Learn how to hem jeans like a pro while preserving the original, faded hem with this step-by-step sewing tutorial.
Learn how to hem jeans with your sewing machine and reusing the original hem. Shorten your denim pants and keep the same look!
The Backstory I am short. All the jeans I buy are too long for me. But I sew. So I thought I could cut off the excess length and rehem the jeans, no problem. I was wrong--they looked awful and hand-sewn. In addition, I often broke a needle or two in the process--even thick needles labeled for leather and denim. I tried all sorts of gadgets invented for the home sewer hemming jeans, including a hard-to-manage plastic plate called "Jump the Bump" (I'm not kidding), but nothing worked. Over time, I realized my inability to get a professional hem was because I do not have (a) an industrial sewing machine capable of sewing through several layers of denim, or (b) a professional sandblasting machine which gives the original hem that lovely worn look. Then one day a college roommate, who was also short, plunked down a hundred or two for a pair of designer jeans and changed my life. Like most high-priced items, the schmancy store was willing to alter them (re: shorten them) for her for free. They still had that professional look. I couldn't figure out how the store tailor had achieved it as I doubted he had a sandblasting machine back in his little corner. So I asked to look at them. Up close. She obliged. And what I discovered on closer inspection was... They were cheating! And since then, I've been cheating, too. I've also converted several other people to the cheater's method. I once derailed an entire baby shower by mentioning this technique in a side conversation to someone who was bemoaning her inability to find jeans short enough and others overheard me and asked me to explain it and, well, derailment ensued. So, since I bought a new pair of jeans yesterday, I finally decided to document it in pictures. I did not invent this method. I think you'll find others on the internet touting the same thing. But here's my take on it... Step 1: BEFORE Put on your new jeans. Look at the elephant legs their excess length creates. Shed a few tears over not being 6 feet tall. Mourn the NBA career you will never have. Step 2: Cuff jeans to desired length. Make sure the bottom of the cuff grazes right where you want it to. Also make sure you are wearing the type of shoes you plan to wear with your new jeans. Here, I am wearing flats as I plan to wear mostly flats and sneakers with these jeans. Notice how I still have it skirt the ground a little bit--don't get greedy and go too high. This is especially true of bootcut jeans*, like these ones, or straight-leg jeans--if they are above the ground, they will look like high-waters. If you wear skinny or cropped jeans, you can take them to the ankle if that's how you like it. Step 3. Measure the cuff. For this measurement, you want to go from the bottom edge of the cuff to the end of the original hem. In other words, you want to INCLUDE THE HEM in this measurement (it will be different for the next one; don't mix these two up). Here, mine worked out to be 2 inches from cuff to hem. This is the amount that I want to shorten the jean. Step 4. Take that last measurement and divide it in half. My measurement was 2 inches; therefore, half of that is 1 inch. Step 5. Reduce cuff to reflect new measurement and pin. Here, I reduced the cuff until it was only 1 inch from the edge of the cuff to the hem. This time, DO NOT INCLUDE THE ORIGINAL HEM in your measurement. Pin along the inner edge of the hem as shown below. Step 6. Sew along the inside of the original hem using a straight stitch. Here, I am using a zipper foot so I can get as close to the original hem as possible without actually stitching through any part of it. This is the brainchild of the cheater's method--because you are only going through two layers of denim instead of three, it is much easier on you and the machine. The original hem also provides a perfect guide for your stitch (although, in the process, you may discover the professionals are not as precise as you assumed). It will still be a little rough going over the leg seams (particularly the inner one), but far easier than if you had the fabric doubled up again. If you have a bootcut or cropped jean, the original hem might not be the same width as the part of the leg to which you are sewing it. Fortunately, most of these cuts of jeans also include some stretch--just pull on the shorter part as you go to make it work. Step 7. Turn the cuff into the leg. Once you have done this, here is how it looks on the outside of the jean... ... and here is how it looks on the inside.... Step 8. Stitch in the ditch. Place the leg back on the sewing machine as pictured below. Using thread that relatively matches the denim (nobody will get close enough to see it), stitch about one inch in the ditch of the leg seam, tacking the cuff you've created into the leg. Reinforce this stitch by going over it again in reverse. Repeat for each leg seam (i.e., twice per leg, four times total). You might be tempted to skip this step, but if you do, the cuffs you've sewn will forever be falling out and exposing themselves. If you were going for that look, you might as well have just rolled your jeans. Step 9. Press seam. When you are finished, it should look like this: I brightened this picture so you could see the seam I created. However, none of your friends will ever get close enough to your leg to notice it, unless (1) your friend has some serious personal space issues, or (2) you are in the process of kicking your friend in the face, in which case, I seriously doubt the hem on your jeans is going to be the matter that ends your friendship. As you can see, the manufacturer's top-stitching and sandblasted hem remains intact. Step 10: AFTER Revel in your petite-ified look and intact sewing machine needle. A few other notes The cheater method is virtually idiot-proof. That is, if you measure wrong, you can take out the stitches and start over--you didn't actually cut any of the denim off. *I know that bootcut jeans are passé, but I have bought no less than three pairs of skinny jeans and, after wearing each around the house for at least a day, have decided to grant mankind the favor of not wearing them in public. Writing this blog post took about 5 times longer than hemming the jeans did. Am I the only one who's having serious paragraph-spacing issues on Blogger lately?
I am short. There is no other way to put it. I’m barely 5′ tall. I think I’ve only bought two pairs of used jeans in my life that were already hemmed to my length…ever……
How to Shorten Jeans while keeping the Original Hem? Here's the easiest way to do it in a glance! It is especially good when you want the option to let the length down later. Keeping the original hem also enables you to keep the original look of the jeans. It can often be hard to match jeans stitching.
Welcome back to Fun Friday! I’ve been wanting to share this tip of how to hem jeans and keep the original hem for months now. Months! My sewing machine had some issues and I couldn’t figure out how to fix it so my good post idea sat tucked away in my brain. Every single time […]
Assim você pode consertar a barra do seu jeans mantendo a bainha original!. Miarti - Ideias criativas · Original audio
I am short. There is no other way to put it. I’m barely 5′ tall. I think I’ve only bought two pairs of used jeans in my life that were already hemmed to my length…ever……
Welcome back to Fun Friday! I’ve been wanting to share this tip of how to hem jeans and keep the original hem for months now. Months! My sewing machine had some issues and I couldn’t figure out how to fix it so my good post idea sat tucked away in my brain. Every single time […]
A guide on how to hem your jeans with the original hem. From deciding the correct hem length according to the style of jeans, to the hemming process itself!
Everything you ever needed to know about how to hem pants! This simple step-by-step DIY tutorial includes options for easy hemming by hand or with a machine.
A guide on how to hem your jeans with the original hem. From deciding the correct hem length according to the style of jeans, to the hemming process itself!
Anleitung: Jeans kürzen ist so einfach. Hier erkläre ich dir, wie man den Originalsaum einer Jeans in 20 Minuten umnäht.
Do you want to learn how to hem jeans with the original hem in place. When finished it will look the same way it did when it came from the store! This easy, step by step tutorial will walk you through it every step of the way.
8849 votes and 268935 views on Imgur: The magic of the Internet
I am short. There is no other way to put it. I’m barely 5′ tall. I think I’ve only bought two pairs of used jeans in my life that were already hemmed to my length…ever……
Learn how to hem jeans and keep the original hem in this tutorial! It's a fast and easy DIY that will save you from taking them to a tailor.
Eine Anleitung, um schnell eine Hose zu kürzen, dabei aber den originalen Saum zu behalten.
I was shortening jeans the other day, my winter uniform that is (plus a waterproof jacket and shoes – I have already practised wearing these in a last couple of days as it is so wet up here&…
I am short. There is no other way to put it. I’m barely 5′ tall. I think I’ve only bought two pairs of used jeans in my life that were already hemmed to my length…ever……
I am not a tall person. According to my husband, I'm not short, I'm "fun-size!" This means that jeans don't usually come in the right length for me. I have tried buying the "Petite" sizes but they just don't fit right - they are usually too short. It seems that I am somewhere in the
I am short. There is no other way to put it. I’m barely 5′ tall. I think I’ve only bought two pairs of used jeans in my life that were already hemmed to my length…ever……
I am short. There is no other way to put it. I’m barely 5′ tall. I think I’ve only bought two pairs of used jeans in my life that were already hemmed to my length…ever……
Reimagined in Light Authentic Indigo Denim, the Hardy Jean Confidence is a classic Light Authentic Indigo wash in a high rise design featuring a traditional straight leg profile. With subtle grinding at the hem for added point of difference, a clean hem offers a contemporary take on classic light indigo, relaxed denim. Pair back with a simple white tee for a classic yet refined ensemble.Fabric: 100% CottonFabric Weight: 14.6 OZDetails & Hem: Grinding at Hem & Clean LegHardware and Stitching: Tobacco Stitching and Vintage Nickel HardwareFabric Origin: AsiaCountry of Manufacture: AustraliaP9282
I have short legs and it is very difficult to find jeans short enough to fit. If you’re a shorty like me, this tutorial will be useful for you . How to
I am short. There is no other way to put it. I’m barely 5′ tall. I think I’ve only bought two pairs of used jeans in my life that were already hemmed to my length…ever……
I am short. There is no other way to put it. I’m barely 5′ tall. I think I’ve only bought two pairs of used jeans in my life that were already hemmed to my length…ever……
How to sew a Euro hem on jeans. Hem your jeans and keep the original stitching with this tutorial on how to do a European hem
Need to shorten your jeans but want to keep the manufacturer's hem? Here's an amazingly simple way to shorten your jeans and keep the original hem.
Learn how to hem jeans and keep the original hem in this tutorial! It's a fast and easy DIY that will save you from taking them to a tailor.
A guide on how to hem your jeans with the original hem. From deciding the correct hem length according to the style of jeans, to the hemming process itself!
Learn how to hem jeans and keep the original hem in this tutorial! It's a fast and easy DIY that will save you from taking them to a tailor.
Sharing my simple DIY hack to hem my jeans with the original hem in under 10 minutes without sewing! Also works as a great temporary fix.
12 clever sewing hacks you absolutely need to know! Must-see clever hacks that will make your sewing easier. Get the most out of your sewing machine!
