How to Shorten Pants Without Hand Sewing

Co-authored by Rhonda Hale

Last Updated: April 21, 2023

Shortening pants is necessary, but it can be time-consuming. This sounds complicated, but it is easy. Once you have done it once, you will find it quick, easy, and inexpensive.

Steps

Download Article

If not, turn the pants inside out, undo the hem at the bottoms and smooth out the creases with a steam iron.
Take a pair of pants that you have, that are the correct length and measure the outside leg, including the waistband.

Advertisement
Make a chalk mark across the pants and transfer the mark all round the bottom. You now have a chalk mark that is the correct length all round the bottom.^{[1]
X
Expert Source

Rhonda Hale
Couture Fitting Tailor & Clinical Hypnotherapist

Expert Interview}
If the fabric is prone to fraying, rolling, or unraveling, you might want to machine-stitch a row of zigzag stitching around the very end. Cutting a woven fabric with pinking shears can also help to prevent fraying.^{[2]
X
Expert Source

Rhonda Hale
Couture Fitting Tailor & Clinical Hypnotherapist

Expert Interview}
5
Take the wonderweb, a glue that melts, and sew with a sewing machine on the inside around the bottom of the pants. If you don't have a machine, pin the wonderweb every two or three inches all the way round.
You should now see the leg with the chalk mark all round the bottom plus the inch and a half allowance. Bend the leg in so that the chalk mark is on the edge. Make certain that all is smooth and flat inside. Be careful of the pins if you used them.
This melts the glue. Remove the pins if used and press lightly again to remove any little marks and you're done.

Expert Q&A

Search

Add New Question

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Tips

Any accidental web showing on the inside or anywhere else can be removed with a drop of methylated spirits.

Thanks
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 2
Make sure the wearer stands up straight and is not looking down at the person doing the pinning.

Thanks
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 1
Be careful of straight pins.

Thanks
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 1

Show More Tips

Submit a Tip

All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published

Name

Please provide your name and last initial

Submit

Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

Warnings

Unless your legs are different lengths, take care to get the lengths of both legs the same.

Thanks
Helpful 6 Not Helpful 4
Irons and steam are hot enough, so keep hands and children away from them.

Thanks
Helpful 3 Not Helpful 2
Be careful of the pins! That's why a sewing machine is better.

Thanks
Helpful 3 Not Helpful 4
Read the washing instructions and verify that the fabric can tolerate the heat necessary for this process. For some delicate or synthetic fabrics, you may be better off doing the work by hand.

Thanks
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 1

Things You'll Need

Fabric shears or pinking shears. Shears used to cut paper may be too dull to cut fabric, so get a good pair, mark them, and reserve them just for sewing.
Chalk
Ruler
Iron and damp cloth
A seam ripper, razor blade or something sharp to undo the original hem
Tape measure
Wonderweb about 1/2 in wide, from any haberdashery or fabric store