Shortening trousers

[Ducky]

Help, oh wise ones!

Ds1'a school trousers are far too long. I need to take them up by about 10cm. I tried on one pair just folding the 10cm inwards and making a sort of big hem, which I sewed on the seam at each side, but of course it wasn't stitched in the middle so he put his foot into the pocket if spare material I created and broke it.

What's the best way to shorten trousers? I am loathe to cut the material off as I am hoping once he grows I can just lengthen them, or am I being naive that school trousers will last that long?!

Can i use one of those iron on things to hold the flap bit togethwr?

Sorry for the lack of knowledge and terminology, I am hoping someone will be able to decipher what I have written!!

[Disco]

You def don't need to cut them, I can't comment on how long they'll last though.
The sticky stuff should work, but I don't know what it'd be like to take off when you need to lengthen them again.
Hand sewing all the way round is the best option.
I've tried to explain how to do the best stitch but I'm getting all garbled. Will try find a good you tube video for you...

[Mummyto1]

I took L's up by 7cm. One pair I hand stitched - you basically just do the smallest possible amount of thread on the outside (showing) and then have a bigger stitch showing on the inside. Not sure that explains it very well! The other pair I used wonderweb (the iron on tape). I wanted to see which looked better and lasted longer for future reference! Cant say yet on lasting but I marginally preferred the stitched version. Wonderweb left a slight mark all the way around but it's not that noticeable. I'm not sure it can be undone if it needs to be lengthened too. Stitching didn't take that much longer so I think I'll go with that in future providing it lasts ok.

[crabapple]

I hand sew all the way round using a sort of hemming stitch ( pick up a few threads on the bottom and stitch through the folded over bit). I am sure there are lots of YouTube videos as Disco said.

[Disco]

founfd a video that looks ok: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMqK-fNrCrM

You'll manage it just fine

[robyn]

as well as hand sewing around the top, sew through all the layers of fabric down the seams on each side, do it with big stitches (easier to unpick when the time comes) on a sewing machine if you have one, other wise handsewing is fine. That'll make the alteration much stronger.

[hiann]

I cut my son's as needed to be shortened by 9cm. Did do wondaweb but lasted a week as he out his foot in the gap and opened the seam. So handsewed them. Cos of the length they needed to go up by the bottom of leg is wider than where I was attaching wondaweb to so that didnt help and again why I decided to cut the legs as stitching up would still have the narrower leg issue.

[robyn]

If the hem is slightly flared then you just need a couPle of tucks to loose the excess fabric. Best to do them at the side seams.

[Ducky]

Thanks all for your help. I wondered if sewing them would look a bit odd if you could see where the stitches were, but I suppose you would need to be looking pretty closely (assuming I do an ok job on them!)

Thanks Disco for the link. That's my evening sorted