Most of the time, except for jeans, you want to resize the sides, for proper symmetry and drape. 2. Just use a seam ripper or an awl to take the stitches out. That helped out a lot! Just a word of caution, though — there are some things it's not easy, or worth your money, to have altered when it comes to denim. Take off the jeans and place them on a hard surface. Sometimes leggings can get a bit stretched out after wear, or if you have lost weight, your once-loved leggings do not have a hope of staying up on their own. If you are tapering your pants slim, first unpick the hem of your pants, iron the pants, draw and pin the tapering line all the way through your pants, and cut away the excess fabric. Slide the seam ripper so that the mouth -- its blade -- is against the stitch and gently push to slice the stitch in half. Turn them inside out and place them on top of the wide pants. Shortening too-long jeans (aka hemming jeans) is generally the easiest alteration you can make to denim pants. Finding the pants of your dreams two sizes too big is not the nightmare it once was if you know some simple do-it-yourself tailoring skills. Tailoring Jeans: What's Difficult to Alter. Hammer at that yoke/seat seam intersection again. I must admit that I alter many of mine, too. ", "Excellent instructions for kinesthetic and visual learning methods. When taking jeans to a tailor to get them hemmed, be sure to bring (or wear) the shoes you'll wear most often with the jeans. It's often easier — and less expensive — to either wear a belt or find a pair of jeans that suits your body better. ", "Thank you for the step by step instructions!". Do try and determine if a tailor has experience in altering denim fabric in particular, as tailoring denim can involve special stitching techniques and sewing equipment. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 523,172 times. How to Take up Jeans' Hems Step by Step. For example, if you want the tapering to begin around your knee, then pinch the fabric on the inside and outside of your knee to find the best place to create a new seam. You'll be surprised at how doing so can make a pair of almost-perfect jeans conform better to your body, and create a made to measure jeans look. Talk to your tailor if you're looking to hem jeans by more than an inch or two, about whether they'll need to change the leg shape, which can be a complicating factor when it comes to bootcut or flare jeans styles. Plus, find out when it's better to buy a new pair of jeans, instead of spending your money trying to alter a too-challenging pair. While keeping the jeans on, use sewing pins vertically to mark where you’ll sew, making sure that the vertical pin tops all line up evenly and are equidistant from the bottom of the fabric. A universal needle should work. Take the jeans off, flatten them so that the seams are on the outer edges and pin each leg closed along the line you have drawn. "I have a number of pants that need to be narrowed and this how-to article provides a good step-by-step explanation. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. Pinch and pin up along your hips stopping at the waistband, we’ll do that part later. Since it doesn't give you a finished hem look, though, it's better as a short-term solution — as when you're borrowing a pair of jeans from a friend and will need to return them. You should taper both seams, so that the pants do not look and feel weird. So without further ado, let’s learn how to take in the waist of jeans. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. Remove the top stitching Notice that on the inside leg of almost all jeans is a top stitch that runs all the way down from the crotch. Don't sew over them or you may damage your sewing machine. How do I taper trouser legs step by step? You can keep pining down the leg to achieve a straight leg. Before you take a new pair of jeans in for alterations, always wash them a couple of times first. This has to be removed in order to alter the leg or else there will be a pucker where you started the alteration. Step 1 How to Downsize Jeans Without Sewing While wearing the jeans, pinch the excess fabric at the center of the backside of the waistband. Pin your trouser's along the line you marked and stitch along the lines. Ironing to remove jeans of all wrinkles can help … Make sure to remove the pins as you go. You can use these instructions as a basic guide. Make sure that you install new needle before you get started to ensure that it is sharp. She has been contributing to craft articles on wikiHow since 2007. Yes you can do this. Here is how to do each! Take off the jeans and measure the width to be removed. Use a seam ripper to take out the old stitches. Just remove stitches where you want to take in the seam. Also it’s likely you’re going to have to take the waistband off the pants and shorten it to get the waistband to a size zero. Here's how to ask for either treatment, to get the best results: You'll try on your jeans at the alterations shop, so the tailor can mark the correct length with chalk or pins. If you have invested in designer jeans, which are often recognizable by the unique fading or stitching on their hems, you will definitely want to hem your jeans using this method. How do I taper trouser legs so they don't fall on the back of them? But alas! Make sure to line up the side seams of the jeans, then use sewing pins to pin the hem in place. Unbutton or unzip them. ", "I didn't know to turn the pants over to start. Turn right side out and give your new seat seam a nice press. If you'd rather not cut your jeans, you can ask a tailor to do an "inside hem". You can try pinning out some of the flare on that side to see if they will hang straight with only that one side taken in. Cutting Jeans Shorter — The Original Hem Method. You can, of course, turn your jeans into skinny jeans by taking them in even more. With my jeans I found I wanted them taken in a litte more and wanted to start a little higher up to take the lower thigh and knee in too. The 5 gentle neck stretches you NEED to reduce pain. When you’ve decided where you want the new hemline to fall, fold the bottoms of your jeans up so that the existing hem lines up with where you want the new hem to go. Make sure that your sewing machine is set to the recommended tension and stitch length for using the straight stitch. Repeat as needed until the entire … Make sure the pins are vertical (parallel to the seam). How can I make them look straight? Will the methods in the article work with any type of pants? Doing more can change the pocket positioning and front shaping of the jeans, not to mention making it necessary to alter the hips as well, to maintain the proper line. What you CAN Alter in a Pair of Jeans You can easily take in a bigger waist, remove excess length and baggy legs to make your jeans flatter your body. You can try to mark the fabric yourself, but keep in mind that you will still need to pinch it while you mark it to get the best results. Here's how you can taper jeans for a more streamlined leg look. Turn your jeans inside out … If the jeans have top-stitched or flat-felled seams, you really can't unless you are an experienced seamstress. This article has been viewed 523,172 times. Many women have no hesitation about taking a pair of wool trousers to the tailor for alterations, in order to get a customized fit. However, many other fit issues — including a too-long length, a pair of jeans that gaps slightly at the waist, or overly baggy legs — can be addressed by taking them to a tailor to take in (or remove) excess fabric. Next, take off your trousers and use a seam ripper to undo the stitching on the cuffs and seams. Iron your jeans first to make … You'll learn what is possible to have tailored, how to hem jeans so they flatter your shape perfectly, and the one thing you should always do before taking your jeans for alterations. Decide whether you want the tailor to choose the tapering style without your input or whether you want to pre-select the amount to be tapered yourself by pinning it before taking the trousers to the tailor (or just ask the tailor to pin it your way while you’re wearing the pants at the tailor’s). Be sure to bring or wear the shoes you'll wear most often with the jeans, so you can get the right length. How to make jeans smaller or just skinnies! Once they're on, pinch the seams until you're satisfied with the fit and then mark the line with some tailor's chalk. This article was co-authored by Lois Wade. Or maybe you've got an old pair of straight leg jeans, and skinny jeans are more your style now. Finally, cut off any excess fabric and re-hem your trousers so they're the same length on both sides. You can ask the tailor for an "original hem," as described above in this article, to give jeans an unaltered look. However, use a pair of spandex and polyester pants as to outline the new seam on your pants instead of pinching the pants while wearing them. "I had several pairs of jeans and linen trousers, too good to get rid of and too wide to wear. What kind of needle do I use for the sewing machine to taper jeans? (Shops may charge more, though, for original hems, so be sure and ask for detailed information about the service and cost being provided). However, trousers are often loose-fitting and hiring a professional tailor to fit them for you can be expensive. I'll show you how I downsize my jeans, resizing the waist to be smaller and slimming the legs. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. ", "I liked that it had pictures. Original hem: An original hem is mostly used when jeans are already pre-faded. They’re perfect for all body shapes and enhance the appearance of your legs length, which is always a good thing. Know what you can tailor in a pair of jeans - and what you can't. % of people told us that this article helped them. This is a good method to hem your jeans when you're not sure exactly how long you want jeans to be. Tapered trousers are stylish and they can make an outfit look much more polished. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Step 2. (Going from flare to skinny, for instance, isn't worth the money it will cost to pull that off — you're better off buying a new pair). Use an 80/12 size needle as these are specifically designed for denim and other thick fabrics. This process will work to taper any type of pants. This involves folding under the extra length and stitching it in place, without cutting the fabric, to make jeans appear shorter. Women with an hourglass figure (small waist, curvy hips), often find it a challenge to find jeans that fit perfectly, without gapping at the waist. You can also ask friends for recommendations, ask about alteration services at your dry cleaning shop, or look up tailors or seamstresses on your favorite search engine or app that offers reviews. I needed to take some length off of my jeans as well, which makes this even easier. Sometimes you'll find a pair of jeans that fit well through the waist and hips, but the thighs are a bit too baggy for your liking. Typically, the tailor will have you try on the jeans, then pin them along the inseams (the line of stitching running down the inner leg). The jeans will then be turned inside out and sewn to create a more slender ("tapered") leg opening. To wash jeans the right way, turn them inside out and launder them in cold water on the delicate setting of your machine, then hang to dry. You’ll be topstitching through twelve or so layers this time. As well, if your jeans are faded or distressed, they'll need to be cut at a place that doesn't look wrong with the styling. This article has been viewed 523,172 times. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. This article was co-authored by Lois Wade. of trousers that fit me in the waist/tum/bum area being waaaaay to big in the legs for my liking. If the length is perfect ", without having to watch a video over and over. article, I now have trousers that don't flap in the wind! Insert these pins perpendicular to the edge of the fabric. This will help the tailor mark the jeans at the right length, so you'll be happy with the result of your tailored jeans. Run the hooked part of the seam ripper along the stitches to sever them and then gently pull apart the fabric at the seams to loosen the stitches. The extra fabric on your tailored jeans may be cut away, or just sewn inside if there's not too much of it. Wash new jeans a few times before having them tailored. You can find tailors and seamstresses online. What kind of needle would I use for the machine, since the jeans I'm trying to taper are made of a thick fabric? ", "Great! Once you’re happy with the fit of your jeans, serge the excess off (leave enough to accommodate new topstitching–about a half inch). Altering the Length It is the easiest type of ~ jeans/trousers - no more than 2" off of the back. "I thought trousers were taken in from the inside leg, so glad I watch the clip. Try using a denim thread for a strong, durable option. Align the crotch and center the legs so there is equal fabric on both sides. You can tailor your jeans to take in extra fabric at the waist. We'll also tell you what you can expect when you take your jeans to a tailor or seamstress, to prevent surprises. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. Place a ruler to meet these three marks on each leg of the jeans: the bottom of the enlarged thigh region, the middle or widest point and the top point. You'll want to have a good sense that the service provider is aware of current denim styling, too, so you get a fashionable end result that you'll feel good about wearing. Jeans on inside out and place them on top of the jeans have top-stitched or flat-felled,. 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