How To Hem Those Too-Long Pants On Your Own
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Going to the tailor can be an absolute hassle: You have to make time to go, try on your clothing, remember to go pick it up, and, finally, pay a fee to get your clothes altered to fit. It makes sense to want the garment to fit perfectly when it comes to clothing like blazers, dresses, and suits. Ultimately, these are items you only need for special occasions that you want to look well-made on you. However, when everyday clothes like jeans constantly need a hem altered, it can get very costly.
According to Thumbtack, the national average of getting your jeans hemmed can set you back around $16 a pop. This number can vary depending on the type of hem and material of your pants. While the occasional pants may need some extra work, paying this fee every time you buy a pair of pants can start to add up. This can be exceptionally true if you are on the shorter side and constantly need to get a quick hem on most items.
Learning to fix your pants can be daunting and a bit tedious at first; however, plenty of quick tips can save you money and time. Most hacks don't even include a sewing machine, meaning you can do the job at home during your free time. Taking just a few minutes can help turn that closet of clothes you can't wear into a wardrobe full of options.
Quick fixes for hemming your pants
Everyone has had those instances where you have only a short notice of time before an important date, interview, or a simple catch-up with friends. You have the perfect pair of pants for the occasion, but they are too long for you. Thankfully, you only need to take a quick drive to the drugstore to solve this at a moment's notice.
One of the fastest ways to hem your pants is using a fashion hem tape that's available either on Amazon or from your local drugstore. Use this tape by placing it on your folded seam, dampening the surface part of your pants or jeans, and ironing over the surface. The heat of the iron activates the bonding tape and keeps it in its place. With this tape only costing $6 and sporting a 4.3 out of five-star ranking on Amazon, it's a safe bet for a quick emergency.
If you don't have an iron, you can also find a double-sided sticky tape that you can use to shorten the hem of your pants without heat. From Amazon, you can grab this double-sided sticky tape with over four out of five stars and over 38,000 reviews. Although you can hem your pants in less than five minutes with this method, beware that placing the sticky tape on thin fabric may cause it to weigh down and unravel throughout the day.
Alter your pants while keeping the original hem
If your pants are too long and you love the hem because of the unique stitching or detail on the fabric, there's a simple way to alter them while keeping the original look intact. Keep in mind that you will have to have sewing skills for this. According to YouTuber Professor Pincushion, this method works best on straight-leg jeans that are pretty much the same width from top to bottom and is trickier on flared legs. First, try on your jeans to determine how much shorter you want the length to be. Use a pin to mark your desired fit. Then, lay your pants out on a flat surface and turn the hem inside out until you reach the newly-decided length. Using your ruler, measure the length from the base of the hem. Divide that number in half and adjust your hem to that amount. Make sure to use your pins to keep everything in place.
Place the sewing machine needle right under the edge of the original hemline and use a straight stitch to go all around the hem. To keep the bottom of your pants looking flat and seamless, give it a good press with an iron. Alternatively, if you don't have a sewing machine, you can do it by hand. YouTuber JENerationDIY uses a thread and needle to make a running stitch around the hem.
Use these hacks to quickly hem your pants
If you're in a crunch and don't have time to sew your pants, Fashion By Ally has a great hack that doesn't require any sewing skills. All you need are two thick rubber bands that you'll place around your ankles over the pants. "Pull the fabric over to drape over the rubber band so you can't see it anymore," she advised. This probably won't work for jeans or skinny pants, but if you have a pair of loose trousers you want to wear outside the office, we can see how this hack is a winner.
Another no-sew way to hem your pants is by using safety pins. TikToker Orlyshani measured out how short she wanted her jeans and cuffed the hems accordingly. Using multiple safety pins, secure the bottoms right along the ends of the hems. "Then, when you flip it down, the hem will be perfectly maintained," the DIYer stated. Finally, iron the hems down really well so that they lay flat and you instantly have a pair of shortened pants.
Long-term solutions for your pants
Perhaps you have a little more time to hem your pants. There are ways to fix your pants for the long term without a tailor. While it may seem like it takes too much time to learn how to sew, it's quite easy to master.
According to MasterClass, all you need is an iron, pins, a ruler, scissors, a needle, and thread. To begin, you want to remove the original hem with a seam ripper and iron it flat. Next, turn your pants inside out and fold them to the length you want them. Use your pins to keep it all in place. Once again, iron the fabric to create a sharp crease. Afterward, using the ruler and scissors, cut an inch below the crease. Fold the new hem half an inch, iron, and then fold another half an inch before pinning it into place.
Lastly, thread your needle and knot the end of the thread. Push the needle so the knot lays inside the crease, and then push the needle through again. Pick up a few threads from the fabric and pull the thread through. Keep making these stitches around the hem until the end. Create another knot, and you're finished. While it may take a slight learning curve, it's an easy task once you get the hang of it. You can make it slightly easier by picking up this beginner's sewing kit from Amazon for just over $10 which contains everything you need to start.