Having the basic sewing skills to do minor alterations and repairs is a fantastic way to save money. Here is a great video (about 5 1/2 minutes) I found on YouTube showing how to hem pants. Actually it’s two videos back to back showing the technique for hand hemming and then machine hemming right in a row.
I usually hem my own pants. At 5’2″ most store bought pants are just a bit too long for me. And in my area it costs between $8 -$12 to get your pants hemmed at a shop. Sure, it can take me a couple months to get to it. . . but I do eventually do it and save the money.
Even if you don’t have a machine and don’t really sew, give the hand hemming a try. Seriously-it’s just not that hard. The big trick is to get a thread that matches and to only pick up a couple of threads with your needle. . . You’ll get the hang of that quickly and then you’ve got an invisible hem!
And-as they say on Monty Python-Now for something completely different! I was wondering, do you guys like the addition of these helpful and interesting videos from around the web on the weekends? I’m having fun finding them!
I do sew. A lot. I love to sew. I do not like to hem jeans though. Even with a sewing machine it is hard to sew the jeans.
I love the stuff called Stitch Witchery. It irons on. Simple as that. I does not come out either. You do not have to worry about matching thread.
Stitch Witchery is a wonderful thing-especially when you go to put something on and realize you never hemmed it! Ironing on is MUCH faster than sitting down to actually hem it 🙂
For those who truly can not thread a needle, you can still hem your own pants. Go to any sewing or fabric store and ask for iron on hem tape. It works well and is machine washable. It is also great for quick repairs even for the home sewer.
Yes, I think the videos are good. I also have been doing my own hemming since I learned to sew when I was growing up. Basic sewing skills are a “life skill” and save money. Even my 3 sons can sew buttons on and do minor mending.
Yes I do like these hints you provide. I am short and have to hem everything. I do it by hand, mark it one night after work. Turn it up the next night and hem the 3rd night, and I also learned to mark darker items using a sliver of bar soap, as it is not permanent and it rubs right off. A simple task. I have used the iron on tape and it works well on some items. Jeans do better if hemmed by hand. Sometimes at lunch hr we all sit in the lunchroom and hem while we are eating and chatting, and it goes faster that way then trying to do it in the eve after work