I think I’m tall! I measure at 5’7” per my doctor and when I stand up super duper straight, I’m a ½” taller. But even with that fact, I love the look of cropped pants. I can’t help myself! I love showing off my shoes – it’s part of my outfit – and think it’s such an underground style tip. It looks tailored, fun and fresh!
But hemming pants can really add up! I’ve paid $10-$25 to chop a few inches off of my pants and I have a lot of pants in my closet. So I did some digging to see if there’s a way I can hem them myself, but the looming issue? I don’t sew!
So I googled “no-sew hemming” and my jaw dropped to the ground at the options.
So here are 4 things you need to be an
alteration queen.
HEM TAPE
If you don’t sew or don’t want to break out your sewing machine, meet your new best friend, HEM TAPE. It’s quick, uncomplicated and a total lifesaver. Hem tape (also called fusible tape) is a no-sew solution that allows you to shorten the length of your pants in mere minutes. All you need is a pair of scissors (if you have more than an inch or so to hem) and an iron.
how to hem with hem tape:
1) Try your pants on and figure out where you want to chop to. Pin it up! If it’s more than an inch, I cut off the excess and leave an inch so I can fold it up when I “hem” the bottom to keep a clean edge.
2) Flip your pants inside out and start with one side. Cut enough of the hem tape to fit around the base, then fold that one extra inch over it.
3) Hold a hot iron over the hem and keep moving over the hem – both sides. The tape has two sides that become sticky when pressed with heat. That’s the magic!
Honestly, two minutes. Let the hems cool and confirm the hem tape is totally fused. This is the Singer Iron-On Hem Tape I like.
Cutting and sewing your hem does have its perks. A sewn hem typically looks more polished and holds up better over time, particularly through washes and wears. But hem tape is ideal for a speedy, convenient fix.
For the record, I’ve washed and worn my hem taped pants more than 5x and haven’t had to redo any of them yet, even though the tape box says “temporary”. But I certainly can spare another two minutes if need be!
TAGGING GUN
A quick fix that doesn’t require any heat? This STITCH GUN. I saw an ad on Instagram and couldn’t believe how genius and straightforward this was. It can do so many tricks, including “tagging” your pants up to the length you want! I did this with a pair of pants I got in Europe and it was a great quick fix. It’s not a permanent solution, but perfect for cropped pant lovers on the go. Me!
WAIST FASTENERS
Did I lose a few LBs? Perhaps. I did notice that my pants were starting to sag a bit and I had to add an extra hole to my favorite belts. I told you all about my obsession with high waisted pants and I just loaded up. I didn’t want to buy a whole new arsenal of pants so I did some digging…
“Hi Siri, how can I make pants tighter without sewing?”
PANT TIGHTENERS? What in the world??!
All of these descriptions started popping up: Waist Tightener, Detachable, New Sewing Buttons, Instant Adjustment, Pins for Loose Pants appearing next to these cute little sets of “pins”.
Imagine two enamel pins that clasp together, bringing anything loose, together!
Best part? They came in a variety of options but the pretty gold pearls (YES!) and paw prints (TOTALLY YES!!) were a must for me to try.
I’ve even used them to give me more shape on rompers and singly to secure straps as “pearl buttons.” I’ve even seen photos of ladies using these to close up an open front blouse, cardigan and blazer. No cutting, no sewing, no measuring required! That’s my kind of style trick.
Available in so many different styles: cats, stars, teddy bears… but the gold pearl and paw prints are my #1s.
Even Alyssa and Charlise love them…
“They’re the perfect cinch for pants and shorts! I like things feeling a bit more tailored and right-sized, so you’ll find me sporting these over belts nowadays. Bonus? I’ve used them to clip Char’s dresses and tops that are a smidge too big since she’s in between sizes. We love them, especially the cute pin options that match every single thing we own! “
BELT HOLE PUNCHER
If these pins aren’t your cup of tea, and you’re on Team Belt, I have a solution that got handed down to me from our very first trip to LA.
It’s a BELT HOLE PUNCHER.
Have one? It’s awesome, right? It’s actually made to punch holes in all types of leather, hence it’s perfect for belts (and dog collars, watch bands, shoes, saddles – LOL!). If you love your belts and the polished belt look (I totally do!), then invest in a hole puncher.
There’s nothing like slipping on your ol’ faithful belt with the worn down leather and hardware that just fits to your body! So if you need to make another hole, it’s so worth it. Good belts are hard to come by.
“Tanna got me my first ‘luxury’ belt for Christmas a few years ago and I’ve loved rocking it ever since. At first I was super nervous to punch a hole in a LV belt but after seeing the leather get pulled from overuse, I just went for it and never looked back. Bonus? I’ve used it on my LV bag strap too. Works like a charm!”
ps!
Now, this isn’t for your pants, but it’s a no-sew alteration hack I just discovered. It’s called the Croptuck and helps pull up oversized, baggy tops, tees, sweaters so it falls exactly where you want it. If you’re like me, you dream of a clean “tucked in” look, but dread the poof of extra fabric in your bottoms! This Croptuck solves all of those problems and more. Imagine putting a large adjustable rubberband around your waist, cinching it to fit, then cropping your oversized top to the desired length you want. So simple, but so crazy effective.
Abracadabra! Make my pants fit.