For today’s post I wanted to share a little trick I use often to shorten my jeans in under 10 minutes – watch the video here for a demonstration! I’ve previously shared how I cut my jeans and prevent fraying, but I love this method as an alternative! I know many don’t want a raw edge hem and like to keep the original hem look on their jeans, which can be a pretty costly alteration! Last I checked locally in Boston it was upwards of $35 to $40 per pair to alter jeans with an original hem (though, worth doing for jeans you love and wear often).
This method is also a great option if you need a temporary fix and don’t want to permanently shorten your jeans – perhaps you have a pair that looks great full length with heels, but you want to wear them cropped on a different day with sneakers.
If you know how to sew, then this is also exactly how I hem my jeans via sewing. Instead of the safety pins in Step 5, I just stitch right along the same line.
Watch the Tutorial Video on Instagram
Step 1: Try jeans on with your favorite shoes
Put on the shoes you’ll be wearing with the jeans most often and figure out the length you want. I love my straight cut jeans to hit above my ankle for wearing with flats and sneakers!
Step 2: Fold the Hems
Fold to the length you want by tucking in the extra length underneath, while keeping the original bottom edge of the jeans exposed.
Step 3: Get close to the original stitch line
Tuck the jeans all the way around and ensure the fold is aligned as close as you can with the original stitching at the hem.
Step 4: Flip the bottom hem inside out
Take the jeans off without losing the fold you made in step 2, and flip the bottom hem inside-out.
Step 5: Secure with safety pins
Add safety pins to the inside cuff of your jeans. This will secure your folding in place, and the safety pins won’t be visible from the outside. Flip the bottom hems rightside-up again.
Step 6: Iron
Iron along your new hemline to flatten it down and make it appear seamless!
Looks like this will be an entertaining and informative newsletter. I look forward to solving some short-person problems.
Love this idea — can’t wait to try. But I’m curious, when you sew rather than safety pin, do you then cut off the extra fabric? Thanks!
Yes I do!
Thankyou for sharing . But does this method only apply for straight leg ? If so, do you have a way to shorten flare and skinny jeans?
It may work for skinny but not flare. For flare you may just need to do a traditional sewn hem job or raw cut
Your suggestions for practical adjustments to clothing and accessories are so helpful! Love following you. Your choices are so flattering to a small frame and weight.
Thank you so much for your kind words, Kathleen!
Pictures 5 and 6 do not look like the instruction with it.
Hi Dawn, I just added a link in the first paragraph to a video I shared on Instagram showing each of the steps. Apologies for not having that linked before, but I think that may be helpful in understanding steps 5 and 6!
Hi Jean, would love to know what color your jeans are. Thanks!!
Hi Jo, mine are the “worn-in mid blue” wash!
Whew. Outstanding hack! Truly, thank you for sharing your knowledge and wisdom with us.
AHHH! This is a great tip, thank you so much!!
So glad you found it helpful, Nicole!
Can’t wait to try this! Thanks!
Let me know how it goes when you try it!
Hope u and your family are doing well! Great tutorials Jean! This is very imformative. Loving the outfit. Please i have a baby shower to attend and i am not sure whether i should wear the express floral top with the matching skirt or Farm Rio pineapple romper with the casterner wedges?
Can you please help me decide!
May God bless you and your family! Xoxo love!
Thank you, I think the matching floral set would look great for an occasion like that!
Thanks so much Jean for getting back to me. This means so much. Thanks. I just recieve my Farm Rio pineapple romper and I love it. I will wear it when i go on vacation instead.
You my favorite petite blogger. May God bless you and your family. Please keep the sharing!