Tutorial Thursday: How to Hem Shorts/Pants.

 We are currently prepping for our vacation next month. I tend to wear dresses and skirts most days but since we are going to Boston and DC where we will be walking around a lot it seems practical to have some shorts instead. While I have a few pairs on the cutting table to make from scratch I need a few that are super quick to get done so I can start packing. This is where old jeans come in. I am going to show you a quick way to hem jeans into shorts or just hem jeans in general.

Photo heavy warning!

Start by gathering your jeans, chalk or marking tool. (crayola washable markers work really well to if you don't have anything else), a ruler and measuring tape. Also needed are your sewing machine, thread that matches or coordinates with your jeans, an Iron ( I am using Dritz Petite Press Portable Mini Iron ) and scissors.

First, decide how long or short you want your shorts to be. Match the hems, fold in half and lay out on a hard flat surface. I am using my ironing board. measure from the crouch down to where you want them to end. I like my shorts a bit long so I can cuff them if I want so I did 4 inches.

Mark that point then grab your measuring tape. Measure from that point to the hem. Measure up from hem on the outer seam of the pants to that point. Mine was 25.5"

Make a mark and draw a line across with your chalk.

Fold one leg back while securely holding the ruler in place, draw line again and repeat. This gives you an even line on all sides. This is where your shorts will stop.

Lay them back out flat and mark 1" from the line you drew. Draw another line. This is you Seam Allowance that will be folded into your hem.

Cut along the second line you drew.

Now grab your Iron. fold the raw edge into the inside of your shorts. Making sure to have the folded edge where your line is. Press along the line. (If you dont have an iron you could use pins to hold your folds in place)

Then fold the raw edge down to meet the fold. This gives you a perfect 1/2" hem. you could pin this if you wanted but with the pressing you don't need to.

Now its time to sew! Make sure that your using a 90/12 or Jeans needle in you machine. Using the right needle for what your sewing is crucial to making a project go smoothly. Also make sure you have thread that matches or coordinates with your shorts. I am using Mettler® Metrosene® Thread in my needle and Gutermann Jeans Thread in the bobbin. The bobbin thread is what will be shown on the outside on the shorts.

I line up my inner fold with the inner edge on my sewing foot. I make sure to keep it lined up there to give me a straight line (errr Kinda straight, I had a 2year old sewing with me so its off slightly but they're for me so I don't mind.)  Repeat for the other leg. Make sure to clip thread tails and backstitch and the beginning and ends.

Ta-Da! They are done. now just wash or brush off chalk marks and you're good to go!  Now go rock those bad boys.


(Dritz Petite Press Iron was sent to me for review. Use recommendations and opinions are all my own ) (Links are affiliate links to Amazon)