This post contains affiliate links. I earn a small commission on purchases you make using my recommendations at no cost to you!

Having jeans and pants hemmed the appropriate length for yourself is one of the most important parts of looking put together and not frumpy. Ankle pants should be ankle length (not scrunched up at the top of your shoes), boot cut should hit just above the floor with shoes on (not dragging behind you), etc.

It can often be the little things that make a big impact and I definitely think we underestimate the importance of well-fitting clothes. 

We are here to help!

Can’t sew? It’s ok! You can use iron on hem tape to achieve this same key result.

We’ve pulled in another one of our awesome Frump Fighters, Alison, to give you a step-by-step tutorial on hemming pants (including jeans!) and you even get to keep the original hem!

Keeping the original hem can be key in achieving a professional look from home because companies often use a thicker thread or specific stitch style when hemming their pants.

If you can hem your pants from home to your perfect length (and preserve the original hem!) you will have a perfectly fitting, completely professional pair of pants with almost no cost!

Let’s welcome Alison to show us exactly how it’s done!

Hi! I’m Alison, a mom of two boys and homemaker from Ohio. When I am not chasing kiddos or re-washing that load of laundry for the 3rd time, I like to design and sew clothes and household items. I’m an avid runner and love to test my skills in competitive archery.

You can see more from Alison on her IG at @todd.alison!

Hemming Like a Pro!

So, you score a pair of fabulous jeans on sale, go you! They fit so well through the waist and hips, but they are too long! Or perhaps you buy your kiddos pants with room to grow, and the hem drags on the ground.

Seems like everyone now-a-days is hitting up thrift stores and Thread-Up to fill their wardrobes. But it can be difficult to find those perfectly fitting pieces.

No worries! Today I’m going to show you how to alter those too-tall jeans to fit your inseam, and we will even keep the original hem!

This simple tutorial requires only a few basic supplies and a fundamental understanding of a sewing machine. No machine, no problem! You can follow along the same instructions and either hand sew or use iron-on hem tape.

Here’s what you need:

• Sewing pins or safety pins

• Measuring tape

• Sewing machine (or hand needles, or iron-on hemming tape)

• Heavy-duty thread, matched to pant color

• Heavy-duty/ Denim needle

• Iron

Step 1:

Try on your to-be-hemmed pants. Tuck the hem under to your desired length. Use the pins to hold into place. This can be a bit easier if you have a friend help to pin!

Step 2:

Take off jeans and turn inside out. Measure from the top of original hem to your fold. Take this measurement and divide in half.

*For example; my first measurement was 1¼”, so my new measurement is 5/8”.

Step 3:

Take out all your pins and turn jeans right side out. Fold up the hem to your new measurement and pin into place.

*Make sure to take the measurement at every pin placement to ensure that the hem is even and level.

Step 4:

Using your heavy duty needle and matching thread, sew a straight stitch very close to the existing hem. My machine can adjust the needle angle, allowing me to get super close to the original hem. Check your manual to see if your machine can do it too! Remove pins as you sew. Overlap stitching about a ½ inch as you finish the hem.

If sewing by hand, simply sew using a back-stitch. It is super easy, check out YouTube for easy directions (like this video!).

If using hemming tape, be sure it is heavy duty. I like to use Heat N Bond Super Strength Hem Tape for pant hems. Follow the manufacturers directions and press with iron.

Step 5:

Fold hem down. If you like, you can cut the excess fabric from your hem. However, if you are hemming kids pants, I would suggest not cutting. This way you can rip out the seam at the next growth spurt, and let the pants grow with the kid!

Flatten and press seam with hot iron. If you’re like me, and your iron hasn’t seen the sun since 2007, you can use your hair straightener like I did!

Look at that beautiful hem! Now your pants fit great and you didn’t spend a dime at the tailor!

How quick & easy is that?! I’m ready to go check all my jeans’ and pants’ lengths and get to hemming!

Don’t leave without our FREE downloadable guide on HOW TO CUFF YOUR JEANS correctly based on the shoes you’re wearing: