Q&A for How to Taper Trouser Legs

Yes you can do this. It’s a lot easier to see step-by-step instructions with images to do this successfully, so we suggest you check out: How to Taper Jeans .

Yes, a tailor is well equipped to taper pant legs. Decide whether you want the tailor to choose the tapering style without your input or whether you want to pre-select the amount to be tapered yourself by pinning it before taking the trousers to the tailor (or just ask the tailor to pin it your way while you’re wearing the pants at the tailor’s). Most tailors will be happy to do it either way, but if you want to be sure that the taper is exactly as you want it, be sure to direct how it is pinned.

You should taper both seams, so that the pants do not look and feel weird.

Follow the instructions listed in the article above.

If you are tapering your pants slim, first unpick the hem of your pants, iron the pants, draw and pin the tapering line all the way through your pants, and cut away the excess fabric. Once you've sewn back your pants you can re-hem them with a neat hem that fits the new tapered cut.

If the jeans have top-stitched or flat-felled seams, you really can't unless you are an experienced seamstress. Sometimes one side of the leg will have a regular seam. You can try pinning out some of the flare on that side to see if they will hang straight with only that one side taken in. Otherwise, a tailor or seamstress will need to take the flare out of both sides and recreate the same style of original stitching. It's easy for an experienced sewer, you just need to weigh the cost and time expenditure vs a new pair of jeans.

Use an 80/12 size needle as these are specifically designed for denim and other thick fabrics. Often the needles will say denim on the box as well.

You can use these instructions as a basic guide. However, use a pair of spandex and polyester pants as to outline the new seam on your pants instead of pinching the pants while wearing them.

Yes. This process will work to taper any type of pants.

A universal needle should work. However, if the denim is very thick, then you may want to use a heavy-duty needle. Make sure that you install new needle before you get started to ensure that it is sharp.