BLC Day 23: True Blue Original

If you've ever had to hem a pair of denim jeans, you know how difficult it can be to get over that "hump" at the seam line due to the multiple layers of fabric.  Including those involved in flat-felling the side seams, there could easily be 12 layers of denim your machine needle has to get through - and not always successfully.  One work-around technique I've used is to overcast the hem's cut edge then simply fold under the hem once and stitch in place.  While this process does accomplish the task, you do lose the original jean hem and its stitching.  Plus, the hem top tends to fold down which I have found annoying.  However, I recently saw Nancy Zieman demonstrate a faster technique which looked super-easy and maintained the jean's original hem, so I thought I would give it a try.

Here are a pair of jeans I purchased from the Salvation Army Thrift Store located on State St. in Ann Arbor.  I got these on Labor Day 2015 during their Half-Tag Holiday sale, so they only cost me $3.

They were in excellent condition, fit great and I doubt they had even been worn; they were simply too long.

First, I determined I needed to shorten them by 3 3/4-inches.

I then divided that measurement by 2...

... placed the seam gauge just above the existing hemline to mark the fold line...

...folded the leg at the chalk line mark...

...and sewed the stitching line just above the existing hem.

I then cut out a section of the side seam where most of the bulk is located so I could fit it under the serger presser foot to cut the excess fabric and overcast the cut edge.

I pressed up the serged edge inside the pant leg...

...so the new hem could lie flat.

This process took all of about an hour, and made being able to wear these jeans so much easier.

before

after

I love this technique and will absolutely use it again!

Be blessed!

Aisha