If you don’t have a laundry machine, head to the local laundromat or soak your jeans in a bucket of boiling water for 20 to 30 minutes and wring them out to dry. [1] X Research source Check the tag of your jeans before trying this hack, as this shrinking method may not work on preshrunk or synthetic fibers. [2] X Research source
Be sure to read the label on your jeans before trying this method, as jeans that can’t be tumbled dried might shrink two or three sizes too small.
Consider wearing rubber gloves while you do this to avoid burning yourself.
If standing in the shower for that long isn’t feasible, no worries! Try taking a warm bath in your jeans instead.
Remember that when you turn your jeans inside-out, your left leg inside-out is your right leg right-side-out.
Pin horizontally so you can guide your sewing machine over each pin without jamming the machine. Once one leg is pinned, gently remove the jeans.
Make sure your pinned seams are flat as you measure; otherwise, your stitching may be bumpy.
Consider using a temporary basting stitch first, so you can try on your jeans with the new seam and easily remove and adjust any stitching.
Consider securing the new seam with a serger, if you have one, as denim can easily fray.
For example, if you need to remove 2 inches (5. 1 cm), you’ll place a mark at 1 inch (2. 5 cm) to either side of the middle.
There will be excess fabric sticking up, but don’t worry! You’ll cut this later. Plus, the pants are inside out, so this fabric will appear to be a part of the new seam once everything is sewn together.
Use a thread that matches the color of your jeans so your stitches aren’t too visible. Make sure the new and old seams match up; otherwise, your back jean pockets may be lopsided.
