How to Alter and Hem Pants with a Cuff Step by Step

How to Alter and Hem Pants with a Cuff. Adding a cuff to a pair of pants can be a little intimidating
Altering a pair of pants that is already cuffed can be a lot intimidating. But if you take your time, measure twice, cut once (so to speak) you can do it!

A friend asked me to hem his slacks. The hem had a cuff, so I thought I would show you how while I worked on them.

These instructions are for shortening pants.

If they are too short already, it may not work to try to add length.

First, try on the pants and mark correct length.

Use a seam ripper and release the cuff.

Remove hem stitching.

Press the creases out.

These were linen and had been to the dry cleaner several times so the creases were stubborn.

Carefully measure.

The finished length on this pair of pants measures 44″. The cuff will be 1.5″ deep.

Important: That means I need (past the 44″ mark) to allow 3″ for cuff and 1.25″ for the hem.

I hope your eyes haven’t glazed over!!! My green pin was at the 1″ mark. I added .25″ for turn under on the hem.

The pants are pinned around at 3″ from cut edge to the fold that will be the top of the cuff (blue pin). There is .25″ turned under to stitch (green pin).