Any college girl knows that it can be a challenge to stay stylish without breaking the bank. But our DIY Chic column is here to bring College Fashion readers budget-friendly and easy do-it-yourself projects. If you are looking for more DIY inspiration, take a look at our past tutorials on making a multi-strand statement necklace, bow hair accessories, flower hair clips, a printed word scarf, transforming a pair of old jeans, recreating an old or thrifted item, or creating a pair of cap-toe flats.

Whether you are updating a recent thrift store find or just want to alter your favorite skirt, dress, or pair of pants, shortening a hemline is one of the quickest ways you can mix up a garment. This week, we are bringing you a quick and easy tutorial on shortening and sewing a hemline by machine – or by hand, if you prefer! (If you want a quick fix in a pinch, see our tutorial on no-sew hemming.) 

Don’t worry, it’s a lot easier than it might sound. Take a look at the step-by-step process below:

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What you’ll need:

• A too-long garment for hemming
• A sewing machine OR needle and thread in a matching color
• Fabric scissors
• Measuring tape
• Pins
• Washable fabric, chalk, or pencil for marking
• An iron and ironing board – probably not a necessity, but very helpful

The step-by-step process:

Measure. Start by deciding how short you want your garment to be. Lay the garment out flat and use your measuring tape to measure how much fabric you want to remove. You can also use another garment the length you want to measure, like I did in the photo below. Remember to leave about 1 inch extra for the hem.

Mark and cut. Mark your garment at the desired length and carefully make your cut, remembering to allow for about an extra inch of fabric.