10 Easy Steps To Custom Fit The Waist Of Pants! How to alter the waist of pants.
75Most garment manufacturing companies seem to think that waist sizes of pants jump 2 inches at a time. So if you’re an in-between size you either have to wear your pants too loose (and you wouldn’t think of wearing your pants too tight, now would you) or get a tailor or seamstress to take them in. Right? Well there is another option that might be more in-line with the economy as it is and the clothing budgets shrinking. Learn how to take in or let out the waist of your dress pants yourself.
Seriously taking in or letting out a pair of dress pants is not hard and will take no more then 30-40 minutes.
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First off you need to check if there is extra fabric in the back of the pants. Most men's trousers are designed so that they can be adjusted at the center back seam. You can easily take in or let out up to2inches/5 centimeters without affecting the fit of the pants elsewhere.(Unfortunately this method of letting out pants will mainly work for men's dress pants as only about 10% of ladies slacks have this type of sewing style and seam allowances left in the back of pants and in waist bands. Also most Docker style sport pants for men and naturally jeans do not have extra fabric because they’re sewn with flat French seams. To be honest this has been one of my pet peeves forever and a day.)
Equipment needed!
You will need straight pins, dress makers chalk, either asmall pair of scissors or a seam ripper, matching color thread, your sewingmachine, iron and ironing cloth.
The job of taking in and letting out is the same. It isalways easier to take in then to let out mainly because then there is no dangerof the pants showing seam marks. If you’ve outgrown your favorite pants (Imeant to say that the pants have shrunk… nudge-nudge-wink-wink) you just needto be really careful when pulling out the old seam.
- If there is a belt loop over the centre seam on the waistband you need to remove it carefully using the small nail scissors or seam ripper.
- You need to try on your pants and have someone pin them in for you to where they feel just right. Measure how much you would like to take in and mark it with your dress maker’s chalk.
- Remove the stitching that holds down the inside facing of the waistband about 5-6 inches/ 12.5-15centimeters on each side of the centre seam.
- If the amount you need to take in is mainly in the waist and you need all there is in the seat then you will need to make a short seam adjustment only careful not to swoop in too fast. But if you have excess in the butt too then you can sew in the seam more gradually all the way down to the crotch. Using you tailors chalk mark a sewing line on the inside of the pants.
- Place a pin joining the waistband sewing line carefully so that it doesn’t slip apart when you’re sewing. Pin the remainder of the seam. From the edge of the waistband facing right through to where you need to sew.
- Sew along your marked line taking out the pins as you go.
- Try on the pants and if they feel right go over the seam line two more times to give it a good and solid seam. Safe from blow-outs.
8. Remove the old sewing line and press the seam open and flat from the inside of the pants using your damp ironing cloth.
9. Re-sew the waistband facing stitching in the ditch (The line where the waistband and the pants meet).
10. Re-attach your belt loop.
Done… That wasn’t so hard now, was it?
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CommentsLoading...
How can I adjust a pair of shorts, that ride down in the back?
Anna141, thank you for taking a look and for commenting.
Taking in the hips etc and keeping the rise of the pants the same is a whole other kettle of fish. When I have a chance I will put a hub together on that process too.
regards Zsuzsy
Great article! You might want to add that if the sewer is wanting to decrease the hip area as well as the waist that taking up the crotch has the effect of increasing the rise and decreasing the inseam. I made that mistake on one of my husband's pants -- not a good look. :-)
Seventw, nope absolutely nothing... not if you want it not be obvious that you have made the pants bigger...
regards Zsuzsy
Is there anything you can do if your pants do not have the extra fabric on theme?
Michigoose, I'm not quite sure how to cure the 'non-beauty' of the inside of you lining. Maybe slip stitch the lining down. Good luck
regards Zsuzsy
Thanks! Any tips for lined dress pants? I have a pair from Banana Republic that fit in the hips but not the waist so I couldn't go down a size. I managed to take them in about an inch and put them back together okay so they look fine when I have them on, but they're not beautiful on the inside anymore. Banana Republic gets so fancy with their linings!
:-) I'm afraid the dry cleaner who also does alterations is going to laugh at me when I take them in for cleaning. :-)
Dolores, possibly the fabric is worn where the old seam was. Chances are that after a couple of washes the seam line will fade a bit but unfortunately once damage was done to the fabric there is not too much you can do...
The instructions were great, but one problem; I am unable to get the seam line marks out. Used the press cloth on the inside but it won't come out. Is there anything else to do?
Awesome Kristie, good for you. The more you do the easier they're going be.
congrats
zs
thanks!! the pair i did last night turned out pretty well!!!
As long as you make small little stitches it should hold up well enough.
good luck
kindest regards Zsuzsy
i dont own a sewing machine. can i sew it back up by hand??? or will it look funny? its just my husbands pants i may try it!! lol
ritazruby, thank you for taking a look and for commenting.
kindest regards Zsuzsy
Wow! this hub has solved a lot of troubles for me. I had pretty pants I always regreted buying but now I actually can wear them. Thanks ZsuZsy
dl53acy thank you for taking a look and for commenting.
regards Zsuzsy
Great tips only I don't own a sewing machine but I've done a lot of handsewing before and I have taken in some old jeans or slacks (basic everyday wear) by hand before, especially when you don't have the money for a seamstress for those little simple projects. It may take a while by hand versus a sewing machine but I just keep looping within the stitch made before a few times until I kinda get the sewing machine effect. Enjoyed this hub now I know who to ask when I into one of those sewing dilemmas so I've become a fan and please, feel free to visit my sight if you like short story mysteries and hopefully you'll be entertained I sure would appreciate your input & maybe you'll become a fan.
Pollyannalana always glad when you drop in for a visit. I would try the shrinking too if I were you as taking in jeans can get a bit tricky especially if they're lined.
Good luck
regards Zsuzsy
Wow girl this is just what I needed. I bought my husband a brand new pair of jeans-felt lined with $49.99 price tag I got for one or two dollars at yard sale..my Mom could do all these things so I thought to try, knowing they were slightly big but all I do is look at them and think, lol, and Mom has Alzheimer's. Thank you so much and I better get on it while there's snow out there! Hey I may start out with the trying to shrink first tho, that had occurred to me but I should be so lucky.
Yes samsmith if you follow my instructions anyone can do it. Good luck
regards Zsuzsy
Hello,
This is a really good piece of information for everyone. But are you sure that even a non experienced person can also do this at home?
Leslie if your fabric doesn't want to co-operate and shifts try either lowering your pressure feederdogs or (this usually works) run two lines of short basting stitches about 1/4 inches apart...1/8 either side of where the seam line has to sit. Then sew your seam right in the center between the two baste lines. This will hold the fabric firmly in place and shouldn't shift much.
Hope this helps
kindest regards Zsuzsy
Good instructions, thats what I thought, but I've redone ONE pair of pants many times and am not getting a good result. Maybe I need to use more pins? The fabric seems to shift or something and when it is resewn and I sorta fold it all back together (inside facing, etc) - it just doesn't look right. Any help most appreciated! (funtobewithlp@yahoo.com) Thanks!!!
E.A.Wright, thanks for taking a look and for commenting. Believe me it is not a hard job. Once you have done one pair it will only get easier.
regards Zsuzsy
Great instructions. This seems like something I could do. Thanks!
Great thanks!
Chris, I will try to make a few pictures next pair I need to let out or in.
regards Zsuzsy
Can you post pictures to accompany the instructions?
Thanks gifted Granma
Nice instructions...
2Patricias! Thanks for taking a look and I promise it is as easy as 1 to 10. My girlfriend used to do the same as you, she would hunt around for a pant style from one company then keep on buying the same pants over and over in every color possible for each season. I say it is less hassle to just take them in but...
Kindest regards Zsuzsy
Good, clear instructions - thanks.
I have often wondered why waist bands go up in 2" gradiations - when people certainly don't. I hate sewing, so usually just keep trying on trousers until I find some that fit. When I come across a pair that truly fits, I often buy 2 colours.
Then I have to try hard to remain the same weight....
Isabella my dear it really isn't hard... it just takes practice.
I'm always glad when you come for a visit. Hope you're well. Sorry about the delay in answering your comment. I was away from home with no internet connection.
greetings from a almost spring like Canada.
kindest regards Zsuzsy
Zuz, I wish you could teach me how to do this....!!!
C.S. Thanks for taking a look and for commenting. Actually it really is not hard especially men's pants. I will add some pictures to the hub soon as I have a few pair to fix.
Always glad when you pop in for a visit. regards Zsuzsy
Zsuzsy Bee,
I would think this takes a certain amount of sewing knowledge to achieve great results. I take all clothes to a local shop. She does a good business out of her home. I like to sew but as with most things I lost my machine in the flood.
This article directions are good for someone who wants to give it a go, thumbs up!
Always glad when you come for a visit. Thanks for commenting. Take care
regards Zsuzsy
Great tips. However, I can't sew worth a darn (ha ha no pun intended :)
You're quite welcome Michelle I hope it will help your friend.
Hope you're well regards Zsuzsy
I have a friend who has always this kind of a problem. The hips part fit but the waist doesn't. So she often has to repair it. :-) I will email this to her. Thanks Zsuzsy for the helpful tip. :-)
CGull! I know what you're saying. I've dealt with men as customers for many years and most of you seem to think if the pants stay up then they're good enough. But I can guarantee that if you find a pair of pants that really fit just perfect you will not want to wear any other type anymore. Thanks for coming for a visit.
Kindest regards Zsuzsy
Marisa! How are you? Always glad when you pop in for a visit.
That is the problem with pant companies not cutting women's pants the same way as they do mens. I will make a couple photographs in the next couple of days of the waistband and add them to this hub. If you have a chance check them out.
thanks for taking a look and for commenting.
regards Zsuzsy
For guys, it is different, we accept anything, but would love to have a good fit in pants.
Thanks for this Zsuzsy! I had worked this out on my own to some extent - I have a sway back so it's the obvious place for me to take in pants. I only do it with no-waistband pants, though, because I can never work out how to get the waistband back together again afterwards - I always seem to end up with a wodge of material that won't sit right.
Zsuzsy Bee Hub Author 6 months ago
Carol, it's hard to tell without seeing the shorts but most likely the rise is too short for you. The right way to lengthen the rise would be to take the seat seam apart and recut which is a bit of a job BUT (there is that little word again) but you can cheat a little and lower the curved part of the seat seam...
by 'curved part' of the seat seam I mean start to sew starting from nothing (stay on the seam) from just under the zipper to about the same height at the back about half an inch into the legs... no more than 3/4 of an inch though, this will shorten the legs of the shorts a bit but will give you some extra into the rise. This also works the other way if you need to shorten the rise of pants and there is a seam allowance worth your while...
I can't promise to have a hub with 'how to pictures' for you within the next couple of weeks as I'm still recouping from eye problems but I will put one together starting in the new year.
Hope this helps
regards Suzanne