Any advice on taking up jeans?

[Moredofbumsnet]

I need to take an inch off my (bootcut) jeans and I can't decide how to do it. My sewing machine isn't working so it's either hand sewing or wundaweb. my main thought is do I cut off the edge and then how do I secure the frayed edge? Please help as I have had them sitting around for months.

[hugoagogo]

If it's just an inch I would just fold it over and hem like any other pair of trousers.

However, they would look better if they are done in the correct colour thread (gold or whatever is used elsewhere on the jeans) by machine.

I suppose it depends on whether they are expensive ones or just sainsburys jobbies like mine

[hugoagogo]

Now I think about it-have you washed them? If they are only a little long they might shrink a little in the wash or wrinkle up at the knee with wear to bring the length up too.

[bigbadbarry]

Johnsons dry cleaners will do it for a tenner - if they are expensive jeans it is worth it

[freddiefrog]

If it were me I'd just turn it up and wonder web them or get my Mum to do it properly I love the stuff, I should have shares in it

[Moredofbumsnet]

Not expensive jeans but difficult to obtain Lands End tall jeans. They fit so well but the 32 is just too short and for some reason the 34'' is toooo long. I've washed them but may give them another wash and then wear them with heels for a bit.
So how long should they be? Back just touching the ground wearing shoes is what i was thinking of as I hate getting frayed hems.

[bonzo77]

Take to a dry cleaner and ask for an "original hem". Costs about a tenner. Will give the best appearance. They cut off the hem and reattach it higher up. You can do it yourself though it's diddly.

[valiumredhead]

Dry cleaner!

[bonzo77]

*fiddly. FFS

[Moredofbumsnet]

Live out in the sticks and so it's miles to the dry cleaner. I'm going to trim off the 'original hem' ,hand overcast the edge and then wonder web. Thanks for all your help, I've never had a pair of jeans too long before so it's quite a novelty.

[ZacharyQuack]

If they're not too flared and you're only taking them up an inch, you can take them up and keep the original hem by folding a 'pleat' in the leg and sewing just above the original hem stitching.

Instructions here

This keeps the hem and takes them up without having the cut the fabric, so if you get the length wrong you can just unpick your stitching and start again.

[Moredofbumsnet]

Thanks ZQuack that's really useful.

[snailsontour]

Wow Zachary, that is so simple - genius:)

[fayeso]

I use this method on all of my jeans!!!!! It's a life saver-it can be done on flared jeans as long as you are only taking them up about an inch!!

[mirpuppet]

thank you -- I will try this one day.