Pant Shortening Without Cutting | Easy Trick. #sewinghack #diy #silaitips, by Amazing Life Hacks on YouTube. 1 min 4 s.
- Video length
- 1 min 4 s
- Time to do it
- 30 minutes
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Put the trousers on with the shoes you will wear with them. Pin the fold at the front and back of each leg where you want the new length to sit, then take them off.
Turn the trousers inside out. Fold the extra length up inside the leg so the original hem line stays flat and visible on the outside.
Press the fold with a warm iron to set the crease, then pin all around each leg, spacing pins about 5 cm apart.
Thread the needle with about 50 cm of matching thread and knot the end. Start at the inside seam so the knot is hidden.
Sew a blind stitch. Bring the needle out through the folded edge, take a tiny bite of the trouser fabric just above the fold, then slide the needle back inside the fold.
Keep the stitches small, about 5 mm apart, and do not pull them tight. Loose stitches keep the hem flat and invisible.
Work all the way around the leg, then knot off inside the fold and trim the thread. Repeat on the second leg.
Try the trousers on again to check the length. Press the hem from the inside with a damp cloth to smooth the fold.
Tips and common mistakes
Match the thread closely to the fabric, because a contrast thread shows through on the outside.
Only take up about 5 cm this way. More than that makes a bulky fold that shows through the leg.
Do not press a hard crease on the outside of the leg, or a line will show where the old hem sat.
Practise the blind stitch on an old pair first, since uneven tension is the most common mistake.
Questions
Will the folded fabric show on the outside?
On most medium weight fabrics it stays hidden. On thin or stretchy fabric the fold can show, so keep the take up small and press gently.
Can I do this without any sewing?
Not for a lasting result. Fabric tape or glue can hold a fold for a while, but it stiffens the hem and comes apart in the wash.
Can I undo it later?
Yes. Cut the stitches and pull the thread out, and the trousers go back to their original length with the original hem intact.
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.
