Loving my slippers this Winter.
Anyway....
We short people find it hard to buy jeans that fit us length wise. I bought some jeans from Buckle and they hemmed them for free for me leaving the original hem on the jeans. I picked them up, took them home, looked closer at the hem and I thought to myself, "I could have done that." A couple years went by and I did nothing about all my long jeans, until today. Cathe, from Just Something I Made, put up a tutorial on her blog and I was so happy to see it! The thing is...I did mine just slightly different. Watch.
I did just what she said; put the jeans on, find where you want your jeans to lay and pin it. Roll the jeans up so that the original hem is slightly above that mark, and pin it.
Sew right next to the original hem, like so.
That's it! This seriously took me maybe 15 minutes to do and it was so worth it! Best part is that I didn't have to pay anyone to do it for me.
Here is where I do my thing. Instead of leaving that extra chunk of fabric rolled up and tacked down on the inside of the jean, I just cut it off. There's a lot less bulk which is good when you have skinny jeans. Plus, I think that is how the hemming lady does it at Buckle.
Unroll it and iron flat.
That's it! This seriously took me maybe 15 minutes to do and it was so worth it! Best part is that I didn't have to pay anyone to do it for me.
Much better.
Stephanie
i've done this to a few pairs of my own. best way to hem jeans!
ReplyDeleteI was seriously JUST telling my husband that I wish I knew how to hem jeans..I might give it a try...Thanks!
ReplyDeleteOMG, you are brilliant!!! I am short person, and so I have a couple of pairs that need altering - as usual - and I was going to send them out for that.
ReplyDeleteNow I don't need to!!! Yay!
Thank you so much for sharing :)
I'm loving your slippers too! :) Where'd you get them? (Or did you make them?)
ReplyDeleteDoes it fray where you cut off the extra fabric?
OH MY GOSH! Why didn't I think of that? So easy...thanks for sharing! xo
ReplyDeleteHoly Guacamole! This is genius. I'm the official jeans-hemmer in my family and now I can do it quicker and without that " I hemmed these myself look"!!
ReplyDeleteMy slippers are from Target, last year though. But I've been thinking I could make them and share it with you all :) So, the jeans fray slightly, but not enough for me to worry about. Good luck with your hemming!
ReplyDeletedo you think this would work for my husband's khaki pants that have a cuff at the bottom. i really need sewing for dummies so if you want to do a tutorial for that kind too, that would be great!!
ReplyDeleteomg!!! that is great!!! thanks for sharing!!
ReplyDeleteDo you stitch by hand or use a machine?
ReplyDeleteI'm curious - does having that extra seam there make the hem flip up after a while? My regular jeans' hems flip up all the time and I'm certainly not about to iron my jeans! But mostly I do need to hem jeans because I'm short, so was curious about the flip factor.
ReplyDeleteIf you don't want them to fray.... go around with zig zag.....
ReplyDeleteTo keep them from flipping ... Tack the sides of the extra up inside the jeans ... just on the sides. it will help hold them.
ReplyDeleteWhat do you mean go around with zig zag? I am about do this for my husband. While I am happy to iron the jeans after sewing, I don't want to have to iron his jeans all of the time.
ReplyDeleteReally great idea! I can't tell you how many jeans I have hemmed and NOT done this! DANG - so will be using this from now on! My machine will really be happy NOT to be sewing all those thicknesses also! : )
ReplyDeleteUse a zig zag... I think she means to use pinking shears to cut off the extra fabric. These are the scissors that make the zig zag shape that keeps fabric from fraying.
ReplyDeleteThat. Is. Genuis.
ReplyDeleteCatherine Denton
Zig zag means use the zig zag stitch on the sewing machine...
ReplyDeleteI'm not understanding the cutting process, does it not not cut the jeans?
ReplyDeleteGenius! I'll need to do that instead of my uneven attempts at sewing a straight new hem.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much! Being a short person myself, this is a very useful tutorial.
ReplyDeleteTo prevent fraying, after you cut off the excess material, use the zig zag stitch on your machine and go over the edges before you flip it down and iron flat. Make sure to iron the zig zagged edge up, towards the waist, so the seam will lay flat.
ReplyDeleteYou could also use a surger and it'll cut the fabric off for you and make a nice edge that wont frey.
ReplyDeletei would've never thought of doing that. that's cool.
ReplyDeleteI am so going to do this. What a great idea. Thanks
ReplyDeleteI am so excited about this technique. I cant wait to try it!! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI do designer jean home parties and can't wait to be able to offer on-site hemming at my parties! I have so many customers that need them hemmed.
ReplyDeleteJust a note that the easiest way to do the stitching so close to the hem is to use a zipper foot. I didn't see it mentioned so thought I would add it. I have been hemming jeans for YEARS and never thought of doing it that way!! What a great idea, thanks!!
ReplyDeleteJust some advice: I hemmed some pants this way, but I didn't cut the fabric off yet because I wanted to test the length and decide if it was right. Boy am I glad I waited! With tennis shoes my pants were perfect, but I wore boots with a heel today and they were WAY too short! I looked ridiculous! I am just going to take out my stitches and re hem it. So don't be too hasty to cut the fabric off. Wait until it is the perfect length for sure.
ReplyDeleteThere is also a wonderful product called Fray Check that you can get from the sewing section that will keep your seams from fraying. It works great.
ReplyDeleteSaw this on pinterest and I will have to keep this in mind - at 5'2" too long jeans is always a problem
ReplyDeleteOMG! Thank you, at 4'11 I have always had to alter my pants...never keeping the original hem, I love it.
ReplyDeleteWow!! How super easy is that!! I wish I knew that long ago!!
ReplyDeleteI work at a alteration shop and this hem is a hollywood hem
ReplyDeleteI do this with really strong fabric glue since I can't sew. You still fold and iron, but you have to let them sit for a day before wearing or washing. Works like a charm, if you get the right glue then it lasts YEARS.
ReplyDeleteThank you for this!! I have 4 pairs of jeans that have been sitting by the door waiting for me to take them to my tailor to be hemmed. I can so do this myself!
ReplyDeleteSo, do you just leave the pins in then?
ReplyDeleteCan this be done with any type pant such as black dress pants? Also, In order to keep the bottom from flipping up, is it better to leave the extra on and maybe sew it up the side hem so that it doesnt fall down? Or cut off the extra? I dont want to be ironing either!! But this looks easy!
ReplyDeleteI had the same question and wondered if anyone ever answered you.
DeleteDear Anonymous...please don't leave the pins in :)
ReplyDeleteI know this works with straight-leg jeans because I've done it, but was thinking it might not work so well with flares as the bottom hem would be wider than the circumference of the site you'd want the new hem, depending on how much of a hem you needed. Just a thought.
ReplyDeleteto avoid the fraying, run a small zig zag stitch over the selveged edge before you fold inside & iron.
ReplyDeleteto avoid the fraying, run a small zig zag stitch over the selveged edge before you fold inside & iron.
ReplyDeleteFANTASTIC! Why didn't I think of that? Being a shortie,I've hemmed up many a pair of jeans, but leaving the factory hem looks so much better. Thanks for the hint.
ReplyDeleteI've done this before and it works great but once you wash them they do fray alot so just be warned. You'll have to constantly trim the fraying. Unless u can think of a solution to keep them from fraying.
ReplyDeleteI am a seamstress who hems Jeans for the Buckle stores, the hem your referring too is called a Euro Hem, the actually process is very simple, it works best for jeans and pants that have a visible hem, not an invisible one like on dress pants. You mark the desired length on your pants cut at that length then take the remaining length and cut 1/2inch to 3/4 of a inch above the original hem, take the original hem piece and sew it back onto the pants, seeing very close to the original hem, then to reduce fraying, I machine serge the edge, then flip the new hem down and on the right side of the fabric, top stitch very close to the hem again, this keeps it from rolling back up. Happy sewing!!
ReplyDeleteoh wow, this is so awesome to know, thankyou so much! I will be hemming my own jeans from now on <3
ReplyDeleteYou can either use pinking shears on the cut to keep it from fraying or get a bottle of fray check and that will hold all the ends in place and it stands up through the wash.
ReplyDeletethank you so much. i just finished up and no kidding, it took all of 10 minutes. after the final press, even i have a hard time seeing that i altered my jeans. brilliant. thanks again. katharine
ReplyDeleteLOVE, LOVE, LOVE this idea!! I am soooo tired of wearing capris (which are too short for long pants) & rolling up jeans!!! At 4' 9" with a 28" inseam it is nearly impossible to find any kind of pants that fit, even petites. Thanks for sharing it is much appreciated!!!!
ReplyDeletejust a comment about the fray check. Be careful not to drip in the fabric where you don't want it. It will not come out. It does work well though
ReplyDeleteI hope you end up making those slippers! They're absolutely adorable.
ReplyDeleteThis is Great! I havce a pair of my granddaughter's new jeans to hem. We were going to lose a cute edge on the hem....I'm doing this!!!
ReplyDeleteIt is great... but... you also need to use a serger to bind the seam or the jeans start fraying and... if the bottom of the leg is wider than what you trimmed off you need to change that measurement too. Good luck! I have been doing this hem for a few years now and it looks wonderful when you do it right, measure correctly, etc. I charge $15 for that job, many out there charge up to $35.
ReplyDeleteHas anyone thought of maybe using a hemming fabric? I know this is not the actual word for the product, but I know that it is used on hems around skirts and also for fabrics that may fray easily. It kinda looks like ribbon. you would sandwich it together where the new seam is (that everyone is worrying about fraying)sew around the pant leg again and voila...no fraying. You can then hand sew a few stitches through the "ribbon" into the corners of the jeans after ironing the seam into place. You could also try stitch witchery which would literally bind the new seam to the jean on the inside, hence, no fraying...
DeleteI use this technique but I follow it with a topstitch just above the seam with a matching threat. It tends to flatten the seam then you don't have to serge to bind~just don't cut too close to the seam. Actually I rarely cut off the excess, just incase I need to lengthen them again...or sell them.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for this!! I can never find pants that are the right length. If I buy the regulars they are way too long and if I buy the shorts they're always just a little too short. Can't wait to try this.
ReplyDeleteOh my Gosh, why didn't I think of this!!! My sewing machine will not hem jeans as the material is too thick. I will try this the next time I need to hem jeans. Thanks
ReplyDeleteAck, this is genius!!! I always do it the long way (cutting off and re-hemming). Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!
ReplyDeleteSo could you please give us some tips on Hemming flare Jeans please. I have 3 pairs waiting.Thank you!
ReplyDeleteSo could you please give us some tips on Hemming flare Jeans please. I have 3 pairs waiting.Thank you!
ReplyDeleteI just used this technique to turn capris into shorts. It worked great! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI have four pairs of jeans in the car right now that I was going to take to the cleaners to have hemmed. I'm going to go get them now.
ReplyDeleteI'm a tall person and am thinking when my jeans get too short...hem into capri's
ReplyDeleteI love the hemming idea because I too am short. And from the tall person, another good idea is making your favorite jeans into capris....
ReplyDeleteThink I need a Video tell you better after I try it. Is there a video ?
ReplyDeleteThanks
This is really cool. Now if only there err a quick and easy way to lengthen too short jeans for us tall people. =)
ReplyDeletecool idea ;)
ReplyDeletexx
dahi
http://strangenessandcharms.blogspot.de/
This is a great idea! Been hemming jeans for ever and never heard of this, so THANKS!!! One suggestion tho - please make sure to wash the jeans or make sure they're pre-shrunk before you do this, or they may end up too short! Thanks, again!
ReplyDeleteThank You At 5'1 this is invaluable!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat an awesome idea that I cannot wait to try!! Hey, Nicole O who posted earlier, contact me about the designer jean home party please. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteI tried this but it didn't look quite right. See in your close up with the iron? The fabric pattern doesn't continue perfectly. Not a big deal in most jeans but it looked obvious on mine. I thought it was just me. But then every time I was them the bottom flips up?! What did I do wrong? It won't stay like when I iron it.
ReplyDeletetypo....should have said every time I WASH them...
ReplyDeletemany thanks i do and it's very very good!!
ReplyDeleteMany thanks!!
I must be seriously blonde cuz I don't get it. If you cut off the material then what? you sew back on the hem? Is it already there? I don't get it.
ReplyDeleteI had to pay $46 in order to have my jeans hemmed like this. My jeans cost $40. Thanks for posting this.
ReplyDeleteSue
wish i knew this a long time ago
ReplyDeletethis doesn't work with flared jeans and if your picky on the way you like for your jeans to look you wont like to have a seam above the hem and if you don't do something with the jean material where you cut it like fray check or zig zag or serge the edge it will fray and come apart.
ReplyDeleteI did a couple of pairs and i didnt like the way the seam looked that is above the hem seam after a few months.
SWEET THANK YOU !!!
ReplyDeleteGreat Idea! I tried it, and it made sure it was at the right length, it was perfect! When I sewed,cut and iron, I tried them on and was in shock that it was WAYYY higher then should have been, about a good 3-4 inches. What gone wrong? I hate wasting a perfectly good, cozy pair of jeans. Any help?
ReplyDeleteThis is awesome! I have never thought it could be done this way. But yes, that's just obvious. I'm thinking if this could work on other sort of pants too...
ReplyDeletethis is awesomeness..at 5'2", i am so sick of my pants looking like they were hemmed..and i usually end up hemming all my pants..no matter how well you can hem, you know as well as i do, they have "that look"..now they will look amazing! THANK YOU!!!
ReplyDeletei would love to do this...but the pictures aren't doing it for me. i wish you could do a youtube demonstration. a visual is so much better for me anyway. at 9.00 a pop to hem, this would save me a ton of money...
ReplyDeleteShort people all over the world are thanking you!!! :)
ReplyDeleteStephanie - Thank you soooo much! I'm one of those people that is all torso/no legs and even though I'm 5'6", I have to buy petite jeans and they are STILL too long. Arrgh!
ReplyDeleteFor the people who asked for a video, I found this on youtube. It was very helpful.
http://youtu.be/HSRD2qAfRF0
Think I'll pick up a few pairs at the Goodwill and practice before I tackle a new pair of jeans. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteWhat a brilliant idea! I'm quite short and always have to shorten my jeans when I buy them. Will definitely try this method in future. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThis method works with sweat pants too. When my son was age 8-12, he was stocky. It was impossible to find pants that fit. I used this method to convert men's-small-sized sweat pants into pants he could wear.
ReplyDeleteThank you for this awesome tip! Just tried it on a pair that was way too long but great otherwise!
ReplyDeleteYou are amazing! Thanks so much!
ReplyDeleteSo simple so effective!
Yep this looks amazingly easy! I just bought some jeans that are to long as usual lol. I am definitely going to give this a shot. Thank you! :-)
ReplyDeleteI have been sewing for nearly 60 years! I can't tell you how many pairs of jeans I have shortened over the years for myself and others - this is a terrific idea. Thanks a million.
ReplyDeleteGreat idea, but if you want to wear heals, you ought to leave the pants long. This pic you show looks riduculous.
ReplyDeleteI would at least do a zig zag to stop them from fraying or use the new no fray glue, and last but not least is that edging stuff.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing...will definitely give this a try!
ReplyDeleteIf you use pinking shears to make the cut, there will be less fraying.
ReplyDeleteI have done that with the hems but I serge the edges after cutting them off so that they don't fray.
ReplyDeleteI have been sewing for about 60 years and this is the first time I have seen this method and I LOVE it!!. Cannot wait to try it. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!
ReplyDeleteI am a short novice here... Can you explain how and where to do that extra to keep it from rolling up
ReplyDeleteOMG! I'm SO doing this! Thanks :)
ReplyDeleteHi, Why hav I never thougt of that way to make the right lenght on thebones. I'm 158 cm tall and I always have to do this staff.
ReplyDeleteI have been sewing for years and have never thought of that. What an amazing time saving trick. Love Love Love it.
ReplyDeleteI would never hem this way, tacky.
ReplyDeleteI think you did a fabulous job! What a wonderful way to hem jeans. I have ten pair to hem for a friends little girl. Thanks so much for the tutorial. Nice close up pics too.
ReplyDeleteAmazing! I would have recreated my own hem. I have so many jeans I should shorten I'm going to try this...Thanks for sharing!!!!
ReplyDeleteI love this idea!! I'm confused on cutting the extra off of it! Could u please post a video of u doing it. I can be a little blonde at times. Lol
ReplyDeleteBrilliant,thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteIts really not that hard to measure where you want your finished length and add 1 & 1/4 inches, cut off the original hem and turn the raw edge under 1/4 inch and another 1/2 inch and sew it on the sewing machine using a color thread that matches the rest of your top stitching. I'd rather do that than worry about that original hem flipping up.
ReplyDeleteThis really is a great tutorial and an easy way to hem jeans quickly. I just tried it after coming here from Pinterest and I have a couple recommendations:
ReplyDeleteA) Use a 16 denim needle and some denim thread - I've broken too many regular sewing needles working with denim.
B) I'm so glad someone suggested using the zipper foot on your machine when doing this. It helped tremendously and kept my seem nice and straight.
Otherwise, great tutorial. Thanks!
Going to do this!
ReplyDeletegoodtobeathome.blogspot.com
Seriously the most stupid pin on here. Fabric stores sell the jeans thread. Cut them off an inch longer than you want them, fold up a half inch and fold again. Top stitch with the jeans thread. Seriously stupid, I hate to see this one!
ReplyDeleteFrom one short person to another: thank you, thank you, thank you.
ReplyDeleteThat is a genius idea!!!
ReplyDeleteSuper - thank you! There is one brand of jeans I love but they only come in a 34" length which is super long, even on me at 5'8"!
ReplyDeleteAwesome! Thanks! And I looove your slippers? Where did you buy them? Or if you crocheted them, can you please post the pattern? :)
ReplyDeleteFor the person who made the negative comments... not nice!! Love this and thank you, Stephanie!!
ReplyDeleteI use a zipper foot on my machine so you can get real close to the original hem.
ReplyDeleteI tried this, but the hem was way too bulky on the side seams. Would not lay down. Plus it would have frayed out eventually.Great Idea, but maybe not for thick denim jeans. I did it the old fashioned way.
ReplyDeleteOh, really cool was it! I am trying for my sister's jeans and hope it will be work as good as yours :)
ReplyDeleteAwesome! My daughter recently was given 3 black garbage bags full of designer jeans but they're all too long. You saved me so much money because I can hem them myself now and she can't complain. Lol Any tips for boot cut jeans though? Thanks again!
ReplyDeleteAnother great idea i will do this soon as I am loving it! coupon codes
ReplyDeleteNICE!! No matter what jeans I buy they are ALWAYS too long! I have been rolling them up or under forever because I don't want to pay someone $20 to hem them for me, but I want the 'professional' hemmed look. NOW I CAN DO IT ON MY OWN!!! THANK YOU!!
ReplyDeleteWish I had seen this before paying a ton to get my jeans hemmed! And I LOVE the length with the heels. A lot of fashionistas are wearing jeans that way. (With heels that cute, it would be a shame to cover them up!) :-)
ReplyDeleteI have been sewing for almost 50 years....darn girl you are smart....I have cut them off and redid the hem this is so freaking easy....I don't know how I stumbled upon you but your are BRILLIANT
ReplyDeleteI have to go to a party and i was able to hem my jeans just in time!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for making this!
I like your idea of reducing the bulk. I'm doing it to two pairs of jeans today that I've just had sitting, needing to be shortened. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI am doing this today to two pairs of jeans that have been sitting, waiting. Thanks for the idea. I like reducing the bulk too! I'm sure not going to grow.
ReplyDeleteIngenious! Thank you! xoxo
ReplyDeletethere's another blogger on the web that shows you this trick and tells you to finish off that cut off piece by doing a zig zag stitch.. also you can take up to an inch off at your knee, just right in the knee bend area if your pants flare:)
ReplyDeleteLike this tutorial :)
ReplyDeleteI had no idea so many people took their jeans to be hemmed, I'm glad I have a machine that will handle denim, so hemming has never been an issue. Also, to the person asking about dress pants. They are hemmed with an invisible hem, do NOT try this with your dress pants!
ReplyDeleteWow. That looks so easy. Thanks a lot for the info.
ReplyDeletevery nice thank you so much =)
ReplyDeleteBrilliant tutorial! Thanks! So professional looking. At 5'0 it's so hard to find jeans short enough for me, this helps out A LOT!
ReplyDeleteOMG are you kidding me???!!!! I can not believe how easy that is!!! I'm 53 years young now and HATE "cuffing" my jeans!! It looks ridiculous on a woman my age. Thanks sooooooo much for sharing!!!
ReplyDeleteLet's see, how many pairs do I have to hem? Who cares, it's sooo easy!!!
:O
For a woman at 5'3" I am too tall for petite but too short for regular.. this shall save me. No more hiking up my pants on a rainy day so they don't drag along the wet pavement and give me wet pants all day. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteJust a suggestion: try to wash and dry your jeans a few times before you cut any length off. I have found that pants I hem to the right length seem to be too short after a while. I let my pants shrink up a little before I sew a permanent hem. I just make do with rolling or safety pins until then.
ReplyDeleteNow I'm sitting here and wondering why I couldn't have come up with this idea sometime in the past, oh, 37 years since I stopped growing. Awesome!
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot for posting this genius idea! A quick question. Did you use a sewing machine? I don't have one but I have pretty good sewing skill. If you did use a sewing machine, you think it'd look awkward when it's hand-stitched?
ReplyDeleteIts an easy way to hem the jeans, thanks for sharing with us. I would also try the same tip.
ReplyDeleteBranded Jeans
Warning: when cutting off the extra chunk of fabric, be careful not to cut what you just sewed, cut it close to the seam, but not too close! ;)
ReplyDeleteWarning: when cutting off the extra chunk of fabric, be careful not to cut what you just sewed, cut it close to the seam, but not too close! ;)
ReplyDeleteThank you for posting this! I was able to hem 3 pairs of my wife's jeans for her, and she loves them! I'm like her personal taylor. lol -Richard
ReplyDeleteso basically, you're my hero. this is BRILLIANT! thanks so much. :)
ReplyDelete