Be sure to take a notch out of the side seams. Jaymi Heimbuch
- hemming jeans photo Be sure to take a notch out of the side seams. Jaymi Heimbuch
- hemming jeans photo Iron your pinned hem for easy sewing. Jaymi Heimbuch
- hemming jeans photo Use the right sewing needle and thread for jeans. Jaymi Heimbuch
READ MORE ABOUT:
If you lean a bit on the short side, you likely have to hem every pair of pants you buy. Trips to the tailor can add up if you don't know the basics of hemming. Or if you do have basic skills, a hem on slacks or a skirt might not be a big deal. But jeans can be complicated.
The material is thicker, you use a more specific thread and needle, and you want the hem to look aged just like it does when you buy them. Here's a way to get the hem of your jeans to look store-bought. And it's not tough at all!
Materials:
Upholstery or jean thread in a color that matches the existing thread on your jeans
A jeans needle for your sewing machine (100/16 or even 80/12 will work)
Fabric scissors
Measuring tape
Pins
Iron
Sewing machine
Fine grain sandpaper (you'll see why)
-
How to Hem Jeans
- Decide on the length of your jeans. It's always a good call to have the hem just brush the ground when you're standing up straight and wearing the shoes you're most likely to wear with them. When you pin, be sure to take the jeans off, measure to make sure the hem is even all the way around, iron where the new hem is, and put them back on—then you can be sure you have it in the right place. Remember, measure twice, cut once.
- Trim the excess material leaving a 1" hem allowance below the new hemline. Cut an extra «" from the existing seams so that when you fold the material over, the seams won't be too thick. (See slideshow image 1.)
- Fold the hem ½" over, and ½" over again. It can be helpful to iron as you go—so fold the hem ½" over, re-pin and iron, then fold over ½" a second time, re-pin and iron. Ironing makes sure the hem is nice and flat for sewing, and helps to keep the hem just where you want it. (See slideshow image 2.)
- Start sewing near a seam—about ½" before it. Hand turn the sewing machine over the bump of the seam so that you are sure not to break the needle. Once you're clear, keep sewing about ⅛" from the inside top of the hem. Go all the way around, careful over the thick seams. If the seams are too thick, try pounding them with a hammer to flatten them out a bit. (See slideshow image 3.)
- Once your hem is sewn, take your sand paper and gently rough up the bottom of your hem and a little along the outer side. This will give it that aged, worn look that matches the rest of the jeans.
Voila! You have jeans that fit just right and look store-bought, and it wasn't difficult, scary, or expensive to make them that way!
For more fashion how-to's, check out:
Make Your Own Zippered Makeup Bag
How to Resole a Shoe
Turn Those Tin Cans Into Bangles
Turn an Old Shirt into a Stylish Shrug
Button Up with this Hand-Knitted Scarf
Turn That Dress Into A Scarf
-
- {}
