How to Shorten a Button-Down Shirt

One of the biggest problems I have in buying new shirts is that they are more often than naught too long.

So I decided to try my hand at shortening the hem and found it to be much easier than I expected!

This is super easy and fun at the same time! :)

-a shirt that's too long

-a similar shirt that is already your desired length

-a sewing machine

-thread that matches the color of your shirt

Lay out flat the shirt that is too long and button up the front.

Carefully lay the shorter shirt on top, being sure to line up the shoulders and sides.

Measure how much longer the "too-long" shirt is at the middle and at the sides, and remember this length. For my shirt it was 2 1/2 inches at the middle and 2 inches at the sides. Some shirts have the same measurement across or even a more drastic difference.

Unbutton the shirt. Now you are looking at the inside of the shirt.

Fold up the hem so that the amount you fold up is the measurement you took earlier, at the middle and sides. Pin it in place. Repeat this with the other side and the back of the shirt.

Iron the entire end of the shirt that you have pinned up.

Begin sewing the new hem, starting a couple inches in. This avoids bunching up the fabric at the edge.

After sewing the entire length of the shirt, trim off the thread.

Now go back to the beginning and turn the shirt so it is coming into the sewing machine from the other direction. Line up the needle with where you began stitching, and finish the end.

Trim excess threads.

Remove all pins from your hem.

Trim off extra fabric as close as possible to your stitches. I was able to trim about an 1/8 inch above my stiches.

Good job! You have successfully shortened your shirt!

Thank you for reading this post! Have fun! :)

~Purple_One