I need to know how to hem(sp?) pants, and sew a patch withought a machine?

I dont have a sewing machine, but I do understand the basics of sewing. I have a few diffrent sized needles and some thread, and thats about it.





I want to hem my jean legs because they are too long on me, and I dont know how, so if you could tell me the materials I need and how to do it step by step that would be great. Or if you know of a website that is easy to follow that would be ok to.





Same with the patch. I dont know what to do exactly (the hardest part for me is at the end when you have to tie the string. I never quite get it right.) So if you could tell me what I need and how to do it step by step that would be great. Once again an easy to follow website would be ok to.





Thanks!

I need to know how to hem(sp?) pants, and sew a patch withought a machine?
Go to a store where they sell material. Ask them for the tape that you you would use to fasten two pieces of material together. I am sorry I can't think of the name but what you do is turn up the hem, put the tape between the two materials and you iron it. The heat of the iron heats the tape and melts it into the materials and fastens them together. Now you can do this with both the hem and the patch- - - Pin them both where you want them. Thread your needle (I prefer a small to medium size needle as it goes through the materials easier) Put your needle into the material from where there is one then straight into the two materials. Go about 1/2 " (orshorter) and do the same until you have finished the project. When you get to the end wrap the thread around your needle a couple of times and sew it through the double material and pull it tight. Then make long stitches through the middle (Back and forth a coulpe of times and cut the thread.
Reply:Jeans hems are difficult to sew by hand and retain the rubbed hem that's current now. Some folks rehem jeans by taking a


fold of fabric out just above the current hem, and sewing along the fold line, and then tacking that fold to the inside of the jeans leg. If you want to do that, I'd use a backstitch for the initial sewing, and a catchstitch to tack the inside fold. Backstitch is


called "stitching" here:


http://www.vintagesewing.info/19th/1892-...


Another description of the "Eurohem", as this method of


preserving the original hem is called:





http://ezinearticles.com/?Hemming-Jeans-...





Here's how you do a plain patch:


http://www.vintagesewing.info/19th/1892-...


You may also be able to darn:


http://www.vintagesewing.info/19th/1892-...





"String" is called thread; you'll want a general purpose thread aka dressmaking thread, to match the fabric. You'll also need some needles; I think the ones called "crewel" or "embroidery needles" are the easiest for beginners because they've got a big eye for the thread. You'll probably also want a few pins, though you can punt and use scotch tape or masking tape to hold things in place temporarily.





Starting and ending a seam:


http://www.vintagesewing.info/19th/1892-...
Reply:Here is the best way to knot your thread: http://heatherbailey.typepad.com/photos/...





Steps to prepare for hemming: http://sewing.about.com/od/beginner1/ht/...





Hand stitch samples. The hem stitch, catch stitch, slip stitch and herring bone stitch can all be used for hems:


http://www.hutchal.clara.net/curtains/se...


http://www.simplicity.com/index.cfm?page...





Knotting the end of the seam. This shows how to tie the knot on the thread and also how to tie the thread at the end of the seam (at the bottom of the page.)


http://www.moonlightquilters.org/tipquil...





These sites also give information that would be useful for sewing patches.





You can also use hem tape that irons hems in place.


http://www.wrights.com/wrights/products/...


http://www.associatedcontent.com/article...