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Sewing a Jean Hem

Is often tormenting to find the perfect pair of jeans in a store, only to realize when you try them on they are too long for you. To make it worse, it is uncomfortable to walk on the denim fabric or always have to wear high heels so you don̵7;t walk on them. Hemming the jeans to fit is a cinch, and you can sew it so that no one can tell the alteration has been made. It will look like they were custom made for you when you̵7;re done.

Things You'll Need

Shoes
Pins
Measuring tape
Matching thread

Instructions

- 1
  Put on the jeans with a pair of shoes. The shoes should be the same height and style that you will be wearing the jeans with most often.
- 2
  Fold the jeans up so that the bottom edge of the fold is even with the top of the heel of your shoe. Pin the fold in place. This creates a cuff, and you will be able to see the inside of the jeans on the outside of without having to turn them. This is how the new hem will be sewn.
- 3
  Take the jeans off, leaving them right-side out. Be careful not to dislodge the pin.
- 4
  Measure from the original hem seam on the jeans to the edge of the fold you just made. Divide that measurement by two.
- 5
  Remove the pin you placed earlier and refold the jeans to the new measurement. For example, if the fold was 3 inches from the original seam, refold it so that it is now 1 1/2 inches from the original seam. Pin it in place.
- 6
  Thread the sewing machine with thread that matches the jeans color as closely as possible. Insert a full bobbin with matching thread, and install a denim sewing needle.
- 7
  Sew around the cuff, as close to the original seam line as you can. This will almost completely conceal the seam at first glance, making it very difficult to tell the jeans have been altered.
- 8
  Turn under the cuff and then turn the jeans inside out.
- 9
  Tack the excess fabric inside of the jeans to keep the fold in place. Make the stitches near the inner and outer leg seams to keep the alterations concealed. Alternatively, you can trim the fabric away or use fabric glue to keep it in place if desired.

Sewing