Today for DIY Friday I’m sharing a super easy quick fix sewing trick — hemming your jeans and keeping the original hem! So many people need their jeans hemmed, and although you could take it to a professional tailor, it’s a really quick fix you can do by yourself in five minutes.
This pair of jeans, from Dittos, is one of my favorite pairs of jeans, but they’re a few inches too long. I’ve been wearing them cuffed or just tucking up the hem for months, so it was time to do a permanent fix on them. I think jeans look the best with the original hem, so this is an easy fix to make them shorter, but keep the original hem.
Step 2 // cuff the jeans up a few inches.
Step 3 // Now tuck the cuff inside the pant leg. Determine if this length is your desired length. If not, go back to step 2 and adjust your cuff length. Once you find your desired length, untuck the cuff and pin it in place. Repeat for the second leg and then remove your jeans.
Step 4 // Your pant legs should now look like this. Now sew around the pant leg, right next to the original hem, as shown. Repeat for the second pant leg.
Now your jeans should look like this! No more bunched pant legs!
Brilliant. I hate jeans that are too long – such a bad look (although I’m at the point of pregnancy where there are no jeans short enough. My giant belly is pushing them ALL down).
You must be psychic–I just got two pairs of maternity pants yesterday that are too long for me. Guess what I’m doing this weekend? Thanks for the easy tutorial! 🙂
When you wash them do they not fray? I had a pair fray on me and now I’m not sure how to fix them.
Great and easy post! Thanks! I love your blog! Can you do a post about how to finish a seam without a serger?
I’ve been doing this for a few years now. Only thing I do different, and avoids the need to serge, instead of cutting anything off, I just keep that cuff tucked up in my pants and use a few stitches with a matching colour of thread to keep the cuff up there. Though if you are wearing skinny jeans, I doubt you’d need to stitch it up at all. This way I don’t have to cut anything and could always put the jeans back to their normal length again.
Awesome! I just posted a comment on instagram asking you for a tutorial on this. 🙂 Do you ever have to alter the width of the leg opening when you alter the length? What I mean is, does hemming change position of the skinniest part of the jeans so that they are no longer really skinny around your ankles? Yours look great, but what if I have to take off 3 or 4 inches?
I have the same question!! The alterations lady at Nordstrom I’d almost never be able to do original hem because I’m taking off a few inches, the very point your making.
I would recommend altering the width of the leg so it’s as close to the same size as the ankle opening as possible. Hope that helps!
Thanks so much for posting this! I am so short that I have to buy the specially short jeans at Old Navy, so I will definitely be trying this!
Sarah
http://mybowsandclothes.blogspot.com/?m=1
HI Merrick, what are your thoughts on using pinking shears to prevent fabric fraying (instead of surging)?
I often have to hem clothing (I’m 5’2″), but don’t have a surge option on my machine. I currently use the zigzag stitch – which takes a long time!! Pinking shears seem like a quicker/easier option, but i’m not sure whether they actually work!
This is great! I’m short and the jeans that fit me are always so long. Can’t wait to fix them up! 🙂
Jessica
the.pyreflies.org
Amazing! I’ve always wanted to know how to do this! Thank you!
Vanessa http://www.heyladygrey.com
My super short legs and I thank you!
Genius!!! Thanks for sharing!!!
You are so crafty!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What a clever idea!
Sarah
http://www.thepolkfolk.blogspot.com
I just came to say I’m glad I found your blog! I’m so in love! And this jeans tutorial…no words! I’m gonna try it asap.
“My legs are too long for petite, but too short for regular” Mine too!
I need to do this to pretty much every pair of jeans I own. However, I like to cuff my jeans when I wear ankle boots and some other shoes I own. Can you still cuff your jeans after doing this, or does it look strange? A picture would be helpful.
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