Leg length in pants rarely conform to one's individual size requirements. Be it from store bought pants or ones that are passed on from another person, leg length adjustments are commonly necessary.
To modify the length of a pair of pants, their hem line must be modified. This task can be assigned to a tailor, or it can be accomplished at home for relatively little and cost and time. You can learn how to hem pants by following the steps outlined below.
For this task you will need:
- Scissors
- Pins
- Iron
- Sewing kit or sewing machine
Featured Video: How to Hem Pants
Before undertaking your first hemming project you may want to view this brief instructional video devoted to the techniques of properly pinning a hem when measurements have been taken. Watch it as many times as you deem necessary and then practice the pinning technique before actually hemming for the first time. Remember, properly pinning the fold is what gives you an accurate hem in the end.
Step 1: Taking the Measurements
The first step in hemming pants is to accurately take the measurements of the new hem line. To do this, the person to wear the pants should put them on. If the pants are to be yours, you will need the assistance of another person for this step.
Once the final wearer has the pants on, make certain that he/she is wearing shoes that they would normally wear with the pants, fold the hem to the desired length and secure the fold with pins. Use a minimum of four pins to ensure accuracy for the hem fold location. Make certain that this is done to both pant legs. Just measuring one and then trying to match up the second leg during the sewing process often leads to undesired unevenness in lengths.http://sewing.about.com/od/techniques/p/markanevenhem.htm
Once the measurements are pinned, have the person remove the pants carefully so as not to move the pins.
Step 2: Preparing the New Hem for Sewing
Take the pants with the newly measured and pinned hem fold and place them on a flat surface. Using a sharp pair of scissors trim off any excess material to within 2 inches of the bottom fold.http://sewing.about.com/od/beginner1/ht/hthempants.htm
Next, with the pins still in place, press the fold down and with a hot iron, press in the fold of the new hem line. Use caution so as not to scratch the bottom of the iron with the pins, as this can damage some teflon coated iron bottoms.http://sewing.about.com/od/beginner1/ht/hthempants.htm
Step 3: The Sewing
Once the bottom folds of the new hem line have been pressed with the iron, the final sewing process can begin. This may be accomplished with hand stitching or machine stitching with a sewing machine.http://sewing.about.com/library/howto/htpanthem.htm
Do not remove the pins securing the position of the new hem line until the sewing process has been finished.
Sew a straight seam through the two layers of fabric approximately 1/4 inch from the bottom fold. Fold the fabric up once to cover the cut edge and create a finished hem. When finished, remove the pins which had been securing the hem fold and press the folds flat with an iron again to provide a crisp and professional look.
References
Fast Facts
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Fact:
Use thread that matches the darkest color in your pants.
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Or, use thread that matches the other seams in your pants.
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Make sure to wear the shoes that you plan to wear with the pants, when folding the pant legs where the new hem will be.
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Pin toward the bottom of the pants, so that the sewing machine goes over the pins.
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If you don't have a sewing machine, see How to Hem Pants Without a Sewing Machine.
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Fact:
If your pants are silky and won't hold a fold, or if they have large bell bottoms, see How to Hem Pants Without a Sewing Machine.
