How to Lengthen Pants That Are Too Short
If you have a pair of pants that are too short especially when it comes to kids, you can have them lengthened to the perfect length with an extension piece to make them longer. Learn how to Lengthen Pants with a cuff right here.
I’m all about reusing, recycling, and of course why not refashioning? Recently I published a post I shared How to Make a Cute Skirt out of Old Jeans and it turned out so cute that I had to try it again in some other way.
Revamping Kids’ Pants is the best and simplest way to extend kids pants’ lifeway when they run short or get old.
As Kids grow up, pants start to run short. I revamped my girl’s pants and it turned out so cute. I saved them and gave them a second chance.
DIY Lengthen Pants to Extend Their Life
Revamping kid’s pants is super easy, have you noticed how much I love easy crafts??? LOL. Well, I do love easy projects, and I love to see final results quickly LOL
I also love having time to do other things! This took a couple of hours even to take pictures. Then as it is my tradition, we had lots of fun in the outdoor photo session. I used for this a very special pair of pants {sentimental meaning} with an easy trick that also ends up revamping it.
How to Lengthen Pants That Are Too Short
Some pants are easier to revamp than others. When you don’t have enough hem to let down, you can lengthen your pants by adding a fabric cuff to the bottom.
Dig through your fabric stash for a piece of fabric, ruffle or lace that you can sew onto the bottom of each leg to create a cuff: This is a fun and stylish option and can work for jeans or for dress pants.
Supplies:
- Pants
- A cute fabric of your choice
- Matching thread
- Fabric marker/pencil
Tools:
- Sewing machine
- Scissors
- Ruler
- Pins
Instructions:
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I found a fabric with details in light violet, which was perfect because the pants have those cute flowers in violet too. So it was a perfect match. Yayyy!
The Pants’ Cuff
1. The first thing is to measure the length of the cuff.
2. Put the pant on your girl and measure how much more length you need to add to the bottom of the pant leg.
3. If for example, you need 1,5 inches you add 1 more inch and then double it.
4. So it would be 1,5 + 1 = 2,5 x 2 = 5 inches.
5. Then measure the width of the pant leg at the hem level.
6. Double that measurement and add ½ inch seam allowance on each end.
7. With wrong sides together, fold each cuff along its width, bringing long edges together. Press, then open up again.
8. For the bottom fabric, Turn the long sides under ½ inch and then iron it.
9. Fold each of the cuff pieces in half along the length, bringing short edges and right sides together. Sew along the short edges with a 1 cm (1/2″) seam allowance to form 2 tubes. Press seams open.
10. Iron the seam allowance open like this.
11. Fold again putting together the hems like in the image below.
12. Now find the seam between the legs of your pants and match it with the extension seam, place the hem of the pants between both layers of the new fabric extension.
13. Pin in place.
14. The pant’s hem will be sandwiched between both sides of the fabric.
15. Turning the pants to the wrong side, fold the pants cuff up along the pressed fold. Pin in place, ensuring that the folded edge of the cuff extends about 0.5 cm (1/4″) past the seam joining the cuff to the pants. Then iron it.
16. From the right side of the pants, ‘stitch in the ditch’ of the join between the cuff and the pants, making sure that you catch the inner edge of the cuff in the underside of your stitches.
17. Fold the extension so it would hide the seam.
Cute Matching Pockets
1. Then cut a rectangle for the pocket.
2. The measurement will depend on the area of your pants.
3. Leave 1 inch on each side as seam allowance.
4. Fold ½ inch wrong side together, then iron it, fold again another ½ inch to enclose the raw edge, and iron it again.
5. Stitch one short side as the opening of the pocket and pin it in place.
There you have it! A new pair of pants!
I love how it turned out and my girl loves it too!
Now you have a pair of pants that will last a few more months… hopefully???
Crafting Tips
This technique is also a really nice way to add some interest or accent to a pair of plain pants. Even if the pants don’t need to be lengthened, sew exactly as above and turn up the cuffs so that when your child grows you can simply fold them down for extra length.
If the pants you are lengthening are jeans, you can use a different shade of denim fabric to make the cuffs.
You can make the cuff with cute ruffles instead of this technique. Or even creating different layerings of fabrics to create some crazy effect.
Revamping Kids Pants to Extend their life!
What do you think? Have you extended the life of your kids??? How did you do it???
Frequently Asked Questions
When your pants don’t have enough hem to let down, you can lengthen them by adding a fabric cuff. Use a piece of fabric, a ruffle, or some lace to create a cuff on the bottom of your jeans or your dress pants to add a stylish touch.
If your jeans or pants are a little too short, cuff them and no one will ever know. Roll your pants’ hem up and use them as Capri. Or cut them a little below your knee and turn them into Capris.
You can follow the same instructions but using fusible tape – Double-sided iron-on fabric adhesive. If what you need to lengthen isn’t too much, you can just use a seam ripper to rip out the hem of each pant cuff then iron it well and leave the edges raw.
More Easy Crafts for Kids to Try
If you like this cute refashion by Lengthen Pants, you might also like these other easy crafts for kids too {click on the images}
✂️ Tutorial
How to Lengthen Pants That Are Too Short
Tools
- Sewing Machine
- scissors
- Ruler
- Pins
Supplies
- Pants
- A cute fabric of your choice
- Matching thread
- Fabric marker/pencil
Instructions
THE PANTS’ CUFF
- The first thing is to measure the length of the cuff.
- Put the pant on your girl and measure how much more length you need to add to the bottom of the pant leg.
- If for example, you need 1,5 inches you add 1 more inch and then double it.
- So it would be 1,5 + 1 = 2,5 x 2 = 5 inches.
- Then measure the width of the pant leg at the hem level.
- Double that measurement and add ½ inch seam allowance on each end.
- With wrong sides together, fold each cuff along its width, bringing long edges together. Press, then open up again.
- For the bottom fabric, Turn the long sides under ½ inch and then iron it.
- Fold each of the cuff pieces in half along the length, bringing short edges and right sides together. Sew along the short edges with a 1 cm (1/2″) seam allowance to form 2 tubes. Press seams open.
- Iron the seam allowance open like this.
- Fold again putting together the hems like in the image below.
- Now find the seam between the legs of your pants and match it with the extension seam, place the hem of the pants between both layers of the new fabric extension.
- Pin in place.
- The pant’s hem will be sandwiched between both sides of the fabric.
- Turning the pants to the wrong side, fold the pants cuff up along the pressed fold. Pin in place, ensuring that the folded edge of the cuff extends about 0.5 cm (1/4″) past the seam joining the cuff to the pants. Then iron it.
- From the right side of the pants, ‘stitch in the ditch’ of the join between the cuff and the pants, making sure that you catch the inner edge of the cuff in the underside of your stitches.
- Fold the extension so it would hide the seam.
CUTE MATCHING POCKETS
- Then cut a rectangle for the pocket.
- The measurement will depend on the area of your pants.
- Leave 1 inch on each side as seam allowance.
- Fold ½ inch wrong side together, then iron it, fold again another ½ inch to enclose the raw edge, and iron it again.
- Stitch one short side as the opening of the pocket and pin it in place.
- There you have it! A new pair of pants! I love how it turned out and my girl loves it too!
Other cute clothing refashion ideas from my favorite bloggers
- DIY Upcycled T-Shirt Dress by Infarrantly Creative.
- Girl Dress Upcycled From Men’s Shirt by All Day Chic.
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Til' next time...
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These pants are so stinkin’ cute! What a great way to make them last longer!!! :)
“hugs” Crystelle
Thanks so much Crystelle! Glad you like them!!! =D Happy to have you visiting!
XOXO
I used to do this with my daughters pants too. I love this “sew” much practical and stylish. Thank you for sharing your wonderful blog at the Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop I will be featuring you on Monday ♥
Thanks so much for stopping by and for the feature! aYayyy how cool!
XOXO
Cute pants!
Navy Wifey Peters @ Submarine Sunday Link Party
Thanks =D
This is a great idea, and they turned out adorable!!
Thanks so much! Glad you like it!… I’m planing on making some more my girl loved it!
XOXO
SO CUTE!! I used to do this all the time with my daughter’s jeans! My favorite was using wide ruffled eyelet…made such a pretty, feminine contrast with the denim :) Found you on Pin Junkie.
Hi Cindy! Thanks so much for stopping by!… Yeah I love this too… Hopefully I’ll have plenty of denims to tray other ideas such as yours! =D Thanks!
XOXO
oh my gosh. These are soo cute (and thrifty). love it. Great job. pinned to try! foind at workit wed. have a great week.
I’m glad you like it! LOL it’s super cute indeed and the best part she loved it! Thanks so much for your lovely visit!
XOXO
Those pants are beautiful! And I like how you doubled the fabric before stitching it–neat and sturdier. Unfortunately, I could not use the idea. I have two boys of 9 and 11 and they would not appreciate such an addition. All I can do to extend the life of their pants is make shorts with them. Not bad, but less creative. I have a 3 years-old niece, though…
Well with boys it could work maybe using a similar fabrick, or some leather or something like that… For boys it definitely shouldn’t be cute but there is always a creative way to do it and make them look handsome in those pants!… If yo have a niece that’s the perfect opportunity to let our girliness out! LOL
Thanks so much for your sweet visit!
XOXO
Great post!! just pinned it!
Thanks so much!
xoxo
I used to add ribbon and lace and ruffles to my daughters pants, because she is tall and skinny to make things fit. So cute1
Using laces and ribbon is a great idea! I’ll try that too when the next pair of pants run short LOL! Thanks so much for the idea and for leaving some love!
XOXO
This is a great tutorial. I especially love how you added the pocket to tie in with the cuffs. Smart. I’d love to see you join us at the Inspire Us Thursdays link party on http://www.theinspiredwren.com.
Thanks so much Ren for the sweet comment and the invite! Have a wonderful week!
XOXO
Absolutely adorable. I am having a little difficulty following the instructions. How are you creating the area that the pants slide into the cuff. Sorry if I’m being annoying, I’m having one of those mornings. :)
Not annoying at all. In English it’s a bit challenging for me explaining things. It’s a bit tricky since I wanted to be right side of the fabric inside and outside!… So what i did was folding the fabric after sewing the ends to form the cuff and then I had two sides of the cuff, inside and outside right?… like in the picture… Then I inserted the pant cuff between those two sides of the fabric cuff. so it would be fabric cuff, pant cuff, fabric cuff. To sew it is a bit tricky because the space is tight but it can be done. If you need any more details or explanations you can send me a message on my FB page. English can be very hard for me, so I apologise for that! I do my best trying to explain in a second language! Thanks so much for asking, It makes me happy that people ask when they don’t understand something, that makes me get better!
XOXO
The pants turned out adorable! I have done something similar to some of my daughter’s jeans but with a ruffle–I’ll bet this straight cuff style would look cute on boys jeans too! I will have to try it! (And post my results of course).
Oooh I definitely would love to see your style and ideas! This kind of revamping can be made in so many ways and perfect even for adults! =D
Thanks so much for your sweet comment!
XOXO
Darling!!! What a great idea! I have wanted to do this but have never dared. Thanks for the inspiration.
Yayyyy I’m so glad to give you inspiration!… That so easy and looks like a brand new pair of pants!… You will love it!
XOXO