants that fit great but…. they are way too long! If you’re very short like me, this might be a familiar scene. Almost all my pants are too long so I learned how to hem all kinds of pants so I don’t have to spend all my money on a tailor. I often find myself needing to hem my pants so they don’t drag on the floor and I like to hem my old jeans so they become shorts, like this example.
Cutting your pants
The first step is to cut your pants the proper length. You need to find what length you want your pants to be and mark them. Then you will add 1 1/2 inches to the length and cut your pants. I chose to make a 1 inch hem for my pants, if you are hemming denim jeans or skinny jeans, you may want to make a smaller hem that’s only 1/2 an inch or so and you will only need to add 1 inch to the length instead of 1 1/2.
Folding up the hem
Turn your pants inside out. Fold up the unfinished edge of your pants 1/2 inch and pin in place. The wrong sides of the fabric should be touching. Then press your pants flat.
Now you will fold the hem up again. I folded it up another inch, but if you are hemming jeans or long pants, you may only want to fold it up 1/2 or so. You will need to decide what looks best. Make sure you can’t see the unfinished edge once it is all folded. Then pin and press flat.
Sewing the hem
Keep your pants inside out while sewing. Line up your pressor foot with the inside edge of your folded hem and move the needle all the way to the left, as pictured
Repeat on the other side and you’re done!
