How to Hem Scrub Pants - 3 Methods To Alter Scrub Pants
You wear scrub pants almost daily to work. You want those scrub pants to fit properly. After all, no one wants their scrub pants dragging on the floor.
Maybe you’re constantly pulling them up to keep from tripping over them. Or perhaps you stop to cuff your pants, rolling them up from the bottom a few times a day.
The good news? Scrub pants can be altered. Read on to learn about your options, including:
Taking them to a tailor to be hemmed
Hemming scrub pants yourself by:
Using a sewing machine
Sewing by hand
Using sewing tape
Investing in a few great-fitting scrub pants that need no alterations
How Do I Make My Scrubs Look Good? What To Do When Scrub Pants Are Too Long
Are your scrub pants too big?
Are your scrub pants too long?
If that’s the case, your scrub pants probably look sloppy, and that’s not the ideal impression you want to make on the job.
If your scrub pants are a few inches too long, don’t worry.
The good news is –– scrub pants can be easily shortened, hemmed to the correct length for you.
Or, you can purchase scrubs that already look put together and professional without the added work of taking them to a tailor or hemming them yourself.
Silver Linings Scrubs aren’t baggy, shapeless, or uncomfortable. These scrubs are:
100% lined
Soft and tailored
Equipped with lined, deep pockets
Warm without adding bulk
Designed with a comfortable yoga waistband
Silver Linings Scrubs are designed to fit the way scrubs are supposed to fit.
Can You Tailor Scrub Pants? What To Look For Before Altering Scrub Pants
Can you tailor scrub pants?
Absolutely.
Like most clothing, scrubs can be altered.
The average tailor will charge $10-$15 to hem a pair of scrub pants. Let’s say you’ve got six pairs of scrub pants, and they all need shortening. That can add up pretty quickly, leaving you with a pricey tailor bill.
Most scrubs are made of (or a combination of):
Cotton
Polyester
Rayon
Spandex
These fabrics are:
Durable
Easy to launder
Relatively inexpensive
Natural and synthetic fabrics are also easy to hem.
Even if you don’t have sewing experience, you can shorten a pair of scrub pants in half an hour to an hour, depending on which method you use.
What You’ll Need To Hem Scrub Pants
You’ll only need a few materials to hem your scrub pants.
Other than your too-long scrub pants, these include:
Straight pins
Tape measure or ruler
Scissors
Iron & ironing board
Tailor’s chalk
Needle & thread matching color of scrub pants (optional, depending on method)
Sewing machine (optional, depending on method)
Sewing tape (optional, depending on method)
How Do You Hem Scrub Pants Without a Sewing Machine?
Let’s say you recently started a new job, and you want your scrub pants to fit nicely and look professional. The trouble is –– they’re about 6 inches too long. You decide to take matters into your own hands and hem them, but you don’t own a sewing machine.
Not a problem.
You can easily hem scrub pants without one. You can:
Sew the hem by hand; OR
Use sewing tape
Keep reading to learn how to hem your scrub pants step-by-step.
How To Tailor Scrub Pants: Common First Steps
Whether you’re sewing your scrub pants or using sewing tape to shorten them, the process to hem your pants will begin the same way.
You’ll need to:
Remove the original hem
Determine how much to hem the pants
Iron the pant cuffs
Trim the excess fabric
Step #1: Remove the Original Hem
First things first. Using a seam ripper (sometimes called a stitch remover), rip out the original hem.
This little tool cuts and removes unwanted stitches. You can purchase one for a few dollars at craft stores, fabric stores, and even most big-box stores.
When using the seam ripper, insert the tool’s sharp point into the seam underneath the thread. As you pull, the blade will rip through the stitches, allowing you to rip away the loose thread.
Step #2: Determine How Much To Hem
Next, you’ll need to figure out how much to hem your scrub pants.
Don’t skip this step. After all, the last thing you want is to put in the time and work only to realize you’ve shortened your paints too much and now look like you’re ready for a flood.
Try on your scrub pants with the shoes that you typically wear with them.
Then, cuff the pants by folding the raw edge of the fabric under. Adjust your fold until it falls at the correct length for you. Hold the fold in place by placing several straight pins around the cuff.
Take the pants off, turn them inside out, and check your work.
Using a tape measure, measure from the edge of the pant leg to the fold. Make sure both pant legs are cuffed equally.
Make adjustments if necessary, adding more straight pins to hold the cuffs in place.
Step #3: Iron the Pant Cuffs
Get out your iron and ironing board.
Using the iron, make a strong crease at the fold of each cuff.
Step #4: Trim the Excess Fabric
Before you get out the scissors and start cutting, measure 1.5” from your freshly creased hemlines. Mark this measurement all around the pant leg using chalk.
Repeat on the other pant leg.
Take out the straight pins, and cut the excess fabric at both pant legs’ chalk line.
Pin the fabric back into place with the straight pins, approximately one inch from the hemline.
3 Methods to Easily Hem Scrubs
After you’ve completed the first four steps, you’ll need to select one of three methods to hem your scrubs.
Depending on your skill and tools available to you, you can do any of the following:
Use a sewing machine
Sew by hand
Use sewing tape
Method #1: Sewing Machine
If you’ve got access to a sewing machine, there are benefits to using it for your hemming project.
Using a sewing machine is:
Faster - Sewing by machine takes far less time than sewing by hand.
Looks professional - With a sewing machine, it's easy to achieve uniform and precise stitches.
On the other hand, if you’re not familiar with using a sewing machine, there can be a learning curve. Additionally, purchasing a sewing machine can be expensive, especially if you only plan to use it sporadically.
Turn your scrub pants inside out. To sew the hem, first select thread that matches or complements the color of your scrub pants.
Thread the needle, select the blind stitch setting on your sewing machine, and position your fabric underneath the needle, fold side up.
Begin stitching around the pant leg, doing your best to sew straight, and careful not to sew over your straight pins.
Repeat on the other pant leg.
What Stitch Do I Use to Hem Pants?
Whether you’re hemming pants with a sewing machine or by hand, a blind stitch is an ideal stitch to use.
A blind stitch is precisely what it sounds like; the stitch isn’t visible outside the garment. Even on the inside of the garment, the majority of the stitching is hidden inside the hem.
Method #2: Sewing By Hand
When it comes to hemming scrub pants, there are pros and cons to sewing by hand.
On the positive side, sewing by hand is:
Great for beginners
Portable
However, sewing by hand does have its drawbacks:
Time-consuming
Inconsistent stitching
You’ll want to start with your scrub pants inside out.
Thread your needle with thread that matches the color of your pants. Make sure you’ve made a knot at the end of the thread.
Insert the needle upwards into the fold of the hem to hide the knot.
Use the needle to pick up a tiny bit of fabric in the garment fabric’s folded edge. Ensure you are only sewing through one layer and make your stitch as small as possible, as it will be visible from the right side.
Repeat every ¼ to ½ inch.
Once you’ve completed your final stitch, make a knot and trim any excess thread with your scissors.
Method #3: Sewing Tape
If sewing still seems too intimidating or you need a quicker fix, you might want to try sewing tape.
Sewing tape is relatively inexpensive, but you’ll want to make sure you’ve purchased enough to complete your hemming project.
Cut the double-sided tape with scissors to fit the hem.
Place the sewing tape between the pants and hem and use a hot iron to press down. The bonding on the tape will fuse the hem.
If your pants are made from a synthetic fabric, be sure to place a pressing cloth or a piece of cotton fabric between the iron and your pants.
Proper-Length Scrubs Keep Your Professional Life Professional
What if you didn’t need to spend the time or money to hem your scrub pants?
Ditch the needle and thread or sewing tape and invest in scrub pants with an inseam that fits your body.
Many brands of scrubs come in a one-size-fits-all inseam length. But Silver Linings Scrubs aren’t your average scrubs.
Designed to fit well and provide maximum comfort, Silver Linings Scrubs offers three options for inseam length:
Petite - Ideal for women under 5’4”
Regular
Tall - Ideal for women 5’8” and taller
Not only are Silver Linings Scrubs comfortable, but they’re tailored to ensure you look professional on the job each day.
Plus, with Silver Linings Scrubs, you won’t need to layer underneath your scrubs to combat the frigid office air conditioning. Silver Linings Scrubs are lined with cozy material to keep you warm.
Invest in yourself. Invest in Silver Linings Scrubs.