I have some new designer jeans that need to be tailored but I also have some older jeans that I never got tailored and now have frayed bottoms. Other than the frayed bottoms, the jeans are in great condition and I want to keep them, can I ask a tailor to just hem the jeans right above where the fraying begins? Is there a better way to do this? Do they require a certain height or clearance per sé in order to be able to hem the jeans? I just want to make sure that if I ask for my frayed jeans to be hemmed that they don't return with too much taken off and unwearable.

Of course - you're paying the tailor. Ask that they be measured ON YOU and marked ON THE REVERSE SIDE WITH PERMANENT INK so you can be positive that they are shortened to the length you want.

They are professionals. The measure it with you in the pants with shoes on. I get my done all the time and it's cheap. You could do it yourself with double sided tape that you can get from the fabric store.

Step 1

Purchase or use an old pair of jeans for practice. Sketch a finished picture of the jeans you want to tailor. Measure the areas of the jeans to be taken in or shortened.
Step 2

Use a flexible tape measure to measure the lengths and sizes of a pair of jeans, shorts or trousers that fits well. Put the measuring tape taut and measure the jeans when they are laying flat on a table. Jot down the measurements for the waistband, widest area of the hips, inseam and front rise (crotch to waistband).
Step 3

Make the necessary cuts. To shorten jeans cut off the cuff so that it remains intact. Remove the extra length and then sew the cuff back on. Keep the seam very close to the edge of the cuff so you can't tell they were altered.
Step 4

Use a seam ripper to take apart the sides of the jeans to take the legs in. Sew them back up with a wider seam allowance. Cut the waistband at the side and re-stitch to the desired fit.
Step 5

Sew on fringe, trim or patches. Add grommets, studs or crystals if you want to embellish your jeans. Stitch the inside pockets down along the pocket opening if the pockets poke out.

Unless you have an industrial sewing machine this is going to look very, very makeshift.

When jeans are well over $100 a pair, why would you do your own tailoring?

You can get your jeans done via a professional custom tailor who is expert in jeans and custom shirts.