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Hem trousers or a skirt - PEP BB textile.straw.repair.hemskirt

BB textiles - straw badge
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This is a badge bit (BB) that is part of the PEP curriculum.  Completing this BB is part of getting the straw badge in Textiles.

For this BB, you will hem trousers or skirt!

To complete this BB, the minimum requirements are:
- hem trousers or a skirt (using needle and thread - sewing machines are ok too)

To document your completion of the BB, provide proof of the following as pictures or a video (less than two minutes):
 - the the pants or skirt before altering (on a body)
 - show the alteration in progress
 - show pant or skirt after alteration on a body

Related Articles:
- How to Hem Pants
- How to Hem a Skirt

How to Hem a Skirt OR a Dress | Sew Anastasia


How to Hem Pants by Hand - Step by Step


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Approved submission
I was gifted a pair of pants that fit perfectly except for being several inches too long. The obvious answer was to hem them. I used my favorite method of hemming - turning up the hem so it makes a "cuff," sewing right below the original hem, trimming the excess, and folding the "cuff" back down so the original hem is still there. It takes a little more trial and error with the pinning to get the length right, but I don't have to worry about top stitching. It probably wouldn't have been too noticeable on these pants since they're black, but I still haven't figured out top stitching that looks good enough to satisfy me, so if I can keep the original hem it's worth the extra time finding the right length.
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These pants are several inches too long (I'm up on my toes on one foot so you can see where my heel is relative to the hem).
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Turned up the cuffs and pinned them so I knew where to sew. This part takes some pinning and repinning to get the length right.
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Sewing by machine around the hem.
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Hemmed! The seam hasn't been ironed yet so it looks a little wonky but once it's ironed it's nearly unnoticeable (especially since the pants are black).
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Staff note (gir bot) :

Leigh Tate approved this submission.
Note: Nicely done!

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Approved submission
I hemmed my work trousers!
The trousers were too long, a side seam had torn open, and the old hem was wearing out and coming undone. First, I measured how much I would need to shorten them: 2.25 inches from the old fold, 4.25 with the old hem unfolded. Then I seam-ripped the old hem, hand-back-stitched the torn seam, cut off two inches, folded and ironed the new hem, and hand-back-stitched the new hem with black cotton thread.

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too long and torn
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seam-ripping
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preparing to iron the new fold
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new fold
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stitching
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finished product
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finished product on model
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Staff note (gir bot) :

Mike Barkley approved this submission.

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Approved submission
Time to hem these over-long, frayed pants.
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Before
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During
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After
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Staff note (gir bot) :

[url=https://permies.com/u/262093/Harmony-d%27Eyre]Harmony d'Eyre[/url] approved this submission.

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Approved submission
This BB was motivation to finally hem the last pair of little one's school trousers that have been sitting around since August.

I use a long running stitch on the inside (so I can clip it out and lengthen the hem once he grows) with a nearly invisible catch on the outside. To hem them, I go down a side seam and back up, then across the top (where the previous hem would otherwise catch toes inside) to the other hem, then repeat. This no-cut style is great for those who are still growing. It also means that we can share them with other children once he's completely outgrown them.

P.s. hurrah, I've figured out how to name my photos in a post!
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Unhemmed
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First hem marked
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Ready for stitching
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Action shot on side hem
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Completed inside and outside
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Trousers after hemming
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Staff note (gir bot) :

Paul Fookes approved this submission.
Note: I certify this BB complete. Great set of photos well documented.

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Approved submission
So my hubby had a pair of pants that were too long. I had them pinned and was mostly done with them when I read about taking pictures as I went in the book/on the forums. I hope that the pictures I took and my description will be enough. Funny enough when my hubby was trying them on the last time, the zipper popped open, so I had to fix that as well, but this time I took pictures! 😁
How I hemmed the pants:
I had my hubby put the pants on. I folded them to the correct length and pinned them.
Once he took them off, I turned them inside out and marked where they should be sewn. I considered leaving the extra length (like one of the previous posts), but my husband is the tallest in our current friends group and no one in our family group would fit his waist size. So, after I did a tack stitch and rechecked that they would fall correctly on him in his work shoes, I cut the excess off. I did have to make a small adjustment of about an inch, but I just folded that up and did a running stitch my hand with matching black thread.

How I fixed the zipper:
After watching a few videos, I used a small set of pliers and a set of hemostats to use as my tools. I gently pried open the zipper and put both side back in place. I very gently applied pressure to close the pull until I couldn't see much space. I then not so gently had to pull with consistent pressure until the fabric synced up as I pulled it all the way down. I was happily surprised when it "zipped" up as I pulled it back to the top. I'd fixed it. 😁

If anyone has any questions, I will answer as best and as quickly as I can.
Since this is my first post, I really hope I'm doing it correctly! 🤞😁
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Hemmed pants
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Hand stitched
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Hide knot/end thread knot
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On hubby (front)
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On hubby (back)
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Broken/detached zipper
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Tools I used to fix the zipper
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Working on the zipper
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Fixed
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Close up of zipper
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Staff note (gir bot) :

Nicole Alderman approved this submission.
Note: Since this is your first BB post, and you added in bonus zipper pictures, and the hand-sewing is evident, I'm going to certify this. Next time, get those before pictures! Welcome to permies!

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Approved submission
Work pants had damage and were always a little long.  I cleaned them up by hemming them.  My sewing skills are not great, this is not pretty, but that's why I experiment and practice on my cruddy low risk clothes.

Staff note (gir bot) :

Someone approved this submission.
Note: Hint, orienting the pants so that you're sewing the inside from the top reduces the risk of getting the fabric caught - for next time!

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Approved submission
Prom is this weekend Dee asked me to hem her dress.I took off 4.125"
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before hemming- as purchased
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there is no way she's going to leave her shoes on lol
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cutting 4.125"
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hand sewing hem
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all done with shoes on
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Staff note (gir bot) :

Pete Podurgiel approved this submission.

I suggest huckleberry pie. But the only thing on the gluten free menu is this tiny ad:
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