How to Mend Frayed Pants Hem

Intro: How to Mend Frayed Pants Hem

Occassionally the back of my pants get frayed and I would like a little more life out of them.

STEP 1: Open Seam

Open the seam and iron flat.

STEP 2: Add Backing Material

Cut out a piece of material to be used as backing for the repair.  The color does not matter as it will not be seen.

STEP 3: Apply Patch With Stitch Witchery

The backing material is placed behind the frayed area.  I used Stitch Witchery between patch and frayed area.  A hot iron will bond the patch to frayed area.

STEP 4: Sew Both Sides of Opening With Zigzag Stitch

Both sides of the opening are machine sewed with a zigzag stitch to stablize the fraying.

STEP 5: Trim Patch

Before and after trimming the patch.

STEP 6: Create New Hem

The hem is recreated just a bit higher than the repair.  Be sure to pin.

STEP 7: Repair Complete

This is how it looks after the repair.

Comments

[tmc8080]

What preventative measures could one take to prevent fraying besides shortening length to not rub as much against shoes? Teflon or adhesive spray treatment of the fabric?
If the tear is not too big and it's caught early, one can hand stitch less than 1 inch back in place, but eventually other tears will form. It's just a matter of time, washings and usage. Might be a good idea to keep strips of old repurposed pants as backing material for future repairs.

[mole1]

This is great. Does anyone know if fray-checking the edge after hemming the first time works?

[dreamberry]

If your pants are frayed, speak softly to them till they calm down. :)

[jessyratfink]

Very good idea - I've always just gotten grumpy and cut off the torn bit. This looks so much better!