tapering trouser legs without sewing machine

[Amelia_Barry76]

I don't know if this is the right area to post this, but I need advice on this.

I want to taper legs of 3 pairs of trousers & I expect for the basics I don't know where to start & I can't use a sewing machine.

I've actually started working on one pair & I think I might of may a mistake with taking them in on the inside of the leg & not the outside.

This is the first time that I have done this, so if ANYONE can help me out with this, I would very much appreciate it

[AllieSF]

Wow, thanks for the memories. We called it pegging the pants way back then. I used to do that about 50 years ago. Turn the pants inside out, fold over the inside seam on itself and that was about perfect for my then young skinny legs, and then just hand sew that. I would do a tighter stitch because there may be extra strain on that new seam because of the extra tightness on your legs. If you need to vary the amount that you take in, then try to determine how much and put a straight pin or safety pin every once in awhile over the length of that new taper. Then stitch in a straight line from pin to pin. Good luck and let us know how it works.

[Michelle M]

Amelia,
I bought myself a machine and taught myself how to use it. It's really not hard to learn for simple alterations and straight stitches. If you can run a mig welder or a table saw, you can learn to make straight stitches with the machine.
If you weren't 12,000 miles away, I'd have you over and show you.
Michelle

[Nicole Erin]

You have several options -
Well first, fold the leg over at a long crease and kind of sew somewhere along the bottom at least to stitch, maybe get a spool of blue (or whatever color thread) and a pack of sewing needles.
Thread the sewing needle, and take the two halves of the yarn and tie them together at the cut ends. Make a couple knots in the same spot so the thread anchors into the fabric. Then just start sewing best you can, stich pattern doesn't matter much cause getting it perfect is about impossible with a needle.

Other options include - using staples or super glue like I used to use to repair my wife beater shirts I wore in my early 20's. My ex saw this and said she would fix future shirts, she was kind of mad at me for having such crappy clothing repair skills.

Sewing machine - I cannot touch one without it breaking. I can repair just about anything you put in front of me but I am hopeless with sewing machines.

[Beverley Sims]

It is tedious but I have done a parallel seam on the inside of the inside seam of the leg and if it is not tapered enough just adjust the loose bits by sewing in further.
With a sewing machine just sew a parallel seam up the inside leg tapering out to the original seam at the top of the leg.
Works great with stretch fabrics.
Sometimes hard to peel off after wearing.

[busker]

try this site for help
http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/home/how-to-mend-clothes1.htm

[Amelia_Barry76]

pity that I live so far away then


Amelia,
I bought myself a machine and taught myself how to use it. It's really not hard to learn for simple alterations and straight stitches. If you can run a mig welder or a table saw, you can learn to make straight stitches with the machine.
If you weren't 12,000 miles away, I'd have you over and show you.
Michelle

[BLUE ORCHID]

Hi Amelia, You need to take a pinch of material inside and outside of the leg to get an idea of how much to fold over.