Hem pants in 5 minutes—and keep that factory-made look! 👖 #sewingtips #diy #diycrafts #craft #cute, by SewlaVie on YouTube. 2 min 3 s.
- Video length
- 2 min 3 s
- Time to do it
- 30 minutes
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Steps
- 9
What you need
Steps
Put the trousers on with the shoes you will wear with them. Pin the new hem where you want it to sit, then take the pants off.
Measure the pinned fold all the way around so the hem is even. Mark the fold line with chalk and check the length against the other leg.
Turn the leg inside out. Measure the depth of the original hem, usually about 1 to 1.5 inches, and mark that distance below your new fold line.
Cut the excess fabric off at that lower mark, leaving the original hem edge intact. Do the same on the other leg.
Fold the hem up along your chalk line and press it flat with a hot iron, using steam on cotton or wool.
Thread the needle with matching thread and knot the end. Hide the knot inside the fold.
Sew a small slip stitch along the fold, catching only a few threads of the trouser fabric and the hem edge. Keep stitches about 1/4 inch apart and do not pull tight.
Work all the way around the leg, then knot the thread off inside the hem and trim it. Repeat on the second leg.
Press the finished hem from the inside with a damp cloth over it so the stitches sink into the fabric.
Tips and common mistakes
Use thread that matches the trousers, not the original hem thread, so the stitches disappear.
Keep the stitches loose. Tight thread puckers the fabric and shows on the outside.
Hem to the length you want with shoes on, since hems look shorter when you are barefoot.
Test the iron heat on an inside seam first so you do not scorch the fabric.
Questions
Can I do this without a sewing machine?
Yes. A slip stitch by hand gives a clean, nearly invisible hem and is the standard way to keep a factory look.
What if the original hem is already worn or frayed?
Cut above the worn part and fold up a fresh hem of about 1 inch instead of reusing the old edge.
How do I keep the hem straight around the leg?
Measure from the floor or from the original hem at several points around the leg and mark each one before you cut.
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.
