How to Hem Men's Pants Without Cuffs

Having a pair of men's pants hemmed can be an expense if you have a tailor do it for you. Dropping them off at the tailor's shop to have them hemmed can be an inconvenience as well, considering you will most likely have to spend time at the shop while the tailor prepares the pants for alterations. You will then have to wait for the pants to be hemmed, then pick them up. If all this sounds like more trouble than it is worth, you should hem the pants yourself.

Things You'll Need

• Thick men's socks
• Straight pins
• Scissors
• Sewing needle
• Spool of thread
• Sewing machine

Instructions

1. Have the owner of the pants put socks and pants on. Fold the edge of one of the pants legs under so that the folded edge meets the top, back edge of the heel of his shoe. Pin the two layers of fabric together, placing a straight pin about 1/2 inch up from the folded edge.

2. Make sure fabric is folded under evenly all the way around so that the folded edge of the front of the pant's leg rests nicely on the top of the shoe. Place another straight pin 1/2 inch up from the folded edge at the front of the pant's leg.

3. Place additional straight pins a 1/2 inch up from the folded edge, spacing pins about 1 inch apart, until circle of pins is complete.

4. Cut off excess fabric, cutting 1/2 inch away from where straight pins were placed. (Fabric should measure 1 inch from folded edge.)

5. Iron folded edge.

6. Remove pins and fold 1/4 inch of fabric toward the wrong side of the pants and iron. Place four straight pins in the folded fabric section, with pants turned to the wrong side, to hold section of fabric to be hemmed in place. Space pins evenly apart.

7. Take a threaded needle and sew edge of second fold to fabric by inserting the needle into the edge of fold and then under 2-3 threads within the fabric. Do this holding the needle diagonally.

8. Insert the needle into the edge of the fold again, 1/8 inch away from first stitch, then under 2-3 threads within the fabric. Continue stitching in this manner until you meet with the first stitch.

9. End the last stitch by putting needle and thread under the loop of thread created half way through your stitch, then pull the thread tight. Reinforce the stitch by inserting a needle into the folded edge horizontally, putting the needle under the loop of thread created and pulling the thread tight.

10. Cut the thread about 1/4 inch away from the last stitch.

11. Repeat steps 1 through 11 to hem the other pants leg.

Tips & Warnings

• You can sew your hem on a sewing machine, if you wish by, following steps 1 through 7. Sew close to edge of the second fold with the sewing machine after completing step 7, with pants turned to the wrong side. Keep in mind the stitching on this type of hem will be much more visible than stitching done by hand.

• Always be careful not to prick your skin with needles or pins when sewing.

• Be extremely careful not to strike any straight pins with your sewing machine needle if using a sewing machine. To be on the safe side, wear protective eye wear.