How To Hem Pants Without Sewing – 5 Easy Alternatives

by Katie Williams
Hem Pants

Wondering how to hem pants without sewing them? Are you trying to quickly fix the height of your pants before heading to an important meeting or a date with your girlfriend? Don’t have access to a sewing machine or needle and thread? We have just the right solution for your troubles. With the right shortcut alternative, you can easily hem pants without sewing.

After all, hemming is a pretty simple process that only requires adjusting the pant height and holding them together for a neater look. in fact, you can find several ways to hem pants by hand in just a few minutes.

So, to save you time on doing your own research, here are 5 foolproof methods for hemming your pants without sewing.

How To Hem Pants Without Sewing - 5 Easy Alternatives

Source – Pinterest

How Do I Easily Hem Pants Without Sewing?

The easiest way to hem your pants without sewing is by using hemming tape. Using a hemming tape saves you a significant amount of time compared to using a sewing machine or needle and thread.

Further, it provides a neat seal to the pants’ edges while preventing easy fraying or snapping of the pants’ fabric.

However, this is not the only easy way to hem your pants without using a sewing machine. Below are several other ways to effortlessly hem your pants without sewing them;

5 Quick Tips for Hemming Pants Without Sewing

5 Quick Tips for Hemming Pants Without Sewing

Source – Pinterest

1. Use Fusible Duct Tape For Hemming Pants

Best for shortening and increasing pant height

Now, regular duct tape is not ideal for hemming pants. This is because the material for regular duct tape isn’t made for clothing fabric. So, if you use it on the pants, there is a high chance that the fabric will fray or give out. Instead, you want to use Hemming tape (duct tape made for fabrics). A hemming tape works great for both shortening and lengthening your pants’ height.

Simply flip the pant inside out to expose the extra sewn-in hem. Carefully rip out the extra sewn-in hem using a seam ripper and pull out the loose thread to clean out the fabric. Extend the extra hem and use a measuring tape to figure out how much of the extra hem you want to use.

Add extra hem space for increasing the length and reduce the hem space if you want to shorten the length of the pants and mark it with a pencil. Next, fold the marked area to create a fresh hem and use an iron to hold the position.

Cut about 10-inches of two hemming tape strips and attach them in between the inner fabric and inner hem on each side of the freshly folded hem. Then, gently iron the hem on low heat on either pant leg side for a secure seal. Repeat this step with the other leg of the pant and you should be done.

Use Duct Tape for Hemming Pants

Source – Pinterest 

2. Alternatively, An Iron Will Do

Best for shortening pant length and for heavier materials

If you are in an emergency situation and don’t have hemming tape on hand, you can simply use your iron and ironing board. This method follows the same process you would use to hem pants while using hemming tape.

So, start by turning the pants inside out and unstitch the extra hem on the inside of the pants. Then, use a measuring tape and a pencil to mark the extra hem space you want to use. Add an extra inch to two to the marked hem area. Once done, fold the marked pants to the marked hem area.

But, make a double fold for a more secure hold and press the iron on the folded hem to hold it in place. The extra inch or two of the hem space you left will accommodate the additional space taken by the double fold.

Also check: 35 DIY Clothing Rack Ideas and How to Make Guide

While this method works great for increasing and decreasing pant length, it is more successful in shortening the length. It is also an excellent temporary alternative to hemming pants without sewing.

For example, if you want to wear your pants in 2-way styles, you can do so using this method. You can choose to wear the pants like regular boot-cut pants or fold the hem and iron it to turn them into casual tapered pants. Further, this method will work better for heavier materials, such as jeans or cotton that can create a more stable hold. Materials such as silk or viscose will easily fray.

Alternatively, An Iron Will Do

Source – Pinterest

3. Hold The Hem In Place Using Fabric Glue

Best for increasing or shortening pant length

You can also use fabric glue to hem your pants without sewing, just like hemming tape. This method follows the same process you’d use with hemming tapes. However, you don’t need to iron the hems to enhance the glue’s adhesion like the way you do with hemming tape.

All you do is apply it to the hem on all sides of the pant leg, hold the hem down for up to 10 seconds and you will be done. You can opt for liquid or stick fabric glue.

Hold the Hem in Place Using Fabric Glue

Source – Pinterest

4. Use A Heavy Duty Stapler

Best for temporary hemming

In emergency circumstances, when you have limited tools, you can take advantage of your office or home supplies, particularly a heavy duty stapler. A heavy duty stapler can dig deeper into the fabric (which is thicker than regular paper) and offer a secure hold on your pant hems.

The only downside to this method is that the staplers will leave permanent stapler pin markings on the hem. This method works the same as the previous methods. So, after unstitching, measuring, marking, folding, and ironing the hem, in place, staple the hem in place and you should be done.

Use a Heavy Duty Stapler

Source – Pinterest

5. Opt For Safety Pins For Even Quicker Results

Best for shortening pant length

You can also use safety pins to hem pants without sewing if you are looking for quicker results. This method typically works when you want to shorten the hem and is usually a good temporary alternative. To do so, fold the length of the hem you want inwards into the pants. Then, use safety pins to hold the hem in place from the inside.

Tip: For better results, give them a double fold from the inside and use at least two to four pins for a more stable, balanced, and secure hold.

Opt for Safety Pins for Even Quicker Results

Source – Pinterest

FAQs

FAQs

Source – Pinterest

How Can I Shorten My Pants Without Cutting Or Sewing?

The easiest way to shorten pants without cutting or sewing is by first turning the pants inside out and unstitching the extra sewn-in hem using a seam ripper. You can then use a fabric or measuring tape to determine the length of the pants you want. Next, fold the excess hem and securely hold it in place using hemming tape, stapler, or safety pins.

How Do I Temporarily Hem Pants Without Sewing?

There are three easy ways to temporarily hem pants without sewing. First, you can simply hold the hem in place by ironing it on medium to high heat. however, this method only works for heavier fabrics, like jeans and cotton. It will not work for softer or lighter fabrics, like silk or viscose. Alternatively, you can temporarily secure the hem using safety pins or a heavy duty stapler.

Is Hem Tape Permanent?

Fusible hem tape is a permanent alternative to hem pants without sewing them. In fact, you are advised to only use hem tape if you don’t plan on making adjustments on your pants in the near future. This is because after attaching it to the fabric and securing it by ironing the hem (on low heat), you cannot remove it.

On the other hand, if you want a more temporary alternative, you can use fabric glue.

How Do You Hem Pants Fast At Home?

The best way to quickly hem pants at home is by using safety pins. After all, this method doesn’t come with a long process that requires ironing and detailed folding. however, this method is temporary. if you want a more permanent alternative and quick to sewing pant hems at home, you should use fusible hemming tape.

Conclusion

Learning the alternatives of how to hem pants without sewing comes pretty handy. After all, this skill isn’t only important in emergencies when you lack access to a sewing machine or needle and thread.  This skill is quite versatile, as evidenced by how each alternative method works for special circumstances.

For example, if you want to quickly transform your boot-cut jeans into casual sports-like tapered jeans, you can quickly do so by using the ironing hems. On the other hand, if you are a tall individual and want to get the right pant length for your office outfit, a more permanent fusible hemming tape method is ideal.

On the other hand, the safety pins or stapler methods can be really helpful in emergency and temporary circumstances. So, take your time to master at least one of any of the 5 listed methods to hem pants without sewing.

You may also like