Okay, fess up! Who hates to hem jeans? I see all those hands raised out there and mine used to be right up there with yours. There is one main reason everyone hates to do them… they are just too bulky at the seams and it doesn’t seem like anything makes it any easier… I’ve tried heavy duty denim/jeans sewing machine needles, those raised up tools (called a Jean-a-ma-jig)
that are supposed to help you over the hump of the side seams, but nothing really ever made it any easier to do, so your jeans just stayed long and wore out from dragging on the ground. Does this sound familiar to anyone?
Well, I’m here to tell you there is an easy way to hem your jeans, even those with the bulkiest side seams. I first saw this method on Pinterest (HERE) She has lots more pictures than I have, so if you get lost in my directions, check her tutorial out.
I put most of my directions on the pictures, so I wouldn’t get them out of order… so let’s start: By the way, I still used a denim/jeans sewing machine needle.
My mom had two pairs of jeans that she needed hemmed. They aren’t the super bulky side seamed ones, but this way, you’ll get the idea of how to do it from hers.
PLEASE NOTE: make sure you have washed your jeans at least once and dried them in a hot dryer. Washing them a couple of times and drying them is even better. You want to make sure they don’t shrink after you’ve gotten them hemmed perfectly!! (Thanks Marsha)
[If you click on any picture it will enlarge.]
Make your slits are on the outsides of the bulky seam. You might have to look at the wrong side to make sure you get the slits in the right place.
Okay, so who’s going to give this a try?
See you tomorrow,
Blessings, Jeanne
Now that’s something I needed to see! I have a brand new pair of jeans that I thought would work for me, but they are too long, so they have been folded up in a drawer for abut a year! The thought of trying to shorten them was too daunting for me, so I just put them away and out of mind. Your blog reminded me I still have them, so I may just give this a try! Seems strange that I have jeans that are too long, since I am 5’9″, but they are tall jeans, and I just can’t wear them, unless I wear super high heels, which I never do! So thank you very much for this, Jeanne!
Uh, that game last night, terrible!
Great Linda,
Don’t forget to wash them first and dry them if you’ve never worn them before. I hope it works for you and you end up with a new pair of jeans to wear!
Yep…ugh is the only way to describe last nights game.
Thanks Linda,
Blessings, Jeanne
Great tutorial Jeanne! I hate hemming jeans. I do recommend you wash your jeans and dry in the dryer multiple times before hemming as they can shrink and then all your work is for naught because now the jeans are too short! I am sure you can figure out how I know that little fact!
Hi Marsha,
I edited my post and added what you mentioned… I had forgotten about saying that! Thank you for reminding me. Been there, done that TOO!
Thanks so much,
Blessings, Jeanne
You are so smart. I can imagine dozens of people emailing links to this to friends, and on and on and on. I’m going to do it right now, and I haven’t worn jeans in years.
Hi Marilyn,
Marsha reminded me about washing and drying your jeans first…I had forgotten to add that part in…make sure if you are doing brand new jeans you wash and dry them…
I’m glad you are going to give it a try… Let me know how they turn out…
Thanks for the comments.
Blessings, Jeanne
The last two pair of jeans I hemmed I used the super sticky hemming tape. It is quicker than sewing and doesn’t break needles, but I’m not crazy about the finished “look”. You just need that stitching around the bottom of the leg to make it look right, and with the tape, obviously there is no stitching. I have one more pair of jeans to hem, so I will definitely try this trick! Thanks, Jeanne!
HI Theresa,
I hope it works for you… I have to admit, I don’t think I know about Super Sticky Hemming Tape. I’ll have to look for it at the store. There are SOME things I think it would be good for. Thanks for your comments…and let me know how your jeans turn out if you do it…
Blessings, Jeanne
The tape is called Peel N Stick Fabric Fuse. It comes in a 5/8″ wide roll (that’s the only size I’ve seen, anyway) and you just peel it off, pressing it onto the fabric as you go, peel off the paper backing once you get all the way around, then fold up the hem and press it down. Now for me, that’s easier than sewing, but probably only because I don’t have my sewing machine set up all the time. If I need to sew something (and I only do the most basic of basics… :), I have to drag my machine out and set it up. For an expert seamstress like you, hemming on the machine is probably just as easy. But I’m sure you could find some good uses for the tape – it is super sticky! I have used it on pants that have been through several washes by now, and it holds up great!
Jeanne, this is perfect timing for me ! My husband spotted a pair of jeans shorts at WalMart for $2.00. Just his size so he put them in the cart. At home he tried them on and whoa, they were those longish shorts that made him look like a gang member! I was dreading the re-hemming process so he has been wearing them as is for a couple of weeks. They have been washed and dried a couple of times so any shrinkage has occurred but in this case not enough!!! I am going to try you method on these “shorts” ! Thanks for the tip !!!
HI Jeannie,
Oh good, I love posts that are PERFECTLY timed! I hope your hubby’s new shorts work out well using this method… it’s pretty simple and going over that side seam is a breeze now!
Thanks for your comments and let me know how they turn out…
Blessings, Jeanne
Wow…..how awesome is this?!? I think I might actually be able to do that too…even with my limited sewing skills and best of all….now I can peel the duct tape off my husband’s favorite jeans! He’s gonna love you as much as I do 🙂 (big smile)
All of God’s best to you today and always!
OH Bobi, you made me laugh out loud at your duct tape comment. I had to share it with Rebecca and we both got a chuckle out of it. I hope you are successful at hemming his jeans. Let me know how it goes for you!
Many blessings back to you today!
~ Jeanne
I’ve been sewing over the hump for years and well, have been glad the jeans are jean colored and the stitching doesn’t show. I will definitely give this a try. Now, if I could only find jeans without spandex, which I do not like. I believe only the guys can still get those. Great tip!
Hello Joy,
Well, I hope if you try this new method of stitching over the seam, you find it helpful. It’s pretty simple to do. Let me know how it goes…
Blessings, Jeanne
I stopped wearing jeans for several years until I discovered the strech ones. cutting the slit makes good sense. I pounded the bottom seam edges with a hammer and a block.before sewing. A garage task.
HI Jan,
I’ve done the hammer thing too! Anything to make that seam a little flatter…
I hope if you try this it’s much better for you.
Blessings, Jeanne
Brilliant! That’s an easy and common sense way to do it…of course I’ll try it!
THANKS!
HI Kathie,
I’m so glad to have put a tip out there that everyone can try. I hope it works well for all of you!
Thanks Kathie,
Blessings, Jeanne
Very helpful, Jeanne. Thank you!
Thanks Jevne,
I hope everyone gives this a try…it’s wonderfully easy!
Blessings, Jeanne