Shorten trousers

t33

I've bought a pair of leather jeans with unfinished long leg hems, I'm wondering if anyone has a suggestion on how to temporarily shorten them securely so I can wear and decide on length I finally decide I want to turn them up to.  Also how best to shorten them - simply cut? or a smarter way?  I've searched and glue or tape is suggested but anyone have experience of these methods?  btw they're for casual not smart wear.

Thanks.

twopenny

Can you just tuck the surplus under for now? I've done that before with fabric ones.

I have to take almost every pair up and I try them with the shoes I will wear them with, walk around the house, see how they look sitting.

Yes you can cut leather with scissors, use dressmakers scissors that are sharp and cut well.
I used to cut leather to make things and it's easy. You will have to watch round the seams where the scissors may jump but that wouldn't be visible once done.

See what a fabric shop has in the way of hemming tape. You can't use heat but there may be a double sided one for fabric.

maman

I'd definitely not cut them yet. I'd try something like parcel tape, duct tape or masking tape as a temporary fix.

Try them on with boots, shoes, trainers or any footwear you might want to wear with them. 

Then, when you're absolutely sure of the length you want, cut with a decent hem and use double sided hemming tape as @twopenny suggested. 

Brie

You could get a shoe mender or upholstery shop to do the stitching on them if that's what you decide to do.  And I'd do them just a bit longer then you think you need to account for the creasing at the hips and knees that will take a bit of length out of them.

Slinky

I had a beautiful pair of soft leather trousers handmade in Turkey and they glued the hems when I went to collect them.

Slinky

Brie said:

You could get a shoe mender or upholstery shop to do the stitching on them if that's what you decide to do.  And I'd do them just a bit longer then you think you need to account for the creasing at the hips and knees that will take a bit of length out of them.

Depends on the softness of the leather, mine stretched a little at the knees.

subjecttocontract

We have a local market stall who are tailors and they do all that stuff at reasonable cost. Do you have local tailors in your area ?

t33

Thanks for all the helpful answers.  I think I will go with double sided tape as I've got some to hand and leave them temporarily turned up for a few weeks as I know with leather it moulds to your shape so I get the final turn up accurate.  I'll decide how to do the final finish once I see how it goes, I might just be lazy and stick with the tape if it is sturdy and doesn't cause creasing etc. 

Thanks again.

t33

Extra questions if i may.  So I've interweb searched for hemming and fabric tape is usually recommended.  The type that shaped like a tape measure but like a fabric web in white that you put on then iron.  Does this sound right for leather??   I'd somehow got the notion of using double sided tape the type you use in diy.  Maybe me being daft?  But it's sturdy motorcycle jeans leather not lightweight.
I've got both types of tape btw.
Anyone shed any light or experience?
Thanks