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Learning how to hem pants is an easy skill that can pay off big time. When you know how to hem jeans while keeping the original hem, you don’t have to stress about finding a pair that fits perfectly! It’s easy too — the ability to sew a straight line is the most advanced skill required.
Jillee’s Take:
In addition to learning how to shorten jeans, you’ll also learn how to hem dress pants without sewing. (Don’t have a sewing machine? I’ve also included tips on how to hem jeans by hand!) First up: how to shorten jeans!
Table Of Contents
How To Hem Jeans (And Keep The Original Hem)
You’ll need:
- Jeans
- Sewing machine
- Sewing pins
- Fabric marker*
- Clothes iron
- Scissors (optional)
- Fabric adhesive (optional)
*If you don’t have a special fabric marker or pencil, use chalk or a sliver of soap — it will wash right out!
Step 1: Measure And Pin The Pants
Put the jeans on and determine where you want the new hem to fall. (If you envision wearing a certain pair of shoes with these jeans, put those on too!)
If you’re not sure where the hem should go, the guidelines below can help.
Hem Length Guidelines
- Skinny Jeans – Hem should fall at the top of your ankle
- Straight Jeans – Hem should fall at the bottom of your ankle
- Bootcut/Flared Jeans – Hem should fall 1/4-1/2″ off the ground
Once you’ve decided on the ideal leg length, fold the hem of the jeans up so that the existing hem lies where you want the new hem to go. (You’re going to sew right alongside the hem, so it’s important to line it up correctly!) Use chalk or soap to mark the fold so you don’t lose track of it when you take the pants off.
Next, take the jeans off and lay them on a flat surface. Line up the side seams of one leg, then use sewing pins to pin the hem in place — no need to turn the jeans inside out!
If your jeans have a slightly tapered leg, pin the two side seams first, then add two more pins in between. (Once you start sewing, you’ll want to pull lightly to ease the fabric between the pins to avoid creasing.)
Step 2: Sew The Hem
Next, it’s time to sew! Thread your sewing machine with any color thread — it won’t show when you’re done — then sew a straight line just below the original hem. (Using a zipper foot on your machine can help you get as close as possible.)
How To Hem Jeans By Hand: You can do this step by hand using a sturdy needle and doubled thread (or embroidery floss or quilting thread, if you prefer!) Use a thread that matches the color of the pants, as hand stitching may be more visible, and make your stitches about 1/8″ away from the hem to give the fabric room to fold.
Step 3: Remove The Excess Fabric (Optional)
After sewing, there are two ways to deal with the excess fabric: leave it tucked up inside the pant leg or remove it with scissors. (If you choose to cut away the excess fabric, using fabric adhesive or a zigzag stitch along the raw edges can help prevent fraying.)
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Step 4: Press The New Hem
Finally, press the new hem. Unfold the bottoms of your jeans so that the hem points down and the fold points up, then press the area with your clothes iron. Your jeans will be hemmed to perfection and ready to wear!
More Ways To Shorten Jeans (With Or Without Sewing)
You don’t need to know how to sew to make too-long jeans fit better. Consider these alternatives:
- Create a temporary hem by following the directions in Step 1, but use safety pins instead of sewing pins to secure the hem.
- If you don’t mind losing the look of the original hem, you can hem jeans like any other pair of pants. The tricky part is sewing over the bulky seam after folding it. To make it easier, try trimming the side seams in the folded area, or do a zigzag stitch over the raw edge so you only have to fold it once.
- The simplest way to shorten jeans is to cuff them by folding the bottoms up once or twice. Cuffed denim jeans look great with a lot of different types of shoes!
- For a casual and carefree look, cut the jeans to the exact length you want, then leave the edges raw and let them fray naturally.
- Use duct tape to create a temporary hem — that way, you can get the look you want with any pair of shoes!
How To Hem Pants Without Sewing
You don’t need a sewing machine to hem your slacks or casual pants! One easy way to hem pants without sewing is with a fusible bonding product like Stitch Witchery. They come in different weights, so choose one that suits the fabric you’re working with.
Another no-sew option is to use iron-on hemming tape for pants, a special fabric tape with iron-on adhesive along the edges. You’ll find more details on both no-sew approaches below.
No-Sew Hem With Stitch Witchery
If you simply need to turn the hem of your slacks up once, this is an easy way to do so.
- Adjust your iron according to the directions on your fusible bonding product.
- Turn the pants inside out, lay them on your ironing board, and press the hems.
- Turn the hems up to where you want them and press again.
- Cut a short length of Stitch Witchery and place it just under the top edge of the hem. (Make sure it’s completely hidden; otherwise, it could stick to your iron and make a mess!)
- Press the hem(s) according to the product directions.
- Allow the fabric to cool and press the hem again, then press the crease if necessary.
No-Sew Hem With Hemming Tape
This is the way to go if you need to shorten a pair of slacks so much that you need to cut the bottoms off. When using hemming tape the edge of the fabric does not need to be turned or finished because it will be under the tape. Hemming tape also works well if you need to shorten slacks just a bit — simply remove the original hem stitching carefully with a seam ripper, and press it so the fold line is gone.
- Read the directions on the package of your hemming tape and follow them carefully.
- Turn the pants inside out, turn the hem up to where you want it, then press with your iron.
- Starting at the inseam, carefully position the hemming tape so that one bead of adhesive is on the hem and the other is on the pant leg. Press according to the package directions.
- Allow the fabric to cool, then turn the pants right side out and press the hems and creases.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do You Hem Shorts?
If you’re wondering how to hem shorts, you’ll be pleased to know you can use any of the methods outlined above for shorts, slacks, and jeans.
Is There A Way To Hem Jeans Quickly?
Yes! See the tips in the “More Ways To Shorten Jeans” section for methods that are either quick, temporary, or both.
How Do You Hem Pants With A Sewing Machine?
As long as you don’t mind the stitching showing, you can do it by turning the hem up to where you need it to be and using a straight stitch along the edge. (Check your sewing machine manual to see if it does a hemming stitch — it will give your hem a professional-looking finish!)
How Do You Hem Pants By Hand?
It depends on the pants! You can hem jeans by hand using the method I outlined earlier. If you’re hemming slacks, press and pin the hem in place, then use an invisible hand-sewing stitch and matching thread.
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How Much Does It Cost To Get Pants Hemmed?
If you don’t want to do it yourself, there are likely tailors or alteration shops in your area who can do it for you! Prices vary widely for clothing alterations, but you can expect to pay between $10-50 per pair of pants.
Conclusion
Finding pants of the perfect length can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack, and paying for alterations can be pricey. Instead, you can use these tips and tricks to hem jeans and other pants (with or without sewing) to save time, money, and effort!
Have you ever tried hemming jeans or slacks before?
How To Hem Jeans And Keep The Original Hem
Equipment
- Sewing machine
- Sewing Pins
- Fabric Marker (chalk or sliver of soap will work)
- Clothes iron
- Scissors optional
- Fabric Adhesive optional
Ingredients
- 1 pair denim jeans
Instructions
- Fold the bottoms of your jeans up so that the existing hem sits where you want the new hem to go, then mark the fold with a fabric marker.
- Line up the seams, then use sewing pins to pin the hem in place.
- Carefully sew a straight line directly below the original hem.
- If you want to remove the excess fabric, use fabric adhesive or a zigzag stitch along the cut edge to prevent fraying. (You can also leave the excess fabric as is.)
- Unfold the bottoms of the jeans and use an iron to press the hem down.
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