How to Sew a hem

Sure, you can always use iron-on hem tape to shorten those pants, but maybe it's time to join the 35 million Americans who can sew—yes, with a needle and thread—a hem.

You Will Need

* A seam ripper

* A floor-length mirror

* Straight pins

* An iron

* A sewing needle

* Thread

Step 1

Remove the original hem using a seam ripper.

Step 2

Put on the garment, with shoes, and fold it under to the desired length. Use a floor-length mirror to make sure the new hem is an equal distance from the floor.

Garments should always be washed and dried before hemming to reduce shrinking.

Step 3

Pin the hem into place.

Step 4

Take the pants off, being careful of the straight pins, and turn them inside out.

Step 5

Iron the pinned hem to create a crease, and then remove the pins.

Step 6

Turn the extra fabric in to meet at the crease and pin it in place.

If the extra fabric is longer than two inches, trim to two inches before folding it.

Step 7

Try on the garment one more time to make sure the pinned hems are even. Make any adjustments at this point.

Step 8

Hand-sew the top of the hem, using small stitches all the way around.

Fact: The first sewing needles were made out of bone approximately 17,000 years ago.