How to Hem Jeans With Original Double Stitch Hems
Jeans can take you from the boardroom to the backwoods with barely a flicker of effort. This fashion staple can be dressed down or dressed up, but if the length is incorrect, your jeans must be hemmed. One of the easiest and most professional ways to hem jeans is to sew a double stitch hem on your sewing machine. Jean manufacturers employ double stitch hems to provide a secure hem that doesn't easily fray. Duplicate the look fairly easily and accomplish the task within an hour. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Straight pins
- Tape measure
- Scissors
- Seam ripper
- Iron
- Sewing machine
- Thread
Instructions
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1
Wash and dry new jeans before hemming to adjust for shrinkage. Try on your jeans with the correct shoes. Pin one spot on the hem at the inside seam to the correct length and take off the jeans.
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2
Measure the length from the crotch to where the pin sits on the inside seam. Pin all around each pant leg to this measurement. Try on the jeans again and make adjustments to get an even length throughout.
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3
Cut off any excess material if the hem is too long, leaving 1 1/4 inch hem allowance for the new hem.
To achieve a double stitch hem, fold over and tuck in 1/2 inch of the material at the very bottom of the leg and iron it. This type of hem's raw bottom edge is folded under to meet the first fold in the hem. Use a seam ripper to take apart the old hem if the length is too short to cut.
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4
Pin the new hem in place using an allowance of 1/2 to 3/4 inch, per your preference. Opt for the wider hem if you wish to sew a double hem with parallel lines of stitching about one-eighths inch apart.
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Use matching thread or a contrasting color, such as yellow or orange. Sew with your sewing machine around each pant leg using a double stitch hem.
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Tips & Warnings
Use a heavy-duty thread and machine needle to compensate for the thick denim.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Thinkstock/Comstock/Getty Images
