How to Hem Dress Pants
Using a tape measure, measure and mark with a white fabric pencil the length you would like the dress pants to be., Cut off the current excess hems of the dress pants., Turn the dress pants inside out., While carefully keeping the new hem in place...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Using a tape measure
It is preferable to have the person who needs the pants altered to be wearing them when you are measuring the required length. -
Step 2: measure and mark with a white fabric pencil the length you would like the dress pants to be.
Leave enough room to fold halfway to the desired hem length.
Cut off any long frays to ensure they don't show after the second folding of the hem to create a tidy hem line. , Fold the bottom hem halfway towards the desired hem length.
Press with an iron. , You will need to insert the end of the straight pin back up so that it is now showing through to the inside of the dress pant hem.
Ensure that when you pin the hem, it gathers as little as possible.
Using only enough pins to hold the hem in place, continue pinning around each hem. , The length of the thread should be roughly the length of your arms, spread out to the sides.
Take the end of the thread and insert through the eye of the needle.
Gently pull through.
Holding the thread you just inserted into the eye of the needle between your fingers, spread your arms out with the other hand holding the spool of thread.
Bring your hands together in front of you and snip the thread from the spool. , This will let you know while you are basting the hem that when you feel resistance, you are near the end of the thread and are ready to make the next basting stitch. , Do this loosely, so that you can remove the these threads by hand afterwards.
Make each basting stitch roughly one inch (2.5cm), leaving roughly one inch (2.5cm) between each stitch.
Double check before stitching that the hems are even. ,, Choose the stitch you would like to use and place the hem under the needle.
Match the colour of thread on the bobbin and the spool to the colour or complimentary colour of the dress pants.
You will be stitching near the top of each folded hem. , It should come out easily. , Fold once more so you can pin and baste the hems once more to the desired length.
Iron and sew as in the previous steps.
Remove the basting stitches.
Press with an iron. -
Step 3: Cut off the current excess hems of the dress pants.
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Step 4: Turn the dress pants inside out.
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Step 5: While carefully keeping the new hem in place
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Step 6: insert a straight pin directly through the folded hem.
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Step 7: Thread a sewing needle.
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Step 8: With both ends of the thread even with each other
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Step 9: knot the bottom once
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Step 10: leaving roughly an inch or so (around 2.5cm) of thread dangling from the end.
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Step 11: Baste around each hem.
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Step 12: Once each hem has been basted
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Step 13: remove all of the straight pins.
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Step 14: You are now ready to sew each hem with the sewing machine.
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Step 15: Once you have sewn each hem with the sewing machine
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Step 16: remove the basting.
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Step 17: Iron the hems.
Detailed Guide
It is preferable to have the person who needs the pants altered to be wearing them when you are measuring the required length.
Leave enough room to fold halfway to the desired hem length.
Cut off any long frays to ensure they don't show after the second folding of the hem to create a tidy hem line. , Fold the bottom hem halfway towards the desired hem length.
Press with an iron. , You will need to insert the end of the straight pin back up so that it is now showing through to the inside of the dress pant hem.
Ensure that when you pin the hem, it gathers as little as possible.
Using only enough pins to hold the hem in place, continue pinning around each hem. , The length of the thread should be roughly the length of your arms, spread out to the sides.
Take the end of the thread and insert through the eye of the needle.
Gently pull through.
Holding the thread you just inserted into the eye of the needle between your fingers, spread your arms out with the other hand holding the spool of thread.
Bring your hands together in front of you and snip the thread from the spool. , This will let you know while you are basting the hem that when you feel resistance, you are near the end of the thread and are ready to make the next basting stitch. , Do this loosely, so that you can remove the these threads by hand afterwards.
Make each basting stitch roughly one inch (2.5cm), leaving roughly one inch (2.5cm) between each stitch.
Double check before stitching that the hems are even. ,, Choose the stitch you would like to use and place the hem under the needle.
Match the colour of thread on the bobbin and the spool to the colour or complimentary colour of the dress pants.
You will be stitching near the top of each folded hem. , It should come out easily. , Fold once more so you can pin and baste the hems once more to the desired length.
Iron and sew as in the previous steps.
Remove the basting stitches.
Press with an iron.
About the Author
Shirley Lewis
A seasoned expert in lifestyle and practical guides, Shirley Lewis combines 4 years of experience with a passion for teaching. Shirley's guides are known for their clarity and practical value.
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