How to Iron Seams for Bell Bottom Jeans

An old trend has made a new appearance on the fashion scene, that’s right, bell bottoms are back in style. Whether you dig your old pants out of storage or get swinging new ones from a hip boutique, chances are many of us will find ourselves sporting 70’s style bell bottom jeans. Modern bell bottoms tend to have a less dramatic flare at the foot and may be more fitted throughout the leg. To create a more tailored look for modern bell bottoms, iron a crisp crease down the center of each leg.

Things You'll Need

• Iron
• Ironing Board
• Starch

Instructions

1. Go Natural. To find the natural crease of the pants, hold the top of the waist area with two hands, stretching it from the front inseam, (zipper area), to the back. Hold the pants above the floor and let them fall straight down. The pants should form a natural fold in the front and back, straight down the middle of each leg. This is where you will iron to keep that natural crease clean and crisp.

2. Prep.Though the process of ironing is simple, one can easily make errors that could ruin the cloth. Lay a thin fabric over the bell bottoms to minimize the visibility of these errors. If you choose to use starch, which will create a more defined crease, use a lightweight starch. Lay the pants flat on the ironing board, one leg at a time so that the entire length of one leg is on the ironing board and the other drapes loosely over the edge. Lightly spray the starch in an even back and forth motion along the entire length of each pant leg.

3. Iron.Turn on the iron to the heat setting recommended for the fabric. The iron must be hot enough to be effective, but not so hot that it melts or singes the fabric. Polyester and some synthetic blends are especially susceptible to distortion under heat. Use a gentle pressure to glide the iron along the edge of each pant leg, half of the iron should be on the ironing board, the other half on the pant leg fabric. Do not iron above where the front and back pockets begin. Pay special attention to the cuffs and ends of the pant leg.

4. Hang.Preserve the crease you have created. Once you are finished ironing, hang the pants lengthwise over a hangar or lay them on a flat surface to store. Do not fold them or hang them in a way that crushes your newly ironed crease.

5. Touch Up.Keep your bell bottoms looking their best with a few finishing touches. Use a lint roller or the sticky side of masking tape to remove any lint or fabric fuzz. Cut off extra strings close to the fabric using sewing or manicure scissors. Remember, a well defined seam on a modern bell bottom can create the illusion of lengthening and slimming the leg, while still keeping with the stylish 70's inspired trend.

Tips & Warnings

• Placing a thin sheet on top your bell bottoms before ironing can protect your clothing from the direct heat of the iron.

• Do not saturate the fabric with a heavy starch as this can ruin some types of material.