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How to Hem Shorts With a Sewing Machine

Whether you are sewing a pair of shorts from a pattern or you are converting a pair of pants into shorts, you need to know how to properly hem the shorts. Hemming serves two purposes: It keeps the shorts at your preferred length; and prevents the fabric from fraying or falling apart. Hemming is an essential sewing skill for beginners to learn. Practice sewing on scrap fabric to familiarize yourself with your sewing machine if you are inexperienced.

Things You'll Need

Tape measure
Shorts
Scissors
Pushpins
Threaded sewing machine

Instructions

- 1
  Measure down from the waistline to determine how long you would like your shorts.
- 2
  Add 1 1/2 inches to the length measurement for the hem allowance and cut the fabric horizontally at this length on both legs of the shorts.
- 3
  Fold the cut edges of the fabric under 3/4 inch. Fold the fabric under another 3/4 inch.
- 4
  Insert pushpins perpendicularly through the folded fabric all the way around each leg of the shorts.
- 5
  Turn the shorts inside out. Lay a single layer of the pinned hem under the presser foot on your sewing machine with the remaining fabric set to the side.
- 6
  Lower the presser foot. Stitch a visible straight seam 5/8 inch in from the bottom fold line around the entire leg. Raise the presser foot. Knot the thread close to the fabric and cut the thread close to the knot. Repeat on the other leg of the shorts.

Sewing