Are your britches too long? Do you need to hem them or maybe hem pants for someone else? This is a great place to start. We have the resources to have you hemming pants like a tailor in no time!
First of all, what does “hemming” even mean? To hem is defined as “turning under and sewing the edge of cloth or clothing.” Of course, there is more to it than just folding the fabric under and sewing it down. There are different methods for hemming and once you figure out the method that works best for you, it is easy peasy lemon squeezy.
Hemming can be done either by hand or by using a sewing machine. Either way works great but you may decide on one way over another according to the fabric you are working with, the amount of time you have, and whether or not you have a sewing machine. If you’re short on time you may decide to just add a bit of hem tape to your pants. This works like double-sided tape and you can just tape the hem to the length you need. It is not a permanent fix of course but works well in a pinch.
Hemming blue jeans can present a unique challenge because ideally you want to keep the original finished hem on the jeans. Check out this tutorial from Nancy’s Notions on the easiest way to hem blue jeans. With this method, you won’t even be able to tell your blue jeans were ever hemmed!
If you don’t have a sewing machine handy and you prefer to sew by hand, you can still very easily hem your pants. There are several different methods and stitches out there. The following tutorial from Domenica from Easy Sewing for Beginners shows a fantastic way to hem pants by hand. She does an excellent job explaining what to do so that your pants end up exactly the right length.
To make hemming easier for you, make sure you have all of the tools you need before you start. This handy dandy tailoring kit from Missouri Star Quilt Company has everything you need to be on your way to professional looking hems.
Hemming doesn’t have to be intimidating. Don’t overthink it. Go slow. You got this. Now go on and grab those pants and get to hemming! You can do it!
