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How to Hem Jeans in 3 Easy Steps

**warning: this post is mostly for short people**

Mrs. Stephanie Court from Barefoot in the Kitchen was kind enough to lend me the following post. Contessa Court is a very accomplished seamstress, but I can personally verify that this technique is friendly and approachable (just like Stephanie). Follow these steps and soon your pant hem and leg lengths will be perfectly matched too.

“I never think of myself as short (I’m almost 5’3”) until I stand next to someone other than my kids (which doesn’t happen all that often). Or until I go shopping for jeans. This year I invested in a good pair of jeans. I love them. But, like most pants, they were about 2 inches too long. Since I am not a heels and jeans kind of girl, they had to be hemmed. This is how I did it:

Step 1: Determining the amount the jeans need to be shortened.

Try on the jeans with the shoes you will usually wear them with and cuff at desired length. (Make sure the cuff ends exactly where you want the finished hem to be.) Pin the cuff and remove the jeans. Measure the length of the cuff, ignoring the original hem. (see photo above) Divide that measurement in half and re-pin the cuff using the new measurement as the length of the new cuff, again ignoring the original hem.

Step 2: Sewing the new hem

Once the new cuff is pinned, it is time to sew. I like to use the zipper foot on my machine for this step. Sew the new cuff in place as close to the original hem as you can.

Step 3: Finishing

Now that you have sewn the cuff in place, you have a little fold of extra jean on the inside of the pants. This can be trimmed off, or tacked in place. I prefer to tack it in place so I don’t have to worry about unfinished ends raveling. (But before you do any of that, try on the jeans, again with your shoes, to make sure they are the right length.) To tack the fold in place, turn the jeans inside out. Press the fold in the direction of the waist of the jeans. Sew a few stitches at the side seams to hold the fold in place and out of the way of the hem.

To see your handiwork, turn the jeans right side out and ta-da! You have a “new” hem. Because we sewed the cuff in place close to the original hem, there is a seam there, but it is not very noticeable.”

My finished product:

Thanks Stephanie!

My Photo

posted Filed Under: Sewing, Tall/Petite 53 Comments

Comments

  1. Eva says

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    I’m 5’2″ and short legged to boot so you can bet I do some hemming.
    I’ve been using this method for years, works like a dream.

    Reply
  2. Beth says

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    That is very clever. I bet it works good for childrens’ pants as well. Those are the ones that always seem to need hemming at my house. ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
  3. Ryan and Amy Harvey says

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    Wow, thank you for posting this…I can’t wait to try it!

    Reply
  4. ohio12 says

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    I am 5’3″ and I am glad I am not any shorter, but for buying pants it is the worst. I find that I am too tall for petites but WAY to short for regular pants.

    Reply
  5. stella g. says

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    i’m used this method and it’s saved my life. i no longer turn into the mean girl shopping for jeans in a too-tall world. (fyi: you’ll find that you’ll have to iron the hem each time you wash it.)

    Reply
  6. Sundance Kid says

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    This was very helpful. I wonder if it works for pants other than jeans as well. I have some linen slacks that are quite long – would this method work for those as well?

    Thanks!

    Reply
  7. Grandma Sue says

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    Very good. That is how I do them for your sisters. And of course they keep coming back. XOX MOM

    Reply
  8. Pretty Neat Designs says

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    Amazing. I think you just saved me enough money in tailoring bills that I can afford a new pair of jeans!

    Reply
  9. Fashionably Kate says

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    Hey! I knew you looked familiar! I’ve totally stalked this blog for awhile now. I just moved into your ward! Love your style, and I seriously want a consultation! ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
  10. Reachel Bagley, Stylist says

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    This method can be successfully used on trousers. We’ve even used it in my household on trousers with cuffs. You just hide the stitch under the top of the trouser cuff.

    Reply
  11. Domestically Sassy! says

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    I’m also a 5’2″ short legged gal and this is a a Fabulous trick!!

    Reply
  12. Kate says

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    I’m 5’0″ and I just wanted to say thank you for posting. I’m so excited to try this.

    Reply
  13. Modest Mom says

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    Oh wow! no more cutting and folding and trying to sew through so many layers of denim for me!

    Thanks from one who finds petite pants to be too long at times.

    Reply
  14. --Deb says

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    So clever! This 5’3″ person thanks you (grin)

    Reply
  15. Heather says

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    i’m 4′ 11″. you have just changed my life forever. where has this method been my whole life?

    Reply
  16. Old School Acres says

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    I think this originated from Z. Cavaricci. Remember those jeans? No, well, it was “back in the day.” Anyway, I’ve used this method and found that after several washings the hem sometimes tears right along the hemline, just like it’s following a little perforated line. A longer stitch length seems to help.

    Reply
  17. Alicia says

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    This *almost* 5’2″ girl thanks you a ton…this will save me in tailor fees as well as in angst when shopping.

    Reply
  18. Anne says

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    I have read about this, but could never visualize it. Thanks for the photos!

    Anne (5’1″)

    Reply
  19. binah06 says

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    Thats a great way to hem pants. I havent tried it before but I am next time I need to hem something. I am 5’0″ so I usually need to go up 3-4 inches. I hate shopping for Jeans!

    I have found that New York & Co’s petite line is awesome! Sometimes I dont have to hem at all and the shirts actually fit me well. Plus their clothes are perfect for work and socializing!

    Reply
  20. Tikabelle says

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    I’m on the opposite end of the spectrum – most pants that fit my waist are WAY too short for my legs, and “tall” pants are just *that much* too long for comfort. I think your method will work nicely – now I can buy the tall pants and they’ll fit both length and width wise. Thanks!

    Reply
  21. Heather says

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    What do you do with the extra fabric though? I’ve noticed that it’s not always a perfect fold up and sew – the bottom is a bit wider than up a few inches.

    Reply
  22. Lindsay and Casey says

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    We just did this for my sister’s pants. This shortie and two shortie sisters thanks you for a great idea.

    We were doing a pretty big hem, so we puckered in at the inseam for the excess fabric and serged the inside to make it less bulky.

    Reply
  23. Elizzy says

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    I’m really excited to try this!!!
    I for a while I got away with wearing kids jeans, but I don’t fit into them at the hips anymore anyways, now I have to cuff my jeans, and that just makes you look even shorter, especially when you’re 4’9″!! so thank you!!!!!

    Reply
  24. Suzie says

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    Oh my gosh having a daughter with Down syndrome this is so nice to know! I hope you don’t mind if I share it with those in my world!

    Reply
  25. kathryn says

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    Brilliant!
    I always just fold the cuff under and stitch, now I can keep the original hem!

    Thank you!

    kathryn (5’2)

    Reply
  26. Melissa Walker says

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    Just did my daughter’s 3 pairs of jeans–my husband is going to be so impressed with my sewing skills! Thanks!

    Reply
  27. Cindy says

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    This is so simple!! I am SO excited. My jeans look great. Thanks so much!!

    Reply
  28. Marianne says

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    THanks for the tutorial! I’m 5’8″ but my new jeans are still at least 2″ too long. Last time I had jeans hemmed I paid $20 for someone else to do it. It never occurred to me to do it myself. Thanks!!

    Reply
  29. Erika says

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    WOW! I am so impressed, I would have never thought of this on my own ๐Ÿ™‚ Now my hubby can stop walking around with dorky rolled up pants! (Seriously, the man does not know what length pants to buy!)Not to mention that I rarely find pants that are the correct length!

    Reply
  30. michellel says

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    Do you need to worry about using matching color thread? I assume so, but don’t see any mention of it?

    Reply
  31. Reachel Bagley, Stylist says

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    MichelleL
    You can match the thread in one of two ways:
    1. Use a thread (usually gold) that matches the thread used to stitch the rest of the jeans together.
    2. Use a dark colored thread that matches the denim

    Reply
  32. Emily says

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    Could you explain the difference between trimming off the extra little fold or tacking it in place? Thanks!

    Reply
  33. Reachel Bagley, Stylist says

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    Emily, starting out you just want to handsew some simple stitches (tack the fold) to keep it in place. You don’t want to trim off the fold because then letting them hem out is never an option.

    Reply
  34. Anita says

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    I’ve been sewing for years and just ran across this a few months ago and tried it on a pair of jeans for my Father. Worked like a charm and he was quite impressed. Recently hemmed up 4 pairs of jeans for my 7 year old granddaughter, her Mom said it’s like magic! They love having the original hems and I can let them down as she grows and/or for her younger sister. I’ve been tacking the cuffs in place and it seems to hold up. Thanks for the great tutorial, it’s one of the best I’ve found.

    Reply
  35. ROOTMIX.blogspot.com says

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    sweet! this method works so well that I bought a pair of jeans from a thrift shop and didn’t even notice the were hemmed until days later! this same method was used, except when the extra fold of fabric was cut off, the edge was serged!

    I have at least 3 pants to hem and glad to know the steps!

    thanks!
    rootmix

    Reply
  36. PetiteLittleGirl says

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    This is awesome. I have been wondering about how to keep the original hem. This is great tip. I am also petite.
    —————
    Visit my blog at PetiteLittleGirl.blogspot.com

    Reply
  37. Jessa says

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    It’s been two years since you posted this, but THANK YOU! I’m a novice sewer and when I buy jeans they are always far too long! This is going to be an amazing way to make my jeans actually look nice! And such an easy tutorial to follow!

    Reply
  38. Peonie says

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    Thank you so much for posting this! I just blind stitched instead of using a sewing machine, which I will do once I find it!

    Reply
  39. Annie of Blue Gables says

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    Great tutorial and pictures.
    @ Stella g:In addition to this method, I also top stitch on the outside close to the fold. Maybe that will prevent having to iron each time you wash? I haven’t done this for my jeans, but for my customers. So I don’t know about the ironing part.
    Thanks.
    ~a

    Reply
  40. Neil and Meredith Larson says

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    I tried this method on skinny jeans and was met with disaster. Since they are skinny jeans the bulk of the tuck made an unsightly bulge at the bottom of the pants
    ๐Ÿ™

    Reply
  41. Reachel Bagley, Fashion Consultant says

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    Meredith,

    Try trimming away the excess fabric behind the hem of your skinny jeans, it should remove the bulk without loosing the hem. But remember, I am definitely not a professional. So take my advice for the little it is worth.

    R

    Reply
  42. Carolyn says

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    I’m a novice sewer but I think I can handle this. I do have a question. What kind of foot is a zipper foot?

    Reply
  43. Carolyn says

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    I’m a novice sewer but it looks like I can handle this one. I do have a question. What is a zipper foot? do you need a thicker needle for sewing through 2 layers of denim?

    Reply
  44. Kathy says

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    I am short and even petite size jeans need to be hemmed. aauugghh. But with your tutorial,it was very easy. I dragged the ironing board, the sewing machine and my reading glasses to the computer. Set up shop, I would read a step, then get up and iron, then pin, then sew.

    It worked wonderfully. Thank you.

    To the comment above mine, I don’t know what a zipper foot is either. I just used the foot on the machine. I did use a needle used for denim.

    Reply
  45. Reachel Bagley, Fashion Consultant says

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    Carolyn,

    This is a zipper foot: http://www.purlbee.com/mars-bias-purse-with-zipper/2007/9/24/attach-the-zipper.html

    But as spoken of in the comment prior, other methods will also work.

    Reply
  46. Carolyn says

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    Holy cow! I can hem jeans! I feel like a sewing rock star. Thank you! I’m with Kathy – even thought I buy petite jeans I always need to have them hemmed. I feel like I’m saving a ton of money here. Thanks a bunch! And, I’ll try that zipper foot.

    Reply
  47. Anonymous says

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    Great ideal. Very quick to do. Really much easier than cutting and making a new hem. I am trying it on my granddaughter’s jeans mainly so the original hem will be showing. One question, if you choose to let the hem out in 6 months or a year there will be a noticeable line that shows the pant hem has been let out, right?

    Reply
  48. Reachel Bagley, Fashion Consultant says

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    Yes, depending on how many times you wash and wear the jeans between hemming them and letting out the cuff, you will see a noticeable difference in the fabric.

    Too bad, it would be great for adjusting to quickly growing children.

    Reply
  49. David Hudson says

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    Generally I do not post on sites, however , I would like to state that this post really obligated me to take action! really nice post

    denim suppliers

    Reply
  50. Anonymous says

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    Thank you so very much. This is wonderful info that will improve the jeans of my kids and I.

    Why do you fold the hem up and not down?
    The folded up hem could act like a pocket and hold dirt, sand, snow or anything else. This would be annoying.

    Do you do it that way because the deals may flare slightly and therefore it works better up than down.

    Thanks again

    Reply
  51. Reachel Bagley says

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    Anonymous,

    I fold the flap up because if it was folded down it would hang down below the new hem. You can definitely cut the extra fabric out if you wish thereby eliminating any sand pockets ๐Ÿ™‚

    Good luck in your sewing adventures!
    R

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. hemming pants - Women says:
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  2. Finding Ground. - craftivism. says:
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