How To Cut Yoga Pants Into Shorts – 5 Steps To Follow

Sometimes yoga pants may begin to shorten over time due to excessive drying. However, you'll be happy to know that you don't have to pitch these pants if they become too short. You can easily turn them into shorts. We have looked into the best ways to turn your yoga pants into stylish shorts, and in this post, we will discuss these methods with you.

Here are the steps to cut yoga pants into shorts:

  1. Measure the pants and mark the cutting areas
  2. Make the cut
  3. Fold the bottom of the shorts to make a hem
  4. Sew the hem
  5. Try them on

The most important thing to remember when altering yoga pants is to take precise measurements. This will help to ensure that these shorts are long enough or short enough after you've made the cuts to the fabric. Continue reading to learn how to turn these pants into shorts.

Young flexible sporty woman practicing yoga on grey yoga mat on wooden floor. How To Cut Yoga Pants Into Shorts - 5 Steps To Follow

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Steps to Cut Yoga Pants Into Shorts

Things you'll need:

  • Ruler
  • Sewing pins
  • Scissors
  • Sewing machine
  • Needle & thread
  • Measuring tape
  • Chalk or marking pen
  • Seam ripper

Young flexible sporty woman practicing yoga on grey yoga mat on books background

1. Measure the pants and mark cutting areas

First, try the yoga pants on. Next, use your marker or chalk to mark the shorts' desired length. It's easier to make the line on the inseam of the pants.

Next, please take off the pants and lay them on a flat table or sewing board. If you want to make a neater hemline, make an additional mark diagonally on the other side of the pants leg. Then, connect both marks using the chalk. It may also be helpful to use your ruler to make a straight line. Inspect the line to ensure that both legs have symmetrical measurements.

Take your ruler and measure the length from the waistline to the inseam. This will help you pinpoint where the mark should be on the other leg. When making the line, be sure to add an extra inch or two for the hem. This is also referred to as hem allowance or seam allowance.

2. Make the cut

Use your scissors and cut lines along with the marked areas, ensuring that the cuts are even and straight.

Find these sewing scissors on Amazon.

3. Fold the bottom of the shorts to make a hem

Now that he would cut the shorts, hold the bottom of the leg, and in inside to begin creating the hem. Make sure that the hem is even on both sides of each leg.

4. Sew the hem

Take your threaded sewing needle or a sewing machine and hem the bottom leg of the pants where you have folded the shorts inward. The hem should be at least an inch away from the original cut line to prevent the stitch from easily becoming removed. It's also a good idea to go over the hem twice to create a solid stitch line.

Check out this sewing machine on Amazon.

5. Try them on

After sewing the shorts at the hem, try them on to ensure that they are the right length that you want. If you want them shorter, remove the hem using a seam ripper, measure, mark, and cut them again to your desired length. When cutting them, ensure to again include an inch or two for the hemline.

How can I make my yoga pants longer?

One of the easiest and quickest ways to make your yoga pants longer without cutting them is to use the stretching method. However, you'll want to ensure that you perform this method correctly, as you don't want to stretch the entire pants, only the bottom area to lengthen it. Let's look at how to do it.

Things you'll need:

  • Sink, tub, or bucket
  • Lukewarm water
  • Two towels
  • Mild detergent or baby shampoo

1. Add water to the sink or basin

Fill the sink or tub with enough water so that you can submerge the pans completely. Next, pour two teaspoons of baby shampoo into the water and swish it around with your hands to create suds.

2. Add pants to the water

Place the yoga pants in the water and let them soak for about 15 to 30 minutes. It may be helpful to set a timer so that you can educate them every 10 minutes.

3. Remove the pants

Next, take the pants out of the water and gently squeeze them to remove any excess water. Be careful when squeezing them as you don't want to ring or twist them--this can ruin the shape of the pants.

4. Roll the pants and a paper towel

Take a large towel, place the pants on top of it, and then roll them up to remove excess moisture. Gently press down on the towel, but make sure not to stretch or pull the pants in any way.

Find bath towels on Amazon.

5. Stretch the pants

Place the pants flat on the other dry towel. Next, starting about 6 inches from the middle of the pants (at the knee area), tug on the pants to stretch them. Continue to stretch the pants on the bottom until they are anywhere from 2 to 4 inches longer.

6. Let them dry

Lay the pants on a dry surface overnight or set them next to a fan to help speed up the drying process. Once they're completely dry, try them on. If they're still too short, repeat the process.

What do you do if your yoga pants are too long?

If your yoga pants are too long, you can cut them and hem them with a sewing machine. Let's look at how to do this.

  • Measuring tape
  • Sewing pins
  • Ruler
  • A sewing machine
  • Thread
  • Chalk

1. Take out the original hem

Use your seam ripper to remove the original seam from the pants. This is the stitched area on the bottom of the pants leg. It's easier to flip the pants inside out and start at the end of the sem.

Find more details about this seam ripper on Amazon.

2. Cut, fold and pin the pants

Next, while the pants are still turned inside out, cut them to the desired length, leaving 1 to 2 inches for the hem. Then, fold each pant leg up to create the hem. Start with the raw edge of the opening on the bottom of the pants and folded up about half an inch. Use the sewing pins to hold the folds in place.

3. Sew the hem

Finally, with the pins still near the hem, sew a medium-length stitch line around the opening of the pants leg. Make sure that it's about an inch away from the top of the hem. You can also remove the pins if it makes it easier. Afterward, try on the pants to inspect the new length. If they are still too long, undo the current stitching with your seam ripper and repeat the process. Be sure to measure the new cuts while you're still wearing the pants to ensure more accuracy with the cut.

Check out this thread set on Amazon.

How do you take in yoga pants?

You can take in your yoga pants using a sewing machine or re-threading them by hand. Let's look at how to do this.

1. Try them on

First, try on the pants to determine how much fabric needs to be taken away. It helps to squeeze the pants at the waist or the top of the thighs. While doing this, take your measuring tape and measure slack on the pants to how many inches need to be removed. It's also helpful to use a marker to mark the areas where the cuts will need to be made.

Find this measuring tape on Amazon.

2. Add pins

Next, take the pants off and add pins to the marked areas where the pants will be cut. This will typically be the inner thigh area along the inside hem of the pants or the hem along the waistline.

3. Cut the pants

Take your scissors and cut out any excess fabric from the pants. Use the marks and pins as a guide, and be careful not to cut over the pins.

4. Sew the pants

Now add pins to the areas that you've just cut so that they will stay together while you add new stitching. Then, use a thread and needle or a sewing machine to stitch the new fabrics together. Make sure to place the new stitching at least 1/4 of an inch away from the edge.

5. Try them on

Finally, try on the new pants to test the fit. If they're still too big, remove the stitching and repeat the steps.

Wrapping Things Up

We hope that this post has helped you understand the steps needed to cut and add length to yoga pants. The most important thing to remember when altering the pants to take accurate measurements to ensure the correct fit.

Before you go, be sure to check out our other posts:

How To Clean Yoga Pants

How Tight Should Yoga Pants Be?

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