Trade secrets

I decided to start posting instructions on how to alter clothes. I am a tailor/stitcher by profession and I love to find instructions on something that I can't do so I want to return the favor. I'm going to start out by showing how to make original hems on jeans. Many dry cleaners will charge upwards of $30 (maybe more in some parts of the country) and with the increase in the price in jeans, that's a whole lotta money on pants.

The secret to reheming jeans is to take your time, make sure all the stitches are clean and use same color thread.

Start out by always washing and drying your jeans because they can shrink.


First mark the length on the jeans with chalk (preferably), but pen will do if you don't have chalk because it will be hidden anyways. The mark will indicate the bottom length of the pants. I would always wear shoes to make sure the length will fall where you want it to fall with shoes (heels) on.


Take the stitch out of the original hem. Make sure you remove all threads as you take out the stitch. I am a professional and therefore can use razors without cutting the pant to shreds so be careful what you use to rip the seam open.



Cut at the marked location.







Cut 1/4 inch above the stitch line.








Hold it inverted over the vertical seam, making sure that both the vertical seams are lined up perfectly.







Sew just above the stitch line, very close, as close to it as you can get without sewing on top of it.









Flip it over and tuck in.














Sew on top of the originial stitch line.
















Voila! You're done. This is how the finished product should look, like the original, duh!















This is how the inside should look.

Feel free to ask any questions!