Hemming tape - is it any good for taking up trousers and what is the technique?

[Berrie]

Do I do it in little bits or one whole strip?
Or should I just sew them instead?

[akhems]

I use it all the time and do it in two strips, seam to seam if that makes sense?

[Berrie]

Perfect sense thanks
Is it easy to let them down again?

[movingnow]

I use the iron on stuff (in small sections)

[FlightHattendant]

I just tried it on ds's trousers for school. Poor chap has a bit of 'girth' and short legs. I took up 5 inches with the iron, it is sad that the hem is not the same size as the higher up bit, so there is a big bump in one place. Not impressed.

I'm going to have to cut them off...

[Berrie]

Ah...that is a good point

[FlightHattendant]

It depends how high you are turning. 5 inches is a bit extreme

it should be fine with an inch or maybe two.

Struggling with the old trouser problem again here, he's always too short and too wide.

[cassell]

If you're using the iron on stuff you can't generally let it down again as it marks the fabric. It's fine for a short term repair but I find that it is not sufficient if the hems are likely to get a lot of wear. If it's thin fabric you have to be very careful not to get creases in the fabric, it's quite hard to get it neat. With thicker fabric it's fine.

[SweetnessAndShite]

I find it unreliable for long term use. Hems come down after a few washes but it's good as a quick fix. My DSs have the opposite problem - long legs and skinny waist. Thank God someone had the sense to make kids clothes with those adjustable elastic bits like you get in maternity clothes!

The person who could come up with an equivalent for adjusting leg lengths would be onto a winner!

[FlightHattendant]

nice name S&S!!! I like it.

[Berrie]

Thanks all. I suspected it might make a crap job but I cannot guarantee that my stitching will be fine enough to be good enough either.