Girls Dress

What is the easiest way to hem pants and skirts?

How do you hem pants and skirts? Is there more than just pinning and sewing? Thanks!

Public Comments

1. I personally cheat & use the webbing that you iron between the fabric. It holds well except for thick material like jeans or clothes you dry on higher heat, you will have to touch-up once in a while.
2. Measure first with the shoes you will normally be wearing with the garment. Mark it. Pin it up. Try on again. If it is ok. Press the hem in, then sew it. After sewing press once more. If you have to hem it alot, you may have to cut off the extra length and finish off the edge or turn it under.
3. You have to get the hem even. You can use fusible webbing or Fabri-Tac.
4. http://www.expertvillage.com/video/25020_mend-clothes-trim-skirt.htm http://www.expertvillage.com/video/25021_mend-clothes-hand-hem.htm http://www.expertvillage.com/video-series/5208_hem-pants.htm http://www.expertvillage.com/video-series/1576_mend-clothes.htm http://www.expertvillage.com/video-series/291_hemming-pants-video-series.htm
5. If you have help, its much easier. Stand on a table and get someone to pin the hemline up to the desired length, I find it easy to tack the hem first - meaning get a needle and thread and roughly 'sew' it yourself. It is easier for beginners to do it this way, so you just have to follow the line of your tacking when you get on the machine. Interfacing works well as well, but can come loose after a while, so it is better to sew.
6. There is always the IRON on method., which can be bought from Spotlight.
7. Iron on hemming tape - fantastic invention - easy, inexpensive and hassle free... last time i got it at Big W but I think most places would have it - maybe even the supermarkets...worth a check
8. You can buy hemming tape, from Spotlight, but I find as a person that sews, either hemming by hand sewing or machine sewing is the best, and last longer.
9. yes. pin it to get the right position and fit. Don't sew ! use the iron on tape which basically is like glueing the hem in place . You just use a hot iron. No needles or sewing.!!
10. just pin, press and sew it won't take that long
11. Just make sure you wash the garment first-otherwise you may be faced with shrinkage after shortening!!!
12. pin up the skirt or pant to the length you think will do and then try on a pair of shoes and see how you go. once you are sure this is the right length then cut any material not needed off but for this very carefully or you can roll up the excess, although you are better of cutting the excess off. also ensure you leave a little extra still on the pant or skirt for bringing the hemming down and redoing later in case you grow. you then pin the material in place and so. you can use the iron on hemming although you are better off sewing the hem.
13. Oh wow!~ I just wanted to mend my pants too...I think the easiest way to do it is by using a stapler,haha
14. being a bachelor, I use an office stapler or bluetac-no sewing 2minute job and it`s done
15. I would take them to a "seamstress, or a tailor. Easy job done.
16. I will put on the pants/skirt and ask somebody to pin them to the correct length, so you can stand straight as you normally would. Next iron the crease so it stays in the position you want it. Then go ahead and sew!
17. you can buy iron on velco and after you cut to required length you iron on inside and fold over & iron agian to press together & job is done
18. Observe the length of the pants or skirt and compare to the length of your leg. Then make a comparison to how high or low the hemline should be, allow at least +1cm to the result to allow for discrepancies. Sew the hemline after adding hemming tape as when both are used they can compliment each other. Or ideally you can use the length of your fingertips (not the end of the nail) to the shoulders as a guide to hemming pants.
19. doing it on your own get a dress/pants that already at your ideal length lay the new dress/pants on a flat surface/table then lay the dress/pants that are already at the desired length on top measure down from the old dress/pants at least 2.5 - 3cm and mark with a line of pins trim off remaining material at pin line then fold to meet with the old dress/pants and hem or have someone help you by getting you to stand on a step or a box while they pin the garment the iron on hem tape is ok but it doesnt last as long as hand stitching one more tip turn the garments to be hemmed inside out if you are doing it the first way make sure waist bands are level or shoulders are level
20. double sided sticky tape works a treat for an emergency
21. Well years ago there were these things called women who had many skills like cooking and cleaning and sowing. But as life progressed we now find that most women dont even know what cotten and needles are. They also have no idea how to do simple choirs like washing dishes . So to answer your question, find someones grandmother, min age 70, they will help you fix your pants and are great hemmers. Avoid any female below the age of 40. You will find their purpose on this earth is to marry and hope their husband has enough cash for trained house keepers.
22. ask mum to do it. i get the next door neighbour to do mine
23. i take it to some one to get it done. but before i discoverd that i just used to (depending on if it was temporary or longer) either double sided tape or staples!!!!! works really well. but now i know how to do it better than that, using the iron tape(double sided sticky stuff) but if i need a really professional job i'll take it to a dressmaker/tailor.
24. Just a little note to Crikeym8....long, long ago at the time of the "sewing-cooking women", there were men who knew how to spell, too.
25. Well years ago there were these things called women who had many skills like cooking and cleaning and sowing. But as life progressed we now find that most women dont even know what cotten and needles are. They also have no idea how to do simple choirs like washing dishes . So to answer your question, find someones grandmother, min age 70, they will help you fix your pants and are great hemmers. Avoid any female below the age of 40. You will find their purpose on this earth is to marry and hope their husband has enough cash for trained house keepers.
26. not really you should double fold and do a light stitch so as there is minimal cotton on outside of hem and maybe even iron your hem straight first its easier and don't use a machine as u will notice the hem unless its a pair of jeans.
27. Use iron on hemming tape.
28. Pay someone else to do it!! It is so much easier!
29. there is an easy way. You can buy tape that you just iron into the hemline. You can get this from the supermarket or Big W, K Mart, or shops like that.
30. Duct Tape
31. Take them to a seamstress or tailor
32. hi on jeans and work strides i use clear silicon cut jeans to length i iron hem first, put silicon between hem and stick a brick on on top of hem, it washes real good time after time i do not recomend it on skirts
33. with a sewing machine?
34. I too cheat and use the iron on stuff, its quick and easy. I suck at sewing.
35. i have a mother who cant sew and she want me to hem up her pants! so, i ofered to show her how to use the machine but she declined! saying it better if i do it! so, i told her about the time in a emergency i did get a lady to staple my hem and it looked so trendy! everyone commented on the silver glitter round my hem and that it matched my new singlet top that accentuated a good part of me! but she said no! so i said use that iron on tape and she still said no! and she still waiting for me to sew for her. it just that i choose not to sew! i did offer to teach her! i'm not mean am i? lol!
36. Take then to a shop that does clothing alterations.
37. Use iron on hem tape. You can buy it in 20mm and 25mm from Lincraft. It is so quick and easy and very successful.
38. the easiest way is to get someone else to do it
39. i use a stapler.
40. The EASIEST way would have to be using hemming tape or fusible web. Hemming tape is also excellent for mending neat cuts / tears in special clothes where you're probably wanting a neat, almost invisible mend. If you use hemming tape and apply it on freshly washed (and well rinsed) cloth, at the maximum temperature that that material can safely handle, you'll get a fairly long lasting hem. The QUICKEST way would be to use double sided tape, the kind that is thin, like ordinary sticky tape (not thick and 'foamy'). This has quite a strong stickiness, and will last well, but probably won't handle washing very well. The most DURABLE result is sewing, and it's good if you've got someone to pin it to the right length (and check for level / even) for you. I like to do this with the clothing on the person INSIDE OUT. This makes it a lot easier to see whether the taken up section is mismatched to the garment for 'length'. This is where say, the leg of a pair of pants is 'roomier' around the leg than the hemmed-up piece, or alternatively, less roomy around the leg. Both these situations need to be allowed for before the final sewing is done. When the final pinning is done, iron the bottom of your garment to put a clear crease in it, then you'll be able to remove the pins and still be able see the desired length. Then you'll be able to turn over the cut edge ( if you've removed the excess material) so that your hem doesn't unravel (away from your stitching) with wear and washing. A row of machine stitching just back from the cut edge is a good idea- doesn't matter if it's straight or zigzag- to reduce the risk of fraying. Then pin the hem section and sew- jeans are fine machine sewn, more delicate fabrics probably are best hand sewn- unless you have a sewing machine that is designed to handle that well, too.
41. when you find out the best way can you do my pants for me?
42. Draw a chalk line, fold them over and sew them in. How hard can it be?
43. Just tape em up and go! Sounds odd I know, but not being a seamstress of any type (every stitch is cross stitch to me as when I try to sew it makes me cross) I recently went to purchase some of the iron on tape, and stumbled across a variety that you don't even have to iron. It is pretty much just a double sided tape and works well. I was concerned it may come down in the 99.9% humidity in Asia, or in the wash, but that was 4 months ago and it is still holding strong. I purchased the tape at Kmart and it was not very expensive.
44. double sided tape. readily available from BIGW or similar stores