It's nearly impossible to find jeans with the right leg length off the rack.If you find jeans that fit but are too long, you can take them to a tailor or sew them yourself.You can keep the original hem or create a new one.There are a few strategies you may want to use to ensure a successful project because working with denim can be difficult.
Step 1: Decide where to hem.
Try on your jeans and see where you want to hem them.jeans should fall about an inch above the floorIt will prevent you from tripping and it will also make your jeans look small.You can change the length to meet your personal preferences.You can mark the length with chalk or a pin.
Step 2: Take the bottom out.
You should make a cuff where you want the jeans to be hemmed.Double-check to make sure you've folded it up by the correct amount.Measure just below the hem and use that to create an equal fold on the other leg.
Step 3: Put the hem in place.
Straight pins are placed around the pant leg to hold it in place.To make sure the seams line up on each pant leg, check to see that they are even with each other.
Step 4: Take the hem and sew it.
The stitching for the existing hem should be just below the pant leg.You can either use a sewing machine or hand it.You will sew the cuff to the pant leg and then fold it inside the leg.If you want the pants to be longer at a later point in time, you can take out the hem later.
Step 5: Unfold the hem.
Tuck the folded cuff up into the leg of the jeans, folding the hem down to expose the outer side.You should leave a small loop of fabric along the bottom edge of the jeans.If you want to make sure the jeans are the right length, try them on.If you don't want to shorten the jeans at any point, you can cut the excess fabric.Take the excess fabric away from the new seam.
Step 6: It's a good idea to iron the jeans.
You can flatten out the hem by using an iron.You can smooth out the loop of fabric tucked into the leg with this.
Step 7: The new hem is where you want it to be.
The best way to do this is to put your jeans on (or have the person who will be wearing the jeans put them on) and fold the cuff under until they are the length you'd like them to be.To mark the spot where the new hem should end, use a piece of chalk.
Step 8: Measure and mark two more lines.
Measure 2 in from the hem line and draw a line parallel to the first one.Measure and mark another 2 in (1.3 cm) below the original line to make sure it's parallel to the one before it.You should have three lines.You can use the lines as a guide to sew the new hem.
Step 9: The bottom line should be cut along.
The jeans need to be cut off.Cut a straight line along the bottom line that you made.You should discard the material that you cut off.
Step 10: The new hem needs to be folded under.
To create the new hem, fold along the center chalk line.Pin along the new hem to hold it in place while you sew.Make sure the hem is all the way around before sewing.To get a neat edge on your hem, iron the fold first, then tap along the edge firmly with a hammer.
Step 11: The new hem needs to be sewed.
To hold the new hem in place, you should use gold denim thread, or the thread color of your choice, and sew around the pinned area.Try to keep it straight with a straight stitch.As you go, remove the pins.After sewing around the hems, your jeans will be ready to wear.
Step 12: Before you hem the jeans, wash them.
It is a good idea to do a pre-wash before hemming your jeans because denim will shrink a bit the first time you wash it.It's a good idea to wash and dry your jeans because they will shrink when they're clean.You should wash them first to make sure you don't make the hem too short.Follow the instructions on the label for washing your jeans.
Step 13: A new needle is needed.
It is important to change your sewing machine needle after every four hours of sewing or after finishing a major project to ensure that it is sharp enough to do the job.If you haven't changed the needle in a while, you should put a new one in before sewing the new hem.
Step 14: Go slow.
bulky fabrics can be difficult to sew.They may not move as quickly through the presser foot.To make sure your stitches are straight, sew slowly.Start by applying very light pressure on the pedal to get the stitches started and then only increase the speed if the fabric seems to be moving along well.You can always use the hand wheel if the fabric gets stuck.