How I Hemmed a Pair of Pants

My husband showed me a pair of his pants. The poor ratty looking pair of pants was all frayed and a hole was worn clear through the edge of the pant leg. My only thought being did he get into a fight on the playground and lost? Who tears pants like that? Sensing my bewilderment he said, “I need you to fix them. The pants are too long. You can fix them on the sewing machine.” He gave me the pair of pants and walked off with me standing there with my mouth dropped open.

I have practically no sewing skills, but I am not going to let a torn pair of pants get the better of me. On to the internet to see if I can find out how to hem a pair of pants! Of course there were instructions on how to hem pants now I just have to do it.

Here is how I hemmed the pants.

I found thread to match the color of the pants.

I used another pair of pants that belong to him to measure against his torn pants to mark the new hem with a piece of chalk.

I then cut off the torn and frayed pant leg ends. Next, I turned the pants inside out and folded the pant leg to the marked new hem line. I ironed the pant leg at the new hem line to mark my hem for sewing. I did this to both pant legs.

I sewed on the raw edges of each pant leg with a zigzag stitch. I did this so that the raw edge does not start unraveling itself. I then cut off the loose thread with a pair of scissors and folded the pant leg back to its new hem line and re-ironed to set the hem line again.

I placed stick pins around the hem so I do not get the material all bunched up as I am sewing. I used a straight stitch to sew the hem. I cut off the loose thread and now the pants are ready to wear.