How to hem jeans?

Penny Carver
by Penny Carver
  6 answers
  • Candice Gollam Candice Gollam on Aug 11, 2018

    Hello penny,


    here is a video.


    https://youtu.be/P02Mne95-s8


    best of luck

  • Nancy Turner Nancy Turner on Aug 11, 2018

    I always had a second person mark them or fold them up to where I wanted them so that they would be even. Wear whatever type of shoes you will wear when wearing the jeans. I them pinned them up. If they were really long, you may want to cut them down so that they hem isn't too long and won't sit right. If you cut them, make sure to fold in the raw edge so that it doesn't fray. I them sew by machine or hand at the size of what jean hems are usually at. I hope this helped you Penny!

  • Lilly.zimmerman415 Lilly.zimmerman415 on Aug 11, 2018

    Jeans are a little difficult because of the bulk of the fabric. Be sure you know how long you want the pants to be first. Measure the inside seam from crouch to leg opening and allow for an 1 1/2" hem. Cut off at that measurement. Turn under the 1 1/2" allowance and pin with straight pins all around the pant leg opening. Press the seam allowance. You will turn under 1/2" to make your seams. When you are ready to sew be sure you have a heavy duty needle in your sewing machine because the double felt seams are difficult to sew. You might want to practice on a scrap piece of the jean material first to see if your machine will handle the bulk. Good luck!

  • Virginia Virginia on Aug 11, 2018

    Jeans can be hemmed like other pants. The finish is up to you whether you want it to show or not.


    Denim frays, so an edge glue like Fray Check can help you get your edge in order for the hem.


    First, pin up the hem where you want it to hit th back of your shoe, about an inch and a half from the bottom or close to that. In front you want it to break at the upper part of your ankle, then measure down to where you want it to hit your shoe, right about where it will cover your socks. Pin it there. Take off the jeans and iron the hem with plenty of Magic Sizing.

    • Virginia Virginia on Aug 11, 2018

      After ironing the hem, turn the hem out again and measure below the hem about ½ to ¾ inch, and turn it under. Iron this part heavily without ironing out the true hem.


      Repeat this below the last Iron spot, and when you have 3 ironed lines, cut the jeans off at the third line. Add Fray Check to the edges. Then turn under at the bottom ironing spot, then fold under again at the true hem. This will give you a welt edge to sew to the inside of the pants leg.


      Sew this how you will at the inner edge of the welt with a size 14 needle, the one which will end up above the hem. Sew in a straight stitch at the top edge of the welt around the jeans leg. This can use thread the color of the jeans to hide it or a color you'd like to see stand out, even as the jeans were first made with orange or white thread.


      Fancy your jeans up! On the pants leg a little above the welt, use your favorite sewing machine design to make a decorative line around your jeans leg. You might want to use some sewing chalk to mark where you need to put the edge of your design so you can make sure it ends up at the same point you started.

  • Lina Splichal Lina Splichal on Aug 11, 2018

    Penny Carver, It is best to cut off the original hem on jeans before hemming them. Then, put the jeans on and fold them up so the bottom of the leg is where you want it to end at your foot/ankle/shin/knee. Once set, pin or clip the fold in place and remove the jeans. Sew a basting seam along the edge of the fold, remove the pins/clips, and then turn the jeans inside out. Fold the legs of the jeans up on the basted line and stitch the hem as deep as you like, cutting away extra fabric as needed. Jeans I purchase are usually 4" too long, so once folded up for sewing I machine sew two lines around each leg; one line 1" from fold and the second line 3/4" from the fold. Then I cut away the excess.

    If you prefer you can fold the end of the leg over twice to make your hem look similar to the original and have a finished edge inside the leg. You can also fold over and hand sew with a hem or slip stitch.

    To sew a decorative hem you can use red (or any color) floss and sew a blanket stitch over your hem fold. I cut the excess off the leg before starting to sew and use the cut edge for the width of my blanket stitch. Good luck.