Dec 27, 2013

No More Gap!


I don't know about everyone else, but I have a problem with jeans gaping at the back waistband.  They fit well everywhere, except at the waist.  So here's a quick fix...maybe 15 or 20 minutes tops!





No need to pick off the whole label, just the sides that are getting in the way.


This website has a great tutorial of an alternate way to do this if you don't want to cut the inside lining of the waistband.  I, however, didn't mind have a slit and would rather not have to do some topstitching that is required with the other method.




With one side of the elastic secured, put your jeans on and snug up the elastic to the proper fit.  Pin in place.  Trim off the excess elastic and zigzag the end like you did before.  Restitch any label.



A simple fix to a gaping problem!

I like to link to these great parties.


23 comments:

  1. I have the same problem with jeans (and other pants). Usually I stitch 2 darts in the back. Halfway at the left and halfway at the right, going through both waistband and fabric below the waistband. Ending just above the seam some 4 cm below the waistband. The most difficult part is to stitch them flat through all layers of fabric. Results in a perfect fitting :-).

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    1. Nelleke, I'm glad you found a way that works for you. I tried the darts one time, but as you said, had a hard time stitching through all the fabric. I also didn't care for the feel of the darts in the back, as they were bulky. Maybe if I would have cut the darts open in the back and laid them flat that would have been more comfortable. Thanks for sharing!

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  2. My waist is significantly smaller than my thighs/hips so I always have a gap (I prefer higher waisted pants). I've contemplated taking in the waistband but concluded that if I did it would be impossible to pull the pants on over my hips; this might just be the perfect solution for me! Thanks so much for posting!

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    1. Randi, I hope this solution works for you. I have to say that, when finished, the jeans are far more comfortable and don't feel like they are about to fall off all the time. No more hiking them up!

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  3. What a great idea! This always happens to me. Pants that fit in the leg/hip are always far too big at the waistline!

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  4. This is a great and quick fix, one that I've used for years. I've also done this to my kids clothes because they were always so thin and tall.

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    1. I have thin and tall kids also. I always look for the kids' pants that have the built-in adjustable elastic...best thing ever!

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  5. I am going to have to give that a try. Most of the jeans now are hip huggers and if they don't hug the hips they are panty showers or worse!

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  6. If you don't have a large gap to take in you can even avoid the unpicking the labels step and use the elastic in a smaller portion of the pants. Anything to eliminate extra labor ...

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  7. This is such an amazing idea - I have got to try that one day - I hate gaps too. Thanks for sharing with us on the Refashion Co-op.
    :-) Eddie

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  8. Such a simple solution, Susan and one I'm going to use.

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  9. that is a simple fix and I would not have thought of putting elastic in.

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  10. Thanks a lot for this tutorial! I had this problem with a pair of pants I recently bought at a thrift store, and when I saw your post I knew how to fix it! I wrote a blog post about it here: http://aterigen-aterbruk.blogspot.se/2014/01/byxor-som-passar.html (it's in Swedish but I thought it would be nice to show it to you anyway). Of course I linked to your tutorial and to your blog, which I find very inspiring!

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  11. Oh what a great idea, of course I'm still wearing maternity jeans (half a year after my kid has been born O_o) but will be needing this after I return to the regular person's wardrobe :)

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  12. Perfect! My tween daughter does not like to wear belts, so elastic is going in! Thank you for this awesome information!

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Thanks for taking the time to comment. I appreciate the feedback and always look forward to reading what you have to say! Susan