decreasing waist on ready-made slacks
valentinesday
| Posted in General Discussion on
Hi everyone, and Happy New Year! I’m writing for advice on how to decrease the waist (by 1/2 inch or so) on purchased slacks and jeans. Even petite slacks end up hanging too low in the crotch (I wear a size 8) as the waists are a bit too big for me. The slacks I buy don’t usually have a waist band, they do have a side zipper. The techniques may be different for jeans, as the denim fabric is thicker and there are more layers with a waist band. Thank you!
Replies
Half an inch doesn't seem worth the time it takes for the alterations.
For jeans, I open the inside of the waist band and insert elastic. Zig-zag over the ends, through the entire waistband. The thread disappears into the denim.
For the faced waist, open and make darts 1/8" larger - that's 1/4" each dart; 1/2" for two darts, put back together.
To alter a "baggy" crotch, increase the inseam, gradually from the knee through the crotch.
Edited 1/4/2009 6:17 pm ET by spicegirl1
I have a feeling you need more than just a half inch or you wouldn't be writing. You could try pinching out a little of the waistband using a safety pin to hold it. Take out just a little at a time spacing it equally around the waistband until you think the waist is small enough.I did this with my kids when they were growing up as I didn't want to cut anything. I would evenly space these pinched out areas and just sew them so the seam was on the inside and you could hardly tell any altering was done. (Take out the safety pin before you sew)
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