Hemming dress pants is more time consuming than hemming jeans, if done carefully and correctly. However, dress pants can be easily hemmed by hand and do not require a sewing machine.
To begin:
1. Put your pants on and fold them up to where you want them to hit your ankle. Place 3 pins horizontally on each leg where you want them to hit your ankle (one pin at the front center, one back center, and one on a side seam).
2. Take your pants off and measure from the current hem to each pin. If each measurement is different, use the average distance. For example: one pin may be 2 5/8", one may be 2 3/4", and one may be 2 7/8". In this case use 2 3/4" as your measurement. Use this measurement to place pins where the new hem will be.
3. Measure 1 inch down from your pins. Mark this measurement with chalk. Cut along the chalk line.
*If this is a temporary hem or if you are folding the existing hem up one time (NOT multiple), you do not have to cut the excess material off.
4. Fold the raw edge (where you just cut) down 1/4". Keeping the raw edge folded under 1/4", fold the remaining material (up to your pin) in half. Pin the material in place vertically on the inside of the pants.
5. Your horizontal pin (marking where the new hem will be) should now be at the top of the crease of your fold. Pin all the way around each leg. Turn the pants inside out.
6. The video below shows how to continue to stitch a blind hem.
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