Expert: Sharon Vogel - 5/16/2009

Question
I have a pair of pants that are too short(about 3 inches) to wear with heels.
I had the pants made so I still have the extra material to lengthen the legs. Should I have the pants cuffed? What is the best way to do this?

Answer
Dear Colleen,

I am curious as to why the pants are 3 inches too short if you had them made?  The only way to lengthen these pants would be to add cuffs, but I don't know if you would like the look of 3 inch wide cuffs.  I am also not too sure whether the cuffs would hang right.  Have you thought about cropping the pants?  The pants legs could be tapered so that they fit closer to your legs.  

To make the add on cuffs, you would first take down the hems on the pants legs and press out the crease.  Hopefully, washing or dry cleaning the pants has not discolored or faded the pants at the crease.  Since you had these pants made, the pattern pieces should be available so that you can get the fabric cut to exactly match up with the pants legs without too much problem.  To add 3 inch cuffs, the extra length would be at least 10" on each leg.  Make sure the add on pieces are cut along the same grain of the fabric as the pants were, which should always be lengthwise.  Cut out a front and back piece for each leg.  Sew up all the side seams and press them open and finish the raw edges., then sew the extensions to the pants using a half inch seam allowance.  Press the seams open.  Finish these seam allowances.  When the pants are then hemmed and the cuffs turned up, the cuffs will hide the seams.  Turn up about a 4 inch hem and then a 3 inch cuff.  Of course, you may need some adjustment to these lengthening measurements to tailor them to the exact length you need.

I hope this works out for you and you enjoy wearing your pants.

Good luck,
Sharon