How to Hem Dress Pants: No Show Hem | The Daily Sew

Hemming trousers is a common task that you can do with professional results even if you don’t have much sewing experience. You just need to follow a couple of tips.
Note: you will need someone to do the initial pinning if you’re hemming your own trousers.
You will learn:
How to pin up pants
How to measure and mark for shortening dress pants
How much hem allowance is ideal
How to stitch so the hem is inconspicuous
How to hem tapered-leg trousers
Related Videos:
Basting Stitch: • Sewing by Hand - Why &...
Slip Stitch: • Sewing by Hand - Hem Y...
Accompanying Blog Post: thedailysew.com/
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Video Editor: Mars Sigler
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[@McJavi138]

I really appreciate how you laid out the learning objectives at the beginning of the video; great stuff and very helpful!

[@TheDailySew]

thanks for the feedback. I'm glad the video was helpful

[@sandrastenhouse2528]

This was an amazing tutorial. I hemmed a pair of pants for my son and they look so professional. I used to pay way too much for what I was able to accomplish in under an hour! Thank you!!!

[@TheDailySew]

I love this! thank you for the comment and I'm so glad it was helpful 😊

[@shmadsta]

this is THE most helpful hemming video, thank you!!

[@TheDailySew]

Thank you very much. That's great to hear. Thank you for watching it

[@christinebeaudoin8703]

I just bought some dress pant at a consignment store yesterday and they need to be shortened. I never shortened dress pants. Perfect video at the perfect time.

[@TheDailySew]

Yay! It isn't hard to do - You'll be wearing those pants in no time

[@bettystanbery310]

Excellent tips. Have sewn for many years but never satisfied with professional pant hem results. Didn’t take the time to finish edge or baste…today I will. Have a pair to do with slim pants which I found incredibly difficult to pin at right place. I can see the side seam release will be needed. Hoping for best results ❤

[@TheDailySew]

I resisted basting for a long time - until I tried it and saw how much better the hem turned out 😄

[@nancyellen8496]

Just what I needed! Bought a pair of pants for myself 2 days ago & need to hem. Been a long time since I've done that so your video is timely & a very informative reminder. Thank you so much.

[@TheDailySew]

Perfect timing ;-) I'm glad it's helpful.

[@shannonbobrowski81]

Terrific tutorial! Thank you so much.

[@TheDailySew]

Thank you!

[@beckyzayas5749]

You really teach. Love your videos.

[@TheDailySew]

thank you very much

[@kimhandy1861]

Thanks! That's a great tutorial!

[@TheDailySew]

Thank you!

[@carlamammapicspamcarr633]

Thank you so much for sharing your expertise in such an easy-to-follow format! You helped me when I was on the verge of panicking. It was the night before my sons graduation & his brother needed dress slacks hemmed for working at the event. I utilized most of your tips & was very pleased with the outcome. The safety pins were my favorite tip that you offered I'm thankful to all of the people who taught me to sew growing up. Now I can teach my sons how to sew, with the aid of your tutorials!

[@TheDailySew]

I'm so glad the video was helpful. Now your sons will be asking you anytime they need pants hemmed. I ask mine to give me at least 2 days notice ;-)

[@carlamammapicspamcarr633]

@@TheDailySew Good idea! LOL - that is right in line with my asking them for 2 days notice if they want to use the washer. 🤣

[@TheDailySew]

@@carlamammapicspamcarr633 😆

[@ddonlan5184]

This is fantastic

[@TheDailySew]

Thanks!

[@MrGixxer11]

Great video. im just starting with sewing because those in my area tend to overcharge. So i bought a sewing machine and have already saved enough to cover the machine cost. I'm still learning this hemming of pants, but i got a lot of pants that are too long. I need all the tips like this i can get. Thanks for a great tutorial.

[@TheDailySew]

Yes, you really can do many alterations yourself - and, as you did, save a lot of $$. I'm glad the video is helpful and thanks for watching

[@nancygreene9297]

What a terrific tutorial! I especially found the tip on measuring in three places to maintain the slope of the pants and how to keep the hem from puckering with tapered pants incredibly helpful. As for the basting? I can now see that it makes a significant difference in ensuring a professional look. Thanks for the tips!

[@TheDailySew]

Thanks - I hear you on Basting. I try to never do any work I don't have to ;-) but basting here did make the final hem so much better looking.

[@nancygreene9297]

@@TheDailySew I just hemmed a pair of pants and used most of your tips from this video. The basting made all of the difference in the world! Thanks again. The pants turned out beautifully.

[@TheDailySew]

@@nancygreene9297 Yay!

[@cathtaylor2771]

Thankyou for this x

[@Kuchsmith1]

Hey Cath🌹🥀 🌹 Marry Christmas 🌹 How are you doing??

[@TheDailySew]

I'm glad you like it - Thanks

[@dharmasagarpatil8485]

Great!!!!!

[@TheDailySew]

thanks

[@lisabrewer5935]

Thank you

[@TheDailySew]

Thanks for watching the video

[@Vintagebeautyca]

It worked! thank you so so much!!! and it didnt even take very long! i was super nervous! all i know how to do is slow stitch!

[@TheDailySew]

This is great to hear 🧡💛😄 Thank you! (I'm a master at slow stitching - but it has served me well even though I wish I was speedier at sewing)

[@kareneldridge2311]

Hi, I loved the video. I'm having a little problem with the measurements. Hopefully I'll get it right. Thank you for sharing.

[@TheDailySew]

thanks. Let me know if you have any questions about the measuring - Maybe I can clarify.

[@kevinorr6880]

Thank you for your video. I am of unique sizing (41” chest and 31” waist) but have worn uniforms for 30 years, thus, I've “tailoered” my stuff myself. However, this is an issue for my son and I. A cheap suit for a daughters wedding. 32” waist, but 38” trousers waist. Oh boy, help. I already did the new hems…luckily just like you described, but from an inseam measurement.

[@TheDailySew]

you can take in the waist from the center back seam. Most suit trousers are constructed with a 2-part waistband which is sewn together at the center back in align with the center back seam of the pants. You'll pinch out the extra waist there and sew a wedge shape to taper to nothing a few inches down (watch my video on altering a dress bodice to see what I mean by wedge and taper to nothing - the pants are the same concept (starts around 4:30) kzbin.info/www/bejne/j6bPZpVpbZ6Ir5osi=wNXdK9nb-MWPnacg ) If these particular trousers don't have a seam in the waist band you can apply the same technique only fold the waistband where the Center seam would be. Six inches is a lot to remove in one location so pin out the excess first and see how it looks. You may have to take out 4" from the back and then little tucks at both side seams. Thank you for watching the video - sounds like you already know what you're doing so I think you'll get this waist alteration with no problem but if you do have any further questions please ask. I'll help if I can

[@kevinorr6880]

This is my very first waist tailoring. I generally make small projects or climbing gear, not suit tailoring. Thank you for the video reference . I appreciate the help.@@TheDailySew

[@bettystanbery310]

How did it turn out?

[@mercurialqueen0]

The measurements are complicated like sending a ship to the moon 😂, but it makes it look professional. The tips are great! I didn’t know about the twisting and such. The stitching is very nice. Thank you

[@TheDailySew]

Ha! you're right. I sew hems of casual pants more "quick & dirty" style but for dress pants I break out the complicated method ;-)

[@gigiontube]

Now I’m looking if you have a video on hemming using a hemming presser foot on sewing machine. If you don’t have one, please consider doing one 🙏

[@TheDailySew]

I don't, I'm sorry but I do love the idea. Thank you.

[@gigiontube]

@@TheDailySew Your videos are very detailed, it’s what we need when we learn something new. If you do one, please show the presser foot, how you fold the fabric, the stitch used, the tension for diff fabrics, wool men’s pants versus women summer slacks. Thank you much !!!

[@TheDailySew]

@@gigiontube thank you for this outline! It's really helpful to know what to show/explain.

[@nylirama]

Great tutorial. I have one question: Why not do all of the prep work with the pants inside out?

[@TheDailySew]

That’s a good question. I always have the person but on the garment that needs altering as they would wear it (right side out) because I was told to. But I can’t think of a good reason not to have them put on pants inside out - of course I have never tried it so maybe there is a reason. It’s good to question the way “it’s always done”.

[@ceblair4974]

Because one leg might be a different length

[@shmadsta]

do you have to cut the original hem or can you just fold it up inside the pants?

[@TheDailySew]

Great question. It's up to you. If the pair of pants belong to someone who is still growing I would not cut off any length because you could be needling it soon. Same on some women's trousers if they think that they may want to wear heels with these pants, say in the summer, you could keep the length to let them out when that season rolls around. I would double fold the hem to hold the extra length (so you fold up 2" from the bottom and then another 2" to shorten it 4" - not folding up just a half inch and then 3.5") However, if you have a lot of extra length (5"+) you may want to cut off at least some of it. Otherwise, it creates a lot of bulk at the hem.

[@RedOrchid5400]

Would I be able to hem a dress the same way?

[@TheDailySew]

yes! Most dresses have a 2" hem to give the skirt part weight (it wouldn't be so "floaty" as some dresses are designed to be). Floaty, light-weight type dresses will have a narrow hem. You could copy what the original hem is or, since you are shortening the dress you could give it a wide hem. You get to decide.

[@juliabeauregard]

So never use a machine for the actual hem stitches??

[@TheDailySew]

Great question. For dress pants you don’t want the stitches to be visible on the outside. One way to do this is hand stitching as in this video. Another way is to use a blind hem foot and stitch on a sewing machine IF your machine has that option. So never say never 😉