Measurements for a hem of Trousers

If you're about to make your first Trousers hem, first make sure you get the measurements right! You wouldn't want to end up with one leg shorter than the other, would you?

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Source:Calvin Klein

Measure just above the heel

Before hemming, it's vital to have a fitting with the Trousers and ideally with shoes. That way, you won't have any nasty surprises and the length of the Trousers will be perfect.

In the tradition, the hem is made at the heel of the shoe. So, fold the Trousers just above the heel and pin.

This pin will be your reference point for the rest of the work. To avoid the two legs having different lengths, pin the second leg at a later stage, when the Trousers are flat on the table.

Adapt the hem to your entire outfit

Depending on your style and outfit, you may prefer your Trousers to be well above your ankles.

This is often the case these days, for both men and women.

The important thing is to always take your measurements in the right conditions and again, with the shoes you're most likely to wear with your Trousers.

Source:Zara

Source:Archzine

To avoid any misunderstandings, hem the seam inside out

To leave yourself room to change your mind or subsequently your style, make a changeable hem. That is, rather than cutting your Trousers to make your hem, you simply turn the fabric back on itself and proceed to sew.

This will allow you to unstitch your hem afterwards, if you want to add length to your Trousers!

The little extra!

Beware: a hem is never straight. Trousers are always longer in the back than in the front.

Your crease must therefore be curved (the difference between the front and the back must not exceed 1.5 cm).

Source:Un beau jour

As you'll have realised, making a hem isn't that complicated, but taking measurements is an important step. And frankly, if you're on your own to do it, we recommend you call in a professional.
One of our Tillistes will come to your home to take your measurements and give you a killer hem.
Wouldn't it be a shame to end up with Trousers that are too short or one leg longer than the other?
If you've already taken the measurements and want to move on to the next stage, refer to our special Trousers hem article, which will give you all the keys you need to finalise your Trousers bottoms.

This article was written with the best intentions for our clients thanks to Chloé