Sewing jeans trousers hem #S02
Selfmade and tailored! In the following article, I explain step by step via video and illustrated text instructions how I sew the hem on a pair of jeans. Have fun!
Video instructions:
The video instructions are currently only available in German. Via settings you can have YouTube display the subtitles in your language of choice.
![smartPATTERN sewing instructions Sew cut trouser hem to denim trousers - mark the finished hem smartPATTERN sewing instructions Sew cut trouser hem to denim trousers - mark the finished hem](https://smartpattern.de/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/mark-finish-hem-line-at-jeans-leg.jpg)
If there is still a leg seam open, the easiest way is to prepare a cut hem fold. First I mark the finished hem length, in this example 40 mm, parallel to the raw edge on the right side of the fabric. You can see how wide the turn-in is on your pattern by the distance between the side notches and the hem.
2. Press hem edge
![smartPATTERN Sewing instructions Sew cut trouser hem to denim trousers - press over hem turn-in smartPATTERN Sewing instructions Sew cut trouser hem to denim trousers - press over hem turn-in](https://smartpattern.de/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Jeans-hosensaum-selber-naehen-diy-2a-einschlag-nach-innen-buegeln.jpg)
I now iron the allowance to the inside.
![smartPATTERN Sewing instructions Sew cut trouser hem to denim trousers - press fold over to half width smartPATTERN Sewing instructions Sew cut trouser hem to denim trousers - press fold over to half width](https://smartpattern.de/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Jeans-hosensaum-selber-naehen-diy-2b-einschlag-auf-haelfte-umbuegeln.jpg)
Then I fold the fold in half and iron this edge as well. Here’s a general tip: I like to use my wooden brush as an aid and place it on the ironed edge. The wood draws the heat and moisture out oft he fabric, which makes the folded edge stay nice and flat.
![smartPATTERN sewing instructions Sew cut trouser hem to denim trousers - flatten the pressed edge more quickly with a piece of wood smartPATTERN sewing instructions Sew cut trouser hem to denim trousers - flatten the pressed edge more quickly with a piece of wood](https://smartpattern.de/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Jeans-hosensaum-selber-naehen-diy-2c-einschlag-umbuegeln-mit-holzstueck.jpg)
![smartPATTERN sewing instructions Sew cut trouser hem to denim trousers - press double hem turn-in in place smartPATTERN sewing instructions Sew cut trouser hem to denim trousers - press double hem turn-in in place](https://smartpattern.de/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Jeans-hosensaum-selber-naehen-diy-2d-doppelten-einschlag-festbuegeln.jpg)
Now iron the double fold in place.
![smartPATTERN sewing instructions Sew cut trouser hem to denim trousers - knock thick seams flat smartPATTERN sewing instructions Sew cut trouser hem to denim trousers - knock thick seams flat](https://smartpattern.de/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Jeans-hosensaum-selber-naehen-diy-2e-dicke-nahtstellen-flachklopfen.jpg)
The area of the topstitched leg seam is quite thick. So I tap it flatter with a hammer. I put a firm pad underneath and cover it with a piece of fabric. Then I hit the spot a few times from the inside.
3. Close the leg seam
![smartPATTERN sewing instructions Sew cut trouser hem to denim trousers - close leg seam before topstitching the hem smartPATTERN sewing instructions Sew cut trouser hem to denim trousers - close leg seam before topstitching the hem](https://smartpattern.de/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Jeans-hosensaum-selber-naehen-diy-3a-beinnaht-vor-saumsteppung-schliessen.jpg)
Once the leg seam is closed, the hem can be topstitched from the outsite.
![smartPATTERN sewing instructions Sew cut trouser hem to denim trousers - alternatively: mark the finished hem width on the already closed leg smartPATTERN sewing instructions Sew cut trouser hem to denim trousers - alternatively: mark the finished hem width on the already closed leg](https://smartpattern.de/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Jeans-hosensaum-selber-naehen-diy-3b-fertige-saumbreite-anzeichnen-bei-gschlossenen-beinnaehten.jpg)
You can also prepare the hem turn-in in the same way as just shown, when the leg seams are already closed. It’s just a little more awkward because you have to turn the trouser leg more often when pressing.
4. Topstitch hem
![smartPATTERN Sewing instructions Sew cut trouser hem to denim trousers - pin hem turn-in smartPATTERN Sewing instructions Sew cut trouser hem to denim trousers - pin hem turn-in](https://smartpattern.de/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Jeans-hosensaum-selber-naehen-diy-4a-saumeinschlag-feststecken.jpg)
Now pin down the hem fold from the outside.
![smartPATTERN sewing instructions Sew cut trouser hem to denim trousers - inner leg seam as starting point for hem stitching smartPATTERN sewing instructions Sew cut trouser hem to denim trousers - inner leg seam as starting point for hem stitching](https://smartpattern.de/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Jeans-hosensaum-selber-naehen-diy-4b-beginn-saumsteppung.jpg)
When I stitch through the hem, I start at the inner leg seam.
![smartPATTERN Sewing instructions Sew cut trouser hem to denim trousers - topstitch hem smartPATTERN Sewing instructions Sew cut trouser hem to denim trousers - topstitch hem](https://smartpattern.de/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Jeans-hosensaum-selber-naehen-diy-4c-saum-steppen.jpg)
The folded edge is 20 mm wide here. Therefore I topstitch it with 2 mm less width, i.e. with 18 mm distance from the edge with contrasting coloured thread on the right fabric side. The stitching distance from the finished hem depends on the width of the hem fold, as described above.
![smartPATTERN Sewing instructions Sew cut trouser hem to denim trousers - iron finished trouser hem smartPATTERN Sewing instructions Sew cut trouser hem to denim trousers - iron finished trouser hem](https://smartpattern.de/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Jeans-hosensaum-selber-naehen-diy-4d-saum-buegeln.jpg)
Last, but not least, the hem is ironed.
![smartPATTERN Sewing instructions Sew cut trouser hem on jeans - finished jeans trouser hem smartPATTERN Sewing instructions Sew cut trouser hem on jeans - finished jeans trouser hem](https://smartpattern.de/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Jeans-hosensaum-selber-naehen-diy-4e-fertiger-saum.jpg)
Done!
Below you will find the link to the instructions for attaching rivets on your trousers:
If you’re not quite ready yet and perhaps want to start at the beginning, you’ll find some links here: