Hello everyone! I was perplexed at how the alterations places reattach the original hem and make it look so nice and neat. After many attempts, I finally figured it out and wanted to share with everyone. So, here is my step-by-step guide on how to do it. AND - Its easy! If you can fold hem, you can do this!!
The pics are big so you can see the detail. Good luck! This takes practice. I have only done 2 practice pairs so far, so if there are any steps that need revising, I will revise this.
Step 1) Measure how long you want your jeans to be. Put a mark 1/2 inch shorter where you want your new hems to be. (This is because the hem is 1/2 inch long. Sorry for the sideways pics!)
Step 2) Remove thread from hem, but keep it folded.
Step 3) Fold hem up to line and place pins to keep it in place. I like the pin the side seams first then the rest to ensure they will be aligned.
Step 4) Unfold the hem once pinned and locate the fold line. I marked this in blue. Sew a quick stitch just slightly below the fold line. The closer to this line the better end product because the hem stitch will sit nicer.
<img src="http://www.host-images.com/u/files/d61cvqp25anwonhq2zdo.jpg">
Step 5) Cut off the excess, leaving 1/4-1/2 inch extra. Be careful not to cut the sewn line. This does not have to be perfectly even, but try to keep it neat.
Step 6) Time to iron! Press the hems flat like so:
Step 7) Trim off excess at side seams for easy sewing because the machine will hang up here unless you have a professional machine.
Step 8) Fold fabric like original with underside lying flat. You can iron if it does not want to lie flat:
Step 9) Stitch hems on the original hem line, making sure to grab the underside at or near the same line on the underside. The side seams will give you the most trouble. If the underside is a little uneven, its okay as long as the stitch grabbed both sides of the hem.
Step 10) Wear your newly professional hemmed jeans! This takes practice. Practice on some old jeans first so you can make sure the measurements are correct and you are sewing straight, etc.
The pics are big so you can see the detail. Good luck! This takes practice. I have only done 2 practice pairs so far, so if there are any steps that need revising, I will revise this.
Step 1) Measure how long you want your jeans to be. Put a mark 1/2 inch shorter where you want your new hems to be. (This is because the hem is 1/2 inch long. Sorry for the sideways pics!)
Step 2) Remove thread from hem, but keep it folded.
Step 3) Fold hem up to line and place pins to keep it in place. I like the pin the side seams first then the rest to ensure they will be aligned.
Step 4) Unfold the hem once pinned and locate the fold line. I marked this in blue. Sew a quick stitch just slightly below the fold line. The closer to this line the better end product because the hem stitch will sit nicer.
<img src="http://www.host-images.com/u/files/d61cvqp25anwonhq2zdo.jpg">
Step 5) Cut off the excess, leaving 1/4-1/2 inch extra. Be careful not to cut the sewn line. This does not have to be perfectly even, but try to keep it neat.
Step 6) Time to iron! Press the hems flat like so:
Step 7) Trim off excess at side seams for easy sewing because the machine will hang up here unless you have a professional machine.
Step 8) Fold fabric like original with underside lying flat. You can iron if it does not want to lie flat:
Step 9) Stitch hems on the original hem line, making sure to grab the underside at or near the same line on the underside. The side seams will give you the most trouble. If the underside is a little uneven, its okay as long as the stitch grabbed both sides of the hem.
Step 10) Wear your newly professional hemmed jeans! This takes practice. Practice on some old jeans first so you can make sure the measurements are correct and you are sewing straight, etc.