How to Hem Pants the Easy Way

Do you like shopping but hate spending money on a tailor? Then learn how to hem pants yourself. Here's an easy way to hem pants without sewing that takes only about 10 minutes and costs less than $5.

Step 1: Determine Pant Length

Put on the pants you want to hem, along with shoes you'd wear with them. While standing straight up, have a friend fold the pant leg cuff under until the pant leg is at the desired length, which should be long enough to cover the top of the shoe without bunching up. Next, pin the cuff.

Step 2: Re-Pin Pants on Table

Remove pants and bring them to an ironing board. While holding the cuff from the inside of the pant leg with one hand (Image 1), move the pins up the pant leg as far as you can, then re-pin to hold the fold (Image 2). Set the iron temperature according to the recommendation for the material, then iron the fold (Image 3).

Step 3: Turn Pants Inside Out

Carefully turn the pants inside out and then remove your pins.

Step 4: Apply Hem Tape to Inside of Cuff

Cut a strip of fusible hem tape to the width of the pant leg. At this point, you can unfold the pant leg, as the iron has made a crease indicating the bottom of the pant leg. Optionally, you can now cut off any excess pant leg with a pair of pinking shears (Image 1) to avoid fraying. Place the hem tape down on the pant leg and fold the cuff over it (Image 2).

Step 5: Iron Cuff

Iron the cuff with the hem tape inside for a full minute (Image 1). The heat from the iron will melt the hem tape, bonding the pant material together and forming a hem (Image 2).

Flip the pants over and repeat this step on the other side of the same pant leg. Repeat all the steps on the other pant leg. Turn your pants right side out. They're ready to wear!