This was an amazing tutorial. I hemmed a pair of pants for my son and they look so professional. I used to pay way too much for what I was able to accomplish in under an hour! Thank you!!!
I just bought some dress pant at a consignment store yesterday and they need to be shortened. I never shortened dress pants. Perfect video at the perfect time.
Excellent tips. Have sewn for many years but never satisfied with professional pant hem results. Didn’t take the time to finish edge or baste…today I will. Have a pair to do with slim pants which I found incredibly difficult to pin at right place. I can see the side seam release will be needed. Hoping for best results ❤
Just what I needed! Bought a pair of pants for myself 2 days ago & need to hem. Been a long time since I've done that so your video is timely & a very informative reminder. Thank you so much.
Thank you so much for sharing your expertise in such an easy-to-follow format! You helped me when I was on the verge of panicking. It was the night before my sons graduation & his brother needed dress slacks hemmed for working at the event. I utilized most of your tips & was very pleased with the outcome. The safety pins were my favorite tip that you offered I'm thankful to all of the people who taught me to sew growing up. Now I can teach my sons how to sew, with the aid of your tutorials!
Great video. im just starting with sewing because those in my area tend to overcharge. So i bought a sewing machine and have already saved enough to cover the machine cost. I'm still learning this hemming of pants, but i got a lot of pants that are too long. I need all the tips like this i can get. Thanks for a great tutorial.
This is the best sewing tutorial I've seen, super thorough!! Do you have a tutorial on how to hem up pants that have an overcast stitched edge? I have a pair that are tricky because the edge is curved instead of straight, and I think to take them up the new hem will have to overlap the original hem a bit... if that makes sense? I don't know any way to make the alteration invisible.
thanks. My number one tip for making the hem, any hem, invisible is to not pull your stitches tight. We all seem to pull the thread tighter than it needs to be thinking it makes the stitch stronger. It just makes it tight ;-) The goal is to have the thread laying on the surface. Not digging in and not loose. So, the bottom edge is not even, it curves down in the back I'm guessing? First, decide whether to keep the curve or make it an even hem. It's your choice if they are your pants ;-). To keep the curve you measure up the same distance from the bottom all the way around, pin it and sew it. To get rid of the curve you could measure at the center front up and draw a line out toward the sides from that point and copy that line to the back. The pants in the video taper making the hem narrower than the leg circumference that I sew it to so I have to let out the side seam a bit to spread the hem and let it lay flat. Do you have the opposite? Is that what you mean by overlapping? The hem is wider than the pant leg where you want to attach it? If that's the case you, can ease the hem in place. That's when you take that extra 1/2" of fabric and try to distribute it evenly over a large area. Example: 1/2" is spread over 4". A tuck would be taking that extra length and folding it flat so the 1/2" is spread over 1/4" (it's simply folded and sewn down flat). Let me try to explain how to ease. You're dividing the extra length over an area. I'll place a pin a couple inches away to the right and left from where the fabric is buckling (too much). That defines the 1 large area. (And those outer pins are random and can be moved later if needed) Then pin it down flat in the center of those pins dividing the extra fabric evenly between the pin. (if it was 1/2" now it's 1/4" to the right and to the left of the center pin) That makes 2 sections. Then divide each of those sections with a pin and so forth. You'll see the extra fabric start spreading evenly and subtly. Once it looks smooth, sew it down . I hope this helped and if I misunderstood please write back
What a terrific tutorial! I especially found the tip on measuring in three places to maintain the slope of the pants and how to keep the hem from puckering with tapered pants incredibly helpful. As for the basting? I can now see that it makes a significant difference in ensuring a professional look. Thanks for the tips!
@@TheDailySew I just hemmed a pair of pants and used most of your tips from this video. The basting made all of the difference in the world! Thanks again. The pants turned out beautifully.
Thank you for your video. I am of unique sizing (41” chest and 31” waist) but have worn uniforms for 30 years, thus, I've “tailoered” my stuff myself. However, this is an issue for my son and I. A cheap suit for a daughters wedding. 32” waist, but 38” trousers waist. Oh boy, help. I already did the new hems…luckily just like you described, but from an inseam measurement.
you can take in the waist from the center back seam. Most suit trousers are constructed with a 2-part waistband which is sewn together at the center back in align with the center back seam of the pants. You'll pinch out the extra waist there and sew a wedge shape to taper to nothing a few inches down (watch my video on altering a dress bodice to see what I mean by wedge and taper to nothing - the pants are the same concept (starts around 4:30) ua-cam.com/video/Yul5b389Uy8/v-deo.htmlsi=wNXdK9nb-MWPnacg ) If these particular trousers don't have a seam in the waist band you can apply the same technique only fold the waistband where the Center seam would be. Six inches is a lot to remove in one location so pin out the excess first and see how it looks. You may have to take out 4" from the back and then little tucks at both side seams. Thank you for watching the video - sounds like you already know what you're doing so I think you'll get this waist alteration with no problem but if you do have any further questions please ask. I'll help if I can
This is my very first waist tailoring. I generally make small projects or climbing gear, not suit tailoring. Thank you for the video reference . I appreciate the help.@@TheDailySew
This was such a helpful and informative video! Thanks for sharing this process with us. Could you create a video on how to hem pants that have a lining?
I found a pair of lined wool pants to make a video for you. But until that's done let me answer how to do it: I can think of 3 ways a lining can be in pants. Style 1. The pants are only lined in the front of the leg. The lining is usually sewn with the front pant piece (this is called underlining) and you will hem it with the pant leg. Think of it as "glued" to the front pant piece. Styles 2 & 3. The pants are made up in the lining fabric as well as the outer fabric and sort or "dropped in" but differ in that style 2 is not attached at the hem and style 3 is. Style 2. Here the lining hangs free from the pant leg at the bottom. It is now and will be when you hem the pants, hemmed separately, as if it is a pant leg but with a narrow hem, about 1/2". Also you make the hem shorter than the pant leg so it won't "peek" out when it stretches between wearings. Style 3. Here the hem is invisibly stitched to the pant - usually to the top of the folded hem. Gently pull the hem away from the pant to find the stitches and unpick them. Then, hem the pant legs, then hem the lining legs. Cut the excess off the lining legs, leaving an inch or more to fold to the wrong side (That is sandwiched between the pant and the lining). If the pants will be machined washed, or if your lining is fraying badly, treat the raw edge with a narrow hem before turning the inch to the wrong side. Let the pants hang to remove any twist in the lining then pin and stitch the lining to the pant hem allowance. Use a slip stitch. I have a video on the narrow hem ua-cam.com/video/8VOrPX-tfbg/v-deo.htmlsi=IHfqE5KqMScAZsLO and on the slip stitch. ua-cam.com/video/xC4s8zixHoI/v-deo.htmlsi=3EfRDzHfAyainFuM
The measurements are complicated like sending a ship to the moon 😂, but it makes it look professional. The tips are great! I didn’t know about the twisting and such. The stitching is very nice. Thank you
That’s a good question. I always have the person but on the garment that needs altering as they would wear it (right side out) because I was told to. But I can’t think of a good reason not to have them put on pants inside out - of course I have never tried it so maybe there is a reason. It’s good to question the way “it’s always done”.
@@TheDailySew Your videos are very detailed, it’s what we need when we learn something new. If you do one, please show the presser foot, how you fold the fabric, the stitch used, the tension for diff fabrics, wool men’s pants versus women summer slacks. Thank you much !!!
yes! Most dresses have a 2" hem to give the skirt part weight (it wouldn't be so "floaty" as some dresses are designed to be). Floaty, light-weight type dresses will have a narrow hem. You could copy what the original hem is or, since you are shortening the dress you could give it a wide hem. You get to decide.
If the pant legs are not the same length, wouldn't you still use the same measurements of how much to raise the hem? Or are we assuming that they arent different because of the owners leg lengths being different ¿
I'm not sure I understand the question but bodies are asymmetrical. Legs can be or not be the same length or hips can be different heights which also changes the pant length on one side. Most of us though have such a slight difference that you can hem both pant legs the same amount. And then, that assumes the manufacturer of the pants, and the cutter of the pant pieces from the fabric, sewed them so they're equal lengths and the fabric pieces were cut to equal lengths. It becomes a rabbit hole if you let it ;-) All hemming jobs are on a case by case basis, I guess. See what you're dealing with, the body and the type of pant, then decide how best to approach the measuring.
@TheDailySew well you mentioned that the persons legs might not be the same length so when you mentioned the length in the pant legs I thought maybe they were like that on purpose??
Great question. It's up to you. If the pair of pants belong to someone who is still growing I would not cut off any length because you could be needling it soon. Same on some women's trousers if they think that they may want to wear heels with these pants, say in the summer, you could keep the length to let them out when that season rolls around. I would double fold the hem to hold the extra length (so you fold up 2" from the bottom and then another 2" to shorten it 4" - not folding up just a half inch and then 3.5") However, if you have a lot of extra length (5"+) you may want to cut off at least some of it. Otherwise, it creates a lot of bulk at the hem.
Great question. For dress pants you don’t want the stitches to be visible on the outside. One way to do this is hand stitching as in this video. Another way is to use a blind hem foot and stitch on a sewing machine IF your machine has that option. So never say never 😉
This was an amazing tutorial. I hemmed a pair of pants for my son and they look so professional. I used to pay way too much for what I was able to accomplish in under an hour! Thank you!!!
I love this! thank you for the comment and I'm so glad it was helpful 😊
I just bought some dress pant at a consignment store yesterday and they need to be shortened. I never shortened dress pants. Perfect video at the perfect time.
Yay! It isn't hard to do - You'll be wearing those pants in no time
I really appreciate how you laid out the learning objectives at the beginning of the video; great stuff and very helpful!
thanks for the feedback. I'm glad the video was helpful
This was an amazing tutorial! Thanks so much! The production of the video was fantastic too!
wow, thank you very much.
this is THE most helpful hemming video, thank you!!
Thank you very much. That's great to hear. Thank you for watching it
Excellent tips. Have sewn for many years but never satisfied with professional pant hem results. Didn’t take the time to finish edge or baste…today I will. Have a pair to do with slim pants which I found incredibly difficult to pin at right place. I can see the side seam release will be needed. Hoping for best results ❤
I resisted basting for a long time - until I tried it and saw how much better the hem turned out 😄
Just what I needed! Bought a pair of pants for myself 2 days ago & need to hem. Been a long time since I've done that so your video is timely & a very informative reminder. Thank you so much.
Perfect timing ;-) I'm glad it's helpful.
Thank you thank you thank you!!!!! This is the best hemming video I've ever found!
Thank you very much. I'm glad it's helpful.
Thank you so much for your knowledge. I definitely am going to try exactly what she did.
Thank you for watching. 😊
Absolutely excellent tutorial! Thank you for taking the time to share your knowledge.
Yes, thank you for watching. I’m glad the video was helpful. But don’t tell anyone you know how to hem pants 😉 or do and charge them. 😊
Thank you so much for sharing your expertise in such an easy-to-follow format! You helped me when I was on the verge of panicking. It was the night before my sons graduation & his brother needed dress slacks hemmed for working at the event. I utilized most of your tips & was very pleased with the outcome. The safety pins were my favorite tip that you offered I'm thankful to all of the people who taught me to sew growing up. Now I can teach my sons how to sew, with the aid of your tutorials!
I'm so glad the video was helpful. Now your sons will be asking you anytime they need pants hemmed. I ask mine to give me at least 2 days notice ;-)
@@TheDailySew Good idea! LOL - that is right in line with my asking them for 2 days notice if they want to use the washer. 🤣
@@carlamammapicspamcarr633 😆
Great video. im just starting with sewing because those in my area tend to overcharge. So i bought a sewing machine and have already saved enough to cover the machine cost. I'm still learning this hemming of pants, but i got a lot of pants that are too long. I need all the tips like this i can get. Thanks for a great tutorial.
Yes, you really can do many alterations yourself - and, as you did, save a lot of $$. I'm glad the video is helpful and thanks for watching
Thank you for your step wise clear instructions. I’m off to hem my pants with your guidance!
You got this! And thanks for watching the video 😉
This is the best sewing tutorial I've seen, super thorough!! Do you have a tutorial on how to hem up pants that have an overcast stitched edge? I have a pair that are tricky because the edge is curved instead of straight, and I think to take them up the new hem will have to overlap the original hem a bit... if that makes sense? I don't know any way to make the alteration invisible.
thanks. My number one tip for making the hem, any hem, invisible is to not pull your stitches tight. We all seem to pull the thread tighter than it needs to be thinking it makes the stitch stronger. It just makes it tight ;-) The goal is to have the thread laying on the surface. Not digging in and not loose.
So, the bottom edge is not even, it curves down in the back I'm guessing? First, decide whether to keep the curve or make it an even hem. It's your choice if they are your pants ;-). To keep the curve you measure up the same distance from the bottom all the way around, pin it and sew it. To get rid of the curve you could measure at the center front up and draw a line out toward the sides from that point and copy that line to the back.
The pants in the video taper making the hem narrower than the leg circumference that I sew it to so I have to let out the side seam a bit to spread the hem and let it lay flat. Do you have the opposite? Is that what you mean by overlapping? The hem is wider than the pant leg where you want to attach it? If that's the case you, can ease the hem in place. That's when you take that extra 1/2" of fabric and try to distribute it evenly over a large area. Example: 1/2" is spread over 4". A tuck would be taking that extra length and folding it flat so the 1/2" is spread over 1/4" (it's simply folded and sewn down flat).
Let me try to explain how to ease. You're dividing the extra length over an area. I'll place a pin a couple inches away to the right and left from where the fabric is buckling (too much). That defines the 1 large area. (And those outer pins are random and can be moved later if needed) Then pin it down flat in the center of those pins dividing the extra fabric evenly between the pin. (if it was 1/2" now it's 1/4" to the right and to the left of the center pin) That makes 2 sections. Then divide each of those sections with a pin and so forth. You'll see the extra fabric start spreading evenly and subtly. Once it looks smooth, sew it down .
I hope this helped and if I misunderstood please write back
What a terrific tutorial! I especially found the tip on measuring in three places to maintain the slope of the pants and how to keep the hem from puckering with tapered pants incredibly helpful. As for the basting? I can now see that it makes a significant difference in ensuring a professional look. Thanks for the tips!
Thanks - I hear you on Basting. I try to never do any work I don't have to ;-) but basting here did make the final hem so much better looking.
@@TheDailySew I just hemmed a pair of pants and used most of your tips from this video. The basting made all of the difference in the world! Thanks again. The pants turned out beautifully.
@@nancygreene9297 Yay!
Thank you so much! Love the global network of help online! Thanks for sharing your expertise?
Thank you. I agree with you, it was the help I found for how to fix my vacuum that inspired me to start this channel.
Amazing video! This was so much fun to learn. ❤
thank you
Thank you for your video. I am of unique sizing (41” chest and 31” waist) but have worn uniforms for 30 years, thus, I've “tailoered” my stuff myself. However, this is an issue for my son and I. A cheap suit for a daughters wedding. 32” waist, but 38” trousers waist. Oh boy, help. I already did the new hems…luckily just like you described, but from an inseam measurement.
you can take in the waist from the center back seam. Most suit trousers are constructed with a 2-part waistband which is sewn together at the center back in align with the center back seam of the pants. You'll pinch out the extra waist there and sew a wedge shape to taper to nothing a few inches down (watch my video on altering a dress bodice to see what I mean by wedge and taper to nothing - the pants are the same concept (starts around 4:30) ua-cam.com/video/Yul5b389Uy8/v-deo.htmlsi=wNXdK9nb-MWPnacg ) If these particular trousers don't have a seam in the waist band you can apply the same technique only fold the waistband where the Center seam would be.
Six inches is a lot to remove in one location so pin out the excess first and see how it looks. You may have to take out 4" from the back and then little tucks at both side seams.
Thank you for watching the video - sounds like you already know what you're doing so I think you'll get this waist alteration with no problem but if you do have any further questions please ask. I'll help if I can
This is my very first waist tailoring. I generally make small projects or climbing gear, not suit tailoring. Thank you for the video reference . I appreciate the help.@@TheDailySew
How did it turn out?
This was such a helpful and informative video! Thanks for sharing this process with us. Could you create a video on how to hem pants that have a lining?
I found a pair of lined wool pants to make a video for you. But until that's done let me answer how to do it: I can think of 3 ways a lining can be in pants. Style 1. The pants are only lined in the front of the leg. The lining is usually sewn with the front pant piece (this is called underlining) and you will hem it with the pant leg. Think of it as "glued" to the front pant piece.
Styles 2 & 3. The pants are made up in the lining fabric as well as the outer fabric and sort or "dropped in" but differ in that style 2 is not attached at the hem and style 3 is.
Style 2. Here the lining hangs free from the pant leg at the bottom. It is now and will be when you hem the pants, hemmed separately, as if it is a pant leg but with a narrow hem, about 1/2". Also you make the hem shorter than the pant leg so it won't "peek" out when it stretches between wearings.
Style 3. Here the hem is invisibly stitched to the pant - usually to the top of the folded hem. Gently pull the hem away from the pant to find the stitches and unpick them. Then, hem the pant legs, then hem the lining legs. Cut the excess off the lining legs, leaving an inch or more to fold to the wrong side (That is sandwiched between the pant and the lining). If the pants will be machined washed, or if your lining is fraying badly, treat the raw edge with a narrow hem before turning the inch to the wrong side. Let the pants hang to remove any twist in the lining then pin and stitch the lining to the pant hem allowance. Use a slip stitch.
I have a video on the narrow hem ua-cam.com/video/8VOrPX-tfbg/v-deo.htmlsi=IHfqE5KqMScAZsLO
and on the slip stitch. ua-cam.com/video/xC4s8zixHoI/v-deo.htmlsi=3EfRDzHfAyainFuM
@ Thanks so much!!
Thanks! That's a great tutorial!
Thank you!
Hi, I loved the video. I'm having a little problem with the measurements. Hopefully I'll get it right. Thank you for sharing.
thanks. Let me know if you have any questions about the measuring - Maybe I can clarify.
You really teach. Love your videos.
thank you very much
This is excellent. If I don't have a serger, do i zigzag the raw edge?
Yes, That's always a good option or if your machine has an overcast stitch you can sew that along the edge
The measurements are complicated like sending a ship to the moon 😂, but it makes it look professional. The tips are great! I didn’t know about the twisting and such. The stitching is very nice. Thank you
Ha! you're right. I sew hems of casual pants more "quick & dirty" style but for dress pants I break out the complicated method ;-)
Terrific tutorial! Thank you so much.
Thank you!
It worked! thank you so so much!!! and it didnt even take very long! i was super nervous! all i know how to do is slow stitch!
This is great to hear 🧡💛😄 Thank you! (I'm a master at slow stitching - but it has served me well even though I wish I was speedier at sewing)
❤ this was very helpful😊
Great! I'm hoping it is. Thanks for watching.
Great tutorial. I have one question: Why not do all of the prep work with the pants inside out?
That’s a good question. I always have the person but on the garment that needs altering as they would wear it (right side out) because I was told to. But I can’t think of a good reason not to have them put on pants inside out - of course I have never tried it so maybe there is a reason. It’s good to question the way “it’s always done”.
Because one leg might be a different length
Now I’m looking if you have a video on hemming using a hemming presser foot on sewing machine.
If you don’t have one, please consider doing one 🙏
I don't, I'm sorry but I do love the idea. Thank you.
@@TheDailySew
Your videos are very detailed, it’s what we need when we learn something new.
If you do one, please show the presser foot, how you fold the fabric, the stitch used, the tension for diff fabrics, wool men’s pants versus women summer slacks. Thank you much !!!
@@gigiontube thank you for this outline! It's really helpful to know what to show/explain.
Would I be able to hem a dress the same way?
yes! Most dresses have a 2" hem to give the skirt part weight (it wouldn't be so "floaty" as some dresses are designed to be). Floaty, light-weight type dresses will have a narrow hem. You could copy what the original hem is or, since you are shortening the dress you could give it a wide hem. You get to decide.
If the pant legs are not the same length, wouldn't you still use the same measurements of how much to raise the hem? Or are we assuming that they arent different because of the owners leg lengths being different ¿
I'm not sure I understand the question but bodies are asymmetrical. Legs can be or not be the same length or hips can be different heights which also changes the pant length on one side. Most of us though have such a slight difference that you can hem both pant legs the same amount. And then, that assumes the manufacturer of the pants, and the cutter of the pant pieces from the fabric, sewed them so they're equal lengths and the fabric pieces were cut to equal lengths. It becomes a rabbit hole if you let it ;-) All hemming jobs are on a case by case basis, I guess. See what you're dealing with, the body and the type of pant, then decide how best to approach the measuring.
@TheDailySew well you mentioned that the persons legs might not be the same length so when you mentioned the length in the pant legs I thought maybe they were like that on purpose??
do you have to cut the original hem or can you just fold it up inside the pants?
Great question. It's up to you. If the pair of pants belong to someone who is still growing I would not cut off any length because you could be needling it soon. Same on some women's trousers if they think that they may want to wear heels with these pants, say in the summer, you could keep the length to let them out when that season rolls around. I would double fold the hem to hold the extra length (so you fold up 2" from the bottom and then another 2" to shorten it 4" - not folding up just a half inch and then 3.5")
However, if you have a lot of extra length (5"+) you may want to cut off at least some of it. Otherwise, it creates a lot of bulk at the hem.
Thank you
Thanks for watching the video
Thankyou for this x
Hey Cath🌹🥀 🌹
Marry Christmas 🌹
How are you doing??
I'm glad you like it - Thanks
This is fantastic
Thanks!
Great!!!!!
thanks
So never use a machine for the actual hem stitches??
Great question. For dress pants you don’t want the stitches to be visible on the outside. One way to do this is hand stitching as in this video. Another way is to use a blind hem foot and stitch on a sewing machine IF your machine has that option. So never say never 😉