DIY: How to hem a pair of pants step by step tutorial | How to alter a pair of linen pants #sewing, by Made By April on YouTube. 9 min 43 s.
- Video length
- 9 min 43 s
- Time to do it
- 30 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Try the pants on with the shoes you plan to wear and decide where the new hem should sit. Mark that spot on one leg with chalk, or have someone pin it for you.
Take the pants off and lay them flat. Measure from the old hem up to your mark, then add about 1.5 cm (5/8 inch) for the new hem allowance.
Draw the cutting line across both legs with chalk or a fabric marker. Check with a ruler that the line stays level all the way around each leg.
Cut along the marked line with sharp scissors, one leg at a time. Keep the cut smooth and let the fabric lie flat so it does not shift.
Fold the raw edge up by 1 cm (3/8 inch) and press it with a hot iron. Fold it up again by 1.5 cm (5/8 inch) and press to make a double-fold hem.
Pin the folded hem every 5 cm (2 inches), lining up the side seams. Try the pants on once more to confirm the length before you sew.
Sew around the hem close to the inner fold with a straight stitch. Backstitch at the start and finish, and keep the machine slow so the linen does not pucker.
Press the finished hem from the inside with steam to flatten the stitching. Trim any loose threads and check that both legs match in length.
Tips and common mistakes
Linen frays easily, so run a zigzag stitch or overlock along the raw edge before folding it up.
Press the hem with a cotton pressing cloth to stop the linen from getting a shine.
Keep pins in a pin cushion rather than your mouth, and count them back out of the fabric as you sew.
Hem with the shoes you will wear most, since a flat shoe and a heel need different lengths.
Questions
Can I hem linen pants without a sewing machine?
Yes. Fold and press the hem the same way, then hand sew a blind hem with a needle and matching thread using small stitches that barely show. Iron-on hem tape works as a quick temporary fix but may come loose in the wash.
How much fabric should I leave for the hem?
Leave about 3 to 4 cm (1.25 to 1.5 inches) in total, split into a small first fold and a wider second fold. Thicker linen needs a little more so the hem lies flat.
How do I keep both legs the same length?
Measure from the waistband down to your mark on each leg rather than eyeballing it, and check the finished hem with the pants laid flat on a table.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
