How to Take in the Waist of Jeans with Elastic
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Learn how to take in the waist of jeans with elastic for a quick and simple fix. This alteration is great for getting the waistband of jeans to fit!
Do you ever get a great pair of jeans that fit everywhere except for your waist? Whenever you bend over your waistband gaps a lot in the back. Especially with stretch denim jeans.
How frustrating! This is a common fit alteration and with elastic its really easy!
It’s always hard to find ready to wear clothing that fits perfectly. We all have perfect non-average bodies that need special fitting.
This technique does not work for pants that are multiple sizes too big for you. This isn’t about taking larger clothing and making it fit you, but it is about taking a pair of pants that almost fits except for the waist.
Do you want to learn how to alter? Try some of these great tutorials:
- How to take in the waist of pants
- How to cinch a dress waist with elastic
- How to alter jeans
- Sewing and alterations you can do yourself
How to Take in the Waist of Jeans with Elastic
Supplies
- Jeans that fit everywhere except for the waistband
- 1 inch elastic
- Sewing tools
- Sewing machine
Measuring
Put the jeans on. Pinch the center back of the waist to pinch in excess. Measure from the right back belt loop to the left back belt loop.
Minus 1 inch from the measurement. Use that measurement to cut a piece of 1 inch elastic.
Prep Waistband
Check for any tags that have been sewn through both layers of the waistband and remove. You’re going to place the elastic through the back of the waistband like a casing so there can’t be any stitches in the way.
Behind the right back belt loop use a seam ripper to cut a hole through the inside waistband only. Leave a 1/4 gap above and below the hole. DO NOT cut throught the outer waistband.
Cut a similar hole behind the left back belt loop.
Insert Elastic
Attach a safety pin to the end of the elastic. Insert the safety pin and elastic in the waistband and start pulling in through.
When the other side of the elastic gets to the hole pin it to the waistband with 1/2 inch coming out of the hole. This will be right behind the belt loop.
Finish pulling the elastic through the waistband until you pull it out of the other hole. Pin it to the waistband behind the belt loop just like the other side.
Using thread that matches the jeans, sew a zigzag stitch up and down the end of the elastic a couple of times. You’ll need to keep the belt loop out of the way as you sew.
Do the same to the other end of the elastic.
My zigzag stitch is on the elastic and on the edge of the hole.
From the outside there will be a little bit of stitches, but if you get the right color they stitches will blend right in!
When you look at the pants the waistband will be a little bunched up across the back. Don’t worry, it’ll smooth out when you are wearing it.
Put the jeans on and feel how the waistband is cinched in by the elastic, but it sits smoothly across your back.
If you make something using this sewing project, I’d love to see! Please share it on social media with the hashtag #heatherhandmade and tag me!
I believe small sewing moments can create great joy. Find your own “right” way to sew. -Heather
Thank you, just what I needed being pear shaped it is soooo hard to get jeans to fit at the waist.
This is a great idea. I used it on jeans that had no belt loops. I measured from 1/2” inside the side seam. I also burned the ends of the elastic, so that it would not fray. Great results.
This is a great idea! I love that you made it work for you!
The elastic looks much smaller than only 1″ from measurement. Maybe 5-6″ smaller than measurement from one side belt loop to the other side belt loop
Thank you, will give this a go! 🙂
This is a great idea! I tried it the other day on jeans that were too big in the waist, and it worked perfectly! Quick and easy. Thank you!
Yay! I’m so glad it worked out!
This worked great for me! Thank you so much for finding a simple solution to a very annoying problem!
i would love to see how to downsize jeans waist with elastic!
I have been using this method for a number of years. First saw it in a pair of toddler’s pants. So glad to see others using it. Thanks for spreading the word.
Thanks so much for this great information! I can do the same on my other pants.