How to make a cuffed hem on pants or shorts
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How to make a cuffed hem on pants or shorts
A cuffed hem adds a neat, polished detail to jeans, trousers, or summer shorts. This quick tutorial shows you how to fold, press, and stitch a clean cuff for a professional finish — and you can easily adjust the cuff size to suit your style.
Step-by-step instructions
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Mark the fold lines
On the right side of the fabric, mark three evenly spaced lines. In this tutorial each fold measures 3 cm, giving a finished cuff of 3 cm — but you can use any size you prefer, such as 5 cm. Simply replace each 3 cm measurement with your chosen size and follow the same steps.
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Create the first fold
Turn the garment inside out. Fold wrong sides together along the 2nd marked line, pin in place, and stitch close to the folded edge. This first fold forms the inner structure of the cuff and keeps the hem secure.
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Form the final cuff
Turn the garment right side out and fold along the 1st marked line, checking that the 3rd line aligns perfectly on the reverse side. Press the fold carefully with an iron to keep it crisp, then pin in place all the way around.
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Secure with an invisible stitch
Working from inside the cuff, secure the fold with an invisible stitch — pick up one thread from the garment and one from the cuff alternately. Keep your tension even and avoid pulling too tightly so the fabric doesn’t pucker on the outside.
Pro tip
Press each fold carefully with an iron before stitching — a well-pressed cuff is much easier to work with and gives a sharper, more professional result. If you want an even more casual look, you can skip the invisible stitch and simply let the cuff sit naturally, holding it in place with a few hand tacks at the side seams only.
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