How To: Hem pants so they fit

You will need marking pencils or chalk, scissors, seam ripper, pins and good quality matching thread. Mark desired length on each pant leg. Option 1: Stand on pants and place a pin where fabric hits the floor. Option 2: Fold pants up to desired length & pin. Take pants off; turn the leg inside out. Note original hem size after it is 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 inches. Mark pin position/finished length. Rip out original hem stitching using seam ripper or point of scissor. Find right loop to pull & it will come out easily. Lay pant legs out flat & press lightly on the inside with iron set on medium & no steam for most fabrics. Measure down from your mark the 1 1/2 inches for hem. Measure equally from the edge. Mark 3 spots along the leg. Use a straight edge to draw a line connecting the spots. Fold line for new hem is formed. Cut off excess following cutting line. Finishing cut edge means hem will last longer. On regular sewing machine, easiest stitch is zigzag. Line raw edge up with hole in foot. Zigzag foot: sideways slot where needles go down. Zigzag around entire leg. When leg is complete, reverse for a few stitches. Trim thread close. Repeat on other leg. If you have a serge or an overlock machine, use it to finish raw edge. To finish hem, fold, pin, & cross stitch it to hold it all together. Fold, measure & pin all the way around each leg. Thread needle knotting one tail; this creates a single thread still strong, used for finer stitches. Bring needle up between hem & pants. Pick up as little fabric as possible; stitch through pants. The next stitch is parallel to the edge, in hem allowance. Pick up 1 or 2 threads only & stitch through pants. Stitch through hem about 1/4 inch from edge. Continue cross stitch around leg. Take 1 final stitch, then tie a knot by looping thread through itself a few times. Push needle through hem & snip thread. With right side out iron hem flat (use a press cloth). Dress pants are ready to go.