How frustrating it is when a pair of trousers we love doesn’t fit as it is supposed to.
You are not alone if you also own one that is either too short or too long.
You may have lost faith in them because you don’t know any techniques to bring them to use.
But, before you throw them away, there are numerous ways you can alter them to your desired size without having to follow any complicated procedures.
Want to know how? Let’s find out.
How to Fix Trousers that are too short?
First, let’s talk about increasing the length.
Whether you have outgrown your favorite pair of trousers or your newly bought trousers significantly shrunk after the first wash, lengthening them is fairly straightforward.
Here are a few ways you can elongate them.
- Lower the hem
If your trousers only require a tiny bit of extra length, you can achieve that by simply lowering the hem. It will give you a good one to two additional inches.
To do that, you will need a seam ripper to tear out the sewn edges of both trouser cuffs. If you don’t own one, you can also use a pair of small sharp scissors.
After letting down the seam, you can leave the frayed edges as they are. But if you want a finished look, you can sew along the edges.
- Add cuffs
If your trousers need more than an inch or two, lowering the hem wouldn’t make much difference. In that case, you can add additional fabric at the edges of your trousers.
You can use any sort of fabric that goes well with the color and design of your trousers. You can also get a little crafty and use colorful laces or ruffles.
Stitch the extra cloth at the bottom of your trousers to make cuffs, and you are done. I’d suggest letting down the hem before adding cuffs for best results.
- Add additional Fabric in the Middle
This method is pretty similar to the above one. But, instead of adding fabric at the bottom, you will have to add it in the center.
You can add the fabric above or below your knees or even on the knee area. It all comes down to your personal preference.
To do that, cut off the trousers and stitch the extra fabric to them. After that, join back the removed part. And, there you go, have fun with your longer trousers.
For fabric selection, you can choose a matching one if you want. For a funkier look, you can use some vibrant cloth, or you can also use lacey material.
However, do keep in mind that this method is a bit technical, especially if you don’t know much about sewing. So, better get it done by some professional.
How to Fix Trousers that are too long?
Conversely, there are instances when you need to shorten your trousers because they are too long for your legs.
Gladly, there are many ways you can do that, some of which don’t even require sewing. Here are all the promising hacks you can use for shortening your trousers.
- Cut them short
This is the most basic way to shorten your extra-long pants. I love it because it is quick and doesn’t require sewing.
You can do so by folding the hem of your trousers from the inside till you reach your preferred length. Once folded, use a hot iron over that folded portion to make a crease. Now cut your pants short along that crease.
At this point, you can leave the trousers as is. They’ll have a very cool crop look at the bottom. But, if you are not a fan of frayed edges, you can de-fray them.
- Use a hem tape
This is an ideal method if you are in a hurry and want a quick fix. A hem tape can shorten your pants as per your requirement in minutes.
All you need to do is cut off the extra length you want to dump. Fold the bottom inside and stick the hem tape on the inner side of your trousers.
To ensure the tape doesn’t come off, use an iron to press over the edges. That’s it, now put on your trousers and go wherever you want.
- Sew the Edges
Unlike the above two, this method doesn’t require cutting. But, you will need a sewing machine for this hack.
To start, you need to decide the length you want to keep for your trousers. I’d suggest putting them on first with the shoes you’d like to pair them with. It will give you a better idea regarding the alternation you’ll need.
Once decided, fold your pants to that length and keep the fold intact using seamstress pins. Next, just sew the edges using a sewing machine, and voila! You are good to go.
- Hand sew
If you like the previous hack but don’t own a sewing machine like most people, then fret not. This method is the same, except it doesn’t require a sewing machine.
Just follow the same method and hand sew in the end. If you don’t know how to hand sew, you can watch YouTube tutorials. It’s very simple, and you can quickly get the hang of it.
This method also comes in handy for trousers with very thick fabrics, making it hard to sew them using home-use sewing machines.
- Use a hair tie/rubber band
This is hands down the fastest and easiest way to shorten your trousers anytime and anywhere. All you need is a strong rubber band or hair tie.
This reversible method lets you alter your same trousers to various lengths on different occasions. How cool is that?
To do this, you need to roll up the hair tie or rubber band on your leg where you want your trousers’ length to end. Tuck your trousers under the rubber band, and that’s it.
- Fold them up
Lastly, if you don’t want to go through any sort of trouble, just fold up your trousers to the length you want.
This hack is best if you don’t want to permanently modify your trousers. This is the most preferred way of shortening trousers’ length by most girls.
