Keep Those Hems

My sister asked if I could hem her too-long jeans.  I have done it before, keeping the original hem for her.  There is a simple trick I learned years ago

First I had her roll her jeans to the length she wanted them to be shortened to.  She gave them to me at that point and I took them home with me.  I measured the length of the inseam (crotch to desired bottom hem) and wrote the number down.  

Next I unrolled the jeans back to the original hem and folded it up with one fold, right sides together.  Adjust the folded piece so that the distance between the top of original hem and the new desired length is equal to the width of the original hem.  In this case, it is about 1”. The purpose is so that once sewn and flipped down, the length will be correct.

Pin in place and sew with a specialty foot that allows a seam to be sewn directly above the top original hem.

Once both hems have been altered and you’ve made sure the new length is correct, you can trim the “seam allowance” or excess fabric from jeans.  You can finish trimmed edge with zig zag stitch and press toward pant leg.  Stitch in “the ditch” or seam line to secure cut edge.

Enjoy your professional looking hem!