The three ways to shorten a sweater, and which one works for your situation
You can shorten a knit sweater by cutting and reknitting the hem, by unraveling from the bottom and reknitting fewer rows, or by folding and stitching a new hem inside. The method that works depends on whether you want to preserve the original hem, how much length you need to remove, and whether you have the yarn to match. Cutting requires the most skill but gives the cleanest result. Unraveling is fastest if you only need to remove an inch or two. Folding works on any sweater but creates a visible double layer at the bottom.
Most people choose unraveling because it avoids the risk of cutting through your sweater and wastes no yarn. It takes two to four hours for a standard adult sweater, depending on how many stitches are in the width and how many rows you need to remove.
Key Takeaways
- Unraveling from the bottom is the safest method for most sweaters and requires only a crochet hook and patience, not matching yarn.
- Cutting and reknitting gives a professional finish but demands that you have enough of the original yarn and can pick up stitches cleanly.
- Folding the hem and stitching it inside works on any sweater and takes the least time, but creates a visible ridge on the inside.
- Measure how much length you actually need to remove by trying the sweater on and pinching the fabric at the desired new hem line.
- Test your chosen method on a swatch or an old sweater first if you have never done it before.
Unraveling the hem: the safest route for most sweaters
To unravel, you cut a single stitch at the bottom edge of the sweater, pull the yarn, and watch the rows come undone. Start by laying the sweater flat on a table. Locate the bottom edge and find one stitch in the row you want to remove. Using small scissors or a seam ripper, cut that one stitch only — do not cut the fabric itself, just the yarn loop. Pull gently and the entire row will unravel.
Continue pulling until you have removed all the rows you need. Count as you go: if you need to remove 2 inches and your gauge is 5 rows per inch, you need to pull out 10 rows. Once you reach the row where you want the new hem to be, find the live stitches (the loops still on the sweater) by threading a needle through them or placing them on a circular needle. This prevents them from unraveling further.
Now you reknit the hem. Using the same yarn and needles, pick up the live stitches and knit in stockinette stitch (or whatever stitch pattern the original hem used) until the new hem is the length you want. Bind off and weave in the ends. This method works on any sweater and does not require matching yarn because you are using the original yarn from the sweater itself.
Cutting and reknitting: the professional finish
This method involves cutting the sweater horizontally at the point where you want the new hem to start. Lay the sweater flat, measure up from the bottom edge to your desired new length, and mark a line with tailor's chalk or a fabric pen. Cut straight across on that line, cutting through both the front and back layers if the sweater is folded.
After cutting, you will have a raw edge with live stitches exposed. Using a crochet hook or a needle, pick up each stitch along the cut edge. This is the hardest part: if you miss a stitch or pick up unevenly, the new hem will be wavy. Work slowly and count your stitches as you go. Once all stitches are secured on a needle, knit the new hem as you would in the unraveling method.
The advantage of cutting is that you can remove a large amount of length (4 inches or more) without unraveling the entire sweater. The disadvantage is that you must have enough of the original yarn to knit a new hem, and you risk a visible line where you cut if your tension is uneven. This method is best for sweaters where the original hem is damaged or you want a completely different hem style.
Folding and stitching: the quickest method
Fold the bottom of the sweater up to the length you want, pin it in place, and stitch it down from the inside using a ladder stitch or whip stitch. This method takes 30 minutes to an hour and requires no unraveling or reknitting. You do not need matching yarn — you only need thread that matches the sweater color.
The drawback is that you create a double layer of fabric at the bottom, which is visible from the inside and can feel bulky. If the sweater is fitted or the hem is already thick, this extra bulk may be noticeable when you wear it. Folding works best on loose-fitting sweaters or when you only need to remove 1 to 2 inches.
Measuring and marking before you start
Put on the sweater and have someone measure from the bottom edge to where you want the new hem to end. Mark that spot with a pin or a piece of tape. Take off the sweater and lay it flat. Measure from the bottom edge to your mark and write down the number. This is how much length you need to remove.
If no one is available to help, put on the sweater in front of a mirror, pinch the fabric at the desired new length, and measure from the pinch to the hem. Subtract that number from the current length to find how much to remove. Always measure twice: a mistake here means you shorten the sweater too much or too little.
What you need for each method
| Method | Tools needed | Yarn needed | Time | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unraveling | Crochet hook, scissors, circular needle or yarn needle | None — you use the yarn you pull out | 2–4 hours | Intermediate |
| Cutting and reknitting | Scissors, crochet hook, knitting needles, yarn needle | Enough of the original yarn to knit a new hem | 3–5 hours | Advanced |
| Folding and stitching | Needle, thread, pins | None | 30 minutes–1 hour | Beginner |
Common mistakes and how to avoid them
The most common mistake is cutting too much length at once. Remove length in small increments — 1 inch at a time — and try the sweater on between each removal. Once you cut, you cannot put the length back. The second mistake is unraveling too fast and losing track of your rows. Count out loud as you pull, or place a stitch marker every 5 rows so you know where you are.
A third mistake is picking up stitches unevenly after cutting. If you pick up 48 stitches in one section and 50 in another, your new hem will be wavy. Use a crochet hook to pick up each stitch one at a time, and count as you go. If you notice you have picked up the wrong number, pull out and start again — it is faster than fixing a wavy hem later.
Finally, do not assume your gauge will be the same as the original sweater. If you knit tighter or looser than the original knitter, your new hem may be a different width than the old one. Knit a small swatch in the same stitch pattern and measure it to check your gauge before you commit to the full hem.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I shorten a sweater if I do not know how to knit?
Yes. Use the folding and stitching method, which requires only basic sewing skills. You can also take the sweater to a tailor or a dry cleaner — many offer hem shortening for $20 to $50, depending on the sweater weight and how much length you need to remove.
What if I do not have the original yarn?
Use the folding and stitching method instead of cutting and reknitting. If you want to unravel and reknit, you can substitute a yarn of the same weight and fiber content, though the color or texture may not match perfectly. Test the substitute yarn on a swatch first to make sure it knits to the same gauge.
How do I know if my sweater is too fragile to shorten?
Very old sweaters, delicate yarns like mohair or lace-weight, and sweaters with a loose or damaged fabric should be taken to a professional. If the yarn breaks when you pull it gently, or if the fabric tears easily, do not attempt to unravel or cut it yourself.
Can I shorten a sweater that has ribbing at the hem?
Yes, but it is more work. If you unravel, you must reknit the ribbing pattern, not stockinette. If you fold and stitch, the ribbing will still be visible on the inside and may feel bulky. Cutting and reknitting ribbing is the cleanest method, but also the most difficult because ribbing stitches are tight and straightforward to miss.
What happens if I remove too much length?
You cannot undo a cut, so the sweater will be permanently shorter. If you unraveled too much, you can knit more rows back on. If you folded and stitched, you can carefully cut the stitches and unfold the hem, though this may leave marks. Always remove length in small amounts and try the sweater on between each removal.