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Is it possible to neatly hem jeans without sewing it fully down? (Moderated by EleanorSews)
Posted on: 10/4/08 11:47 AM ET
I bought several pairs of jeans for my daughter at Target, and they are all too long for her. She's nearly 7 years old, dead on average in height and weight, and the size 6 jeans are nearly 4" too long.
I'd like to hem them up for her, but without a) removing the factory hem and b) do it so that it's very easy to remove the hem as she grows taller.
Do you have a method to do this?
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I'd like to hem them up for her, but without a) removing the factory hem and b) do it so that it's very easy to remove the hem as she grows taller.
Do you have a method to do this?
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My (mostly) green sewing blog: http://NapkinLady.blogspot.com/
Posted on: 10/4/08 12:15 PM ET
I have made a temporary hem by turning the jeans insideout, pinch out the amount you want to remove at the hem, flip the factory hem to the outside, sew just above the factory hem.
When you look at it from the right side, you still see the factory hem but your new seam is just above it and barely noticeable.
Flip the pinched out fabric up inside the leg and tack at the sideseams. Perhaps a teeny tack or two at the front and back if you want to secure it further.
Hope that made sense.
-- Edited on 10/4/08 12:18 PM --
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When you look at it from the right side, you still see the factory hem but your new seam is just above it and barely noticeable.
Flip the pinched out fabric up inside the leg and tack at the sideseams. Perhaps a teeny tack or two at the front and back if you want to secure it further.
Hope that made sense.
-- Edited on 10/4/08 12:18 PM --
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Leah
Re: Temporary Hem on childs jeans? (posted on 10/4/08 1:21 PM ET)
I don't think that's a good idea. If the hem is not firmly sewn down she will catch her shoes in it and rip it right back out if she's the least bit active. You'll end up doing more work mending than you would have to make a firm hem.
Additionally, if you sew a new hem in jeans the part inside the hem will not fade at the same rate as the rest. You'll get a sharp, white line on the fold itself and a darker area from the inside when you let it down again.
If simply rolling up a small cuff is no longer socially acceptable the best option is probably to create a new, permanent hem just a bit too long and, by the time she's grown to the point where that's definitely too short, the knees will probably be busted out and the things ready to convert into shorts anyway. :)
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Additionally, if you sew a new hem in jeans the part inside the hem will not fade at the same rate as the rest. You'll get a sharp, white line on the fold itself and a darker area from the inside when you let it down again.
If simply rolling up a small cuff is no longer socially acceptable the best option is probably to create a new, permanent hem just a bit too long and, by the time she's grown to the point where that's definitely too short, the knees will probably be busted out and the things ready to convert into shorts anyway. :)
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3KB
"The combination of physical strength and moral sincerity combined with tenderness of heart is exactly what is wanted in a husband." Amelia Peabody Emerson
"The combination of physical strength and moral sincerity combined with tenderness of heart is exactly what is wanted in a husband." Amelia Peabody Emerson
Posted on: 10/4/08 2:27 PM ET
In reply to 3KillerBs
Haha. So true about the knees. I've never bothered doing this for my boys because they strive to put holes in the knees LOL. They think it is their job or something.
Before I moved, a neighbor regularly asked me to do this on her daughter's jeans. Shortening the first round, then letting it out bit by bit. Worked for them.
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Before I moved, a neighbor regularly asked me to do this on her daughter's jeans. Shortening the first round, then letting it out bit by bit. Worked for them.
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Leah
Re: Temporary Hem on childs jeans? (posted on 10/4/08 4:45 PM ET)
My DD is just as hard on the jean knees as any of the boys are. :D
I've hardly ever had a pair of jeans that didn't wear out in just one kid.
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I've hardly ever had a pair of jeans that didn't wear out in just one kid.
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3KB
"The combination of physical strength and moral sincerity combined with tenderness of heart is exactly what is wanted in a husband." Amelia Peabody Emerson
"The combination of physical strength and moral sincerity combined with tenderness of heart is exactly what is wanted in a husband." Amelia Peabody Emerson
Posted on: 10/4/08 5:00 PM ET
In reply to 3KillerBs
Quote:
I've hardly ever had a pair of jeans that didn't wear out in just one kid.
I've hardly ever had a pair of jeans that didn't wear out in just one kid.
I rarely tore holes in the knees of my jeans as a kid, and I wore nothing but jeans. A few times certainly - enough that I remember HATING the feel of the iron-on patch my mother used to cover it (it was stiff, and I could feel the rough glue peeling off the back side of the patch). But jeans lasted until I outgrew them, or I *eventually* tore them up.
Even as an adult, I just don't tear holes in my jeans very quickly. I've had the same 4 or so pairs of jeans for about 6 years now, and they are stained, but not holey. I get the heavyweight jeans from LLBean, for what it's worth (not much evidently- my husband wears the mens' jeans from them too, and tears holes in them in a year or two)
I tend not to wear form-fitting jeans, and that probably helps (but then, my husband prefers to wear relaxed-fit too). I remember tearing a hole in my jeans as a teen, from a mishap - tripping on the concrete. I also tore up a pair of jeans a friend of mine gave me that she'd lost too much weight to wear. They were stretch denim and fit like a second skin. I tore holes across the seat. Sigh....
And, my stepson seems to be like my husband with jeans - holes are common.
But my 6-year-old daughter has yet to tear a hole in a single pair of jeans. Partly it's because she likes wearing dresses, so jeans just don't get as much wear as they do with other kids.
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My (mostly) green sewing blog: http://NapkinLady.blogspot.com/
Posted on: 10/4/08 8:39 PM ET
In reply to CathyWeeks
It really depends on the child and what is ok with her. Some children just don't mind things like stripes where the hem used to be and some are thrilled to get creative and have mom sew some ribbons or trim or funky bias tape on over the white lines, doodle on the with permanent marker or whatever strikes her fancy. I'd give her some options and see what she says.
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http://bgballroom.wordpress.com to follow the progress on my next ballgown.
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