How to Measure Pants For Hemming

Whether you hire a tailor to hem your slacks or are doing it yourself, pants need to be measured to ensure they will be the proper length. Knowing the accurate way to measure your pants ensures that your pants are hemmed to your desired length. Another thing to consider is the type of shoes you plan on wearing when you're donning those slacks. Follow these steps for the correct measuring procedures so your newly hemmed pants will hang perfectly, each and every time you wear them.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Straight pin
• Measuring tape
• Marker

1. Identify the preliminary details for hemming: how long your legs are, where the pants sit on your waist or hips, depending on their style, and where you want them to hang at the hem.
2. Fold the slacks sideways so the legs are touching from the sides. Lay them flat on a hard surface folding one pant leg back to see the crotch area and leaving the other pantleg laying flat. Using a measuring tape, start at the crotch area and go all the way down to the end of the pantleg until you reach the length you want the pants to be once they are hemmed. That measurement is called the inseam.
   
3. Mark the inseam with a pin or marker to identify where the cutting point needs to be. However, before you start cutting, decide if you plan on hemming the pants on the inside of the pantleg or if you intend to create a cuff. Make sure you leave enough material on the pants to allow for this part of your project.

Tips & Warnings

• Make sure you measure more than once to be sure that you have calculated the inseam, any hem and even your own measurements correctly.