Do you own a pair of jeans that are a little snug through the waist? Me too! Worry not, my friends, because today I’m going to show you How to Let Out a Waistband on Jeans.
This is so easy I almost feel like it doesn’t need any words because photos will do the trick. While this method isn’t polished, it is very effective. And, it only takes a few minutes.
I don’t know about you, but unpicking a million stitches, adding a new waistband, etc. just doesn’t work for me. This way of altering a waistband {while unpolished} is very effective, allows you to keep wearing a favorite pair of jeans, and will save you a few dollars.
Step 1:
I measured my waist to determine exactly how much additional fabric I needed. In this case it was a little under 2″ – which means approximately 1″ at each side seam.
At the side seams I cut down to the bottom of the back yoke. I did this because pants that are snug in the waist (on me) are usually a little snug through he tummy, too.
Step 2:
These were pants I had previously made, so I had matching fabric on hand. However, if you are altering a pair of jeans you own, pop into your local fabric store and pick up a small piece of denim to use as your expansion fabric.
Fold the denim in half and be sure it is long enough to fill the opening.
Step 3:
I used a water soluble fabric marker, but any fabric marker would work. Mark the opening onto the expansion fabric. Repeat on the other side.
Step 4:
Cut down the size of the expansion fabric and finish the raw edges. I used my serger, but folding it under and top stitching works, too. What you want are clean edges. Make one of these for each side of your jeans.
Step 5:
Your marking lines should still be visible. Line up the side seam opening with expansion fabric markings. Pin in place to hold.
Step 6:
Zigzag stitch the two pieces of fabric together. I increased the width of my zigzag and lowered the stitch number. It’s almost like an appliqué stitch ~ very dense. Repeat on the other side.
Step 7:
That’s all there is to it. How easy is that. I wear these jeans (actually capris) with a loose peasant-style top, so the side seam expansion never shows.
This is a very fast alteration that almost anyone can accomplish. There are ways to make the expansion a little more fancy, but I thought I’d show you a quick way to Let Out the Waistband on a pair of jeans that may otherwise have been sent to the thrift shop.
One word of caution, it is easy to ‘over-size’ your waist here. When your expansion pieces are pinned in place, it is a good idea to machine baste them and then wear the pants for a few minutes. You wouldn’t want to have to rip this out those zigzag stitches because the waist is now too big.
Mari says
March 23, 2015 at 9:05 amPerfect timing – this applies to everything I own at the moment!!!!!
Winnie says
March 23, 2015 at 9:28 amThat’s my kind of alteration! Why complicate things when it can be SO simple!?!?!?!?
Leslie says
March 23, 2015 at 2:31 pmI know! I love simple….
Kathleen S says
March 23, 2015 at 9:03 pmlove this…any way to fix too large in the waist pants. Thank you….
Nana says
March 15, 2016 at 5:18 pmSeldom do I have a waistband that is too big, but what worked for me was to cut a piece of 1 in. wide elastic by about 6-8 in. I sewed it to the inside of the back waistband (stretch as you sew it in…) worked like a charm!, and I am no longer tugging on my pants to keep them up!
Pamela Smith says
March 24, 2015 at 7:08 pmWhat a great idea! I hate when pants are a little too tight, but you love the pants! I will pin this for future reference (which I am sure I will use!). I am visiting from Hit Me With Your Best Shot today.
Diane says
April 21, 2015 at 5:10 pmGenius! I have several pairs of pants and at least two skirts that this will work on. I love them except for the fact that the waistbands are just too tight! Thank you so much for your great and easy-to-follow instructions and please keep posting similar sewing solutions–they are sooo helpful!
Nikki says
September 21, 2015 at 10:55 pmThanks for the tip!
I just used a similar technique to allow a fuller bustline on a vintage dress.
I first removed the sleeves (to make dress sleeveless), which also gave me the extra fabric I needed to work with for the wedges and also to finish the now sleeveless dress around the arm holes. Because I was fitting the new fabric to the existing side seams to expand the bust, I could use a nice tight straight stitch instead of a zig zag. Looks great and was very easy.
Paula says
September 29, 2015 at 8:22 pmI add a piece in my jeans waistband in a similar way, then I remove a back pocket from a matching color thrifted pair of jeans and stitch the pocket over the piece I added. The pocket looks like a design feature on the jeans.
betty says
November 3, 2015 at 8:37 pmomg I would Never do that lol too much of a perfectionist… If I could match the fabric extremetly close… I’d take the band loose from the front of the sides, all the way thru the back… let out each seam at the top amap… then add an inch or so into the center of the back seam…(hopefully so it would be hidden by a belt loop.) stitch it all back together… and try to make it look like it was made that way
Patti says
March 3, 2016 at 11:07 amYES YES YES, the pair of jeans in my closet that look fab on me has a slightly too-tight waistband which keeps me from wearing the jeans… ever. Today, I am fixing that with your tutorial, nice job.
Jessy Phillips says
May 28, 2016 at 6:19 pmLove this idea. I’ll definitely use it. Thanks
Jennifer says
June 24, 2016 at 4:17 amLove this tutorial, the best I’ve seen, soo simple, easy and guick. Thank you for sharing, no need to throw out
the tight stuff, just alter.
Cass H says
July 10, 2016 at 7:11 amAmazing tutorial. Nice and simple. I’m going to try this out today. Thanks! 🙂
Jackie S. says
July 27, 2016 at 3:38 pmI have been looking for a tutorial like this for quite a while. I am not a seamstress, just know basics when it comes to sewing. This is the easiest, most clear and simplest instructions on how to make a waistband “roomier”. I just finished doing this on a pair of cropped pants that since I purchased them, fit perfect except for the waistband. Now they are more perfect!!!! Thank you for posting this tutorial.
Carla says
September 30, 2016 at 3:31 amThis is such a good idea. Thank you for this 🙂
Grace says
October 20, 2016 at 6:17 amGood idea ,I will try this,looks easy enough to do.Thank you,
Ruth Fletcher says
December 1, 2016 at 11:00 pmGreat pictures and easy to follow instructions. Thank you for sharing.
Judith Lugg says
December 29, 2016 at 4:42 amThis is an EXCELLENT and very fast way to allow a little more room into a waistband and hip area without the effort of rejigging ALL of the waist.
Thanks – GREAT TIP
LORRAINE says
January 15, 2017 at 7:54 pmThank you, thank you. I’ve been keeping my jeans forever, trying to figure how I could stretch the stomach area. The stomach area never goes away WITHOUT surgery. And not knowing much about sewing, this is so easy to do.
Virginia says
February 9, 2017 at 10:13 pmThank you for this post, I made a little pair of ruffled pants that are a couple inches too small, this technique will work perfectly!
jackie libby says
April 18, 2017 at 9:25 pmI like the way that was done, but how can I peice in an inset without it showing on the outside?
Leslie says
April 19, 2017 at 8:35 amThis technique is meant to be a quick fix – and covered with a shirt or belt. The other option involves removing the waistband.
Patricia Manning says
April 24, 2017 at 12:20 pmI buy new jeans from thrift stores…I don’t try them on at the store and the size on the jeans are smaller than they say so to save the money…this was a great go to place!!! Thank you for your support!!
Awilda Roman says
May 2, 2017 at 9:42 amI need to make an elastic waist larger. Is there a post for that? Thank you.
Leslie says
May 2, 2017 at 10:26 amAt this time this is the only one I offer.
Meg says
May 14, 2017 at 2:05 amThanks for this great tutorial! I bought a nice pair of capris at a thrift store. The waist was a bit snug, so I used 3″ wide elastic as the insert instead of matching fabric. Now they fit perfectly. I’m a fairly inexperienced seamstress and I was able to do this in less than an hour (had some bobbin issues with my 1960’s era sewing machine, or it would have gone faster).
Sonia says
May 16, 2017 at 6:57 amThankyou so much for sharing.. I have just applied this method to a pair of pull on jeans , am so pleased with the result.
Marie says
December 7, 2017 at 7:11 amWow, wow. So simple. My weight goes up and Dow like a yoyo. Thank you for sharing.
Lucy says
December 9, 2017 at 1:37 pmWow, thank you! This is the best tutorial I have found on this topic. You are so right – your beautifully clear pictures show the process so much better than words could. I now have a clear idea of what I need to do and it really is an easy way to extend the life of trousers (or adjust my horrible but compulsory work uniform!)
Jaime Haney says
May 1, 2018 at 9:16 amI think this is the best and easiest way I’ve seen so far on Pinterest! Thank you for sharing it! No more rubber band trick. 😉
T says
October 26, 2018 at 8:05 pmThank you. You’ve given me courage to do this
Crystal Tong says
December 12, 2018 at 7:19 pmThanks for the tutorial Leslie! I have a question. Is it possible to just make one snip at the waist into a V in the back middle of pants and just wear them like that? Some pants use to have designs that way I thought
Leslie says
December 13, 2018 at 7:28 amSure. But usually pants are higher in the back and that could cause them to gap. I’d test on a pair you don’t love.