How to Hem Wide-Legged Pants

Hemming wide-legged pants is not hard to do, and when you wear pants the right length, you will look your best. You can hem your own pants to save money on alterations—and it should take you less than an hour.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Straight pins
• Scissors
• Needle
• Thread
• Tape measure
• Fabric marking pencil
• Iron
• Ironing board

1. Put on the pants and turn under the hem of one leg to the length you want. Pin the hem in place.

2. Take off the pants and lay them out on a flat surface like an ironing board with the legs one on top of the other. Pin under the hem of the unmarked leg to the same length as the first leg. Carefully try on the pants again to check the length.

3. Turn the pants inside out after you take them off. If there is more than 2 inches turned up, measure, mark with the fabric marking pencil and cut off the excess fabric.

4. Press the hems lightly in place. You can either finish the raw edges with a zigzag stitch on the sewing machine, by applying hem tape or by pressing under 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch of the hem fabric.

5. Sew a running stitch close to the top edge of the hem. Pull the thread to form small gathers until the hem edge is the same width as the leg of the pants. Knot the thread to keep in the gathers.

6. Distribute the small gathers evenly around the hem. Pin, then press the hem again to keep the gathers in place.

7. Hand stitch the hem in place or use a blind hem stitch on a sewing machine. Press a final time to make the hems look neat.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't pull the stitches too tight or the fabric will pucker.