This method keeps the original hem intact. This method takes less than 30 minutes. Read ALL THE WAY through instructions FIRST.


Hems should fall just below the bottom of your ankle. If you generally wear higher heels, or a certain height of heel, you might want your hem a bit longer - it should fall an inch to a half inch above the floor AT your heel.

Step 1: Decide how much length you would like to take off. Divide that number in half.
Step 2: Cuff the jeans. I wanted to take three inches off my jeans, so I measured one and a half inches up from TOP of the original hem line and pinned.

Step 3: Pin around the rest of the cuff, measuring each time you pin.

Make sure that the stitching lines up at each seam.

Step 4: Place your needle beside the original hem. Stitch on the right side of the hem, the side furthest from the bottom of the jean. Sew all the way around the cuff.


You can either cut the excess off, leaving only about 1/8 inch that will fray INSIDE the hem, or you can press the leftover neatly. I cut mine. Such a tiny line of fray it doesn't hurt and they wear forever.

Turn the leg right side out and press the new seam flat, revealing the old hem.

This method ensures that your hem will look original.


1) This trick works just as well with jean skirts and other denim items.
2) If you have already cut your hem off and still have it, you can still follow these directions. After you have decided on a length, do NOT divide in half as Step 1 suggests.

Thanks 2K, directions printed and waiting for my grandson's jeans! :thumbup:

Saw this post and I'm chiming in...this works great! I'm 5' and was thrilled to find a way to hem jeans and keep the intended "look". Really easy, too!

Thank you. I saved a copy for me and sent a copy to my sister.

Copying and paste-ing now. Wish there was a picture to go along with it - but maybe it will make sense when I get out a pair of my DH's too long jeans.

It's either too late in the day or I need pictures or both! :)

I think I need pictures too, thanks

I don't use Photobucket anymore. Maybe someone on here that does could post some pics. Maybe mollymct?

I need a pic tute....... sounds great though!

Ditto! LOL

I'm trying that on the next pair of jeans my DD gives me to hem.

Need picture. I got lost, but that is me.

Did you forget to tell us to turn the jeans wrong side out to begin with? Some folks may not have enough sewing experience to know to do this. Ihave some of DH's jeans that need done. Will try try this method. Thanks.

I think when I first tried it, I found a site with pictures. I'm going to look...be right back.

http://www.daciaray.com/?p=38

This is the tutorial I used, or very close!!

Who would have known so many people hem jeans. I should have stated I got this idea off the Internet somewhere a LONG time ago. I doubt I've ever had an "original" idea in my life. I admit that. Everything I do in life has come from somewhere on the Internet!

I've been dying to shorten my kid's ripped up jeans to shorts. Does this work too? Do you have pictures?

Got it now! WOW - so simple!

Thanks,
I use thread same color as other top stitching. Have been known to take sandpaper, to sides if altered on a non flat felt seam, to even up the color if taking up the hip or leg area. :)

This would probably work okay IF the legs are straight cut.

Have straightened them too the trick is no flat felt seams, and keeping an eye on where the straight of the grain is, of you take flair out on the inside or outside seam. I'm Long legged, full figured (fluffy:)) so find talls and hem and alter. Helps w/my confidence to wear a pair of great fitting jeans, don't like jelly rolls on top or highwaters. but i thing thick strech denim, is one of the greatest inventions ever made !!! :-D

I posted this site a long time ago. It has pictures!

http://www.daciaray.com/?p=38

Works even if the legs are NOT straight cut. Just open the seam a bit and taper to the hem line. If you can do the first part, you can most definitely do the tapering. It will be very clear immediately just how much you should taper.

As for doing a flat felled seam, easy peasy. There's only three steps to a flat felled seam. You can even Google video's as to how to do that. Once you see it, voila. Just like learning to make a quilt block. See it, do it.

OK the light bulb went off when I saw the pictures. Thank you sooooooooooo much, I hate to hem my DH's jeans, a royal pain in the butt. This soulds great. Thanks again, denise

Well I'll be darned. That's what I thought youmeant, but had to be sure. Thanks oodles. Will try this on DH's jeans tom.

Thank you!

Thanks for sharing this site! It's a great way to hem jeans.

Thank you for taking the time to post this! This is great!

Posting that I saw an article WITH PICTURES in the September (or was it October) issue of Consumer Reports - go figure!

Check it out while waiting in line at the grocery store or at a book store.