This tutorial is to help those who unintentionally show off their bums. You will be shown how to insert an elastic band inside the waist band of jeans/pants to close that space down!
You need:
1 pair of pants that just don’t fit, show off your bums, or are sticking 2″ off of your back.
*If there are any labels sewn to the waist that would block the elastic i just snip the stitching and take those off.
1″ elastic band 16″ long (you will be cutting this to size later)
Instructions:
You will be making slits on EACH SIDE of the waist for the elastic.
Holding the waist with both hands at the sides, pull apart the band. Snip the inside of the waist —DON’T cut through to the other side!!! ONLY cut the inside. Make a VERTICLE cut 1 1/4″ long.
Repeat this for the left and right sides of the waist.
Measure the area between the cut slits. Then subtract 2″ from that number. CUT the elastic to this measurement.
You have a choice to make—-do you want to put a button on so it will adjust or no button?
If you are doing a button continue on. If you are not skip this step.
Adjustable elastic with button:
Make button holes at ONE end of the elastic. I do 2 or 3. After stitching them snip the inside so the button can go through it.
Sew a button to 1″ past the slit on ONE side. Make sure this is larger than the button holes as the elastic stretches just a bit.
Fold over the edge with button holes and put a large safety pin through it. Thread this through the slit on the opposite side of the button. STOP when the end is just poking out of the slit.
Use a zigzag stitch and stitch this down. Go over it at least twice to make sure it won’t ever move. Use a darker thread or coordinating one. You may also pull the elastic inside and stitch it down so it is invisible.
Keep feeding the elastic until it comes out the other side. Give it a good pull. Remove the safety pin, making sure you don’t let the elastic jump back into the hole. Button the elastic to the pants.
*If you didn’t make the elastic adjustable with the button holes then you need to sew it in place. You might want the wearer try it on to determine the best location. You can leave the elastic a little long and snip the stitches to adjust it later if needed.
This is what they should look like when the elastic is evenly stretched out. If you would like to keep the elastic from twisting you can sew a line down the center in the back.
This is my tutorial for the Sew mama sew Tutorial contest…go take a look at the rest. there are some great ones!!
I Love TheHIVE
Okay, so I’m just going to Old Navy or the Gap–I am way to LAZY!!! Those pants do work though. Have a good one.
GREAT idea!!!
I have a skinny minnie who’s in desperate need of this tutorial! I try to buy her only adjustable waist pants but some are just too cute to pass up, know I can fix them myself. Thanks!
I was just talking about doing this today at The Knitting Coven!! It’s a great idea, though I like to button hole stitch around the 2 openings to stop fraying!! Nice modelling!!!
Yippee! This is just what I need. Thank you!
Very cool idea. I have a half a dozen “brothers” who are going to find their pants very much altered next weekend when I go to visit them.
Now… the next step, what do you have to solve the underware baring baggy pant issue?
This is the best, most practical tutorial I have ever seen. Thank you thank you thank you for the inspired idea!!!
Best. Tutorial. Ever!
Thank you for sharing. I have 3 boys and although we do try and buy the pants with the adjustable waist band, sometimes they are just not available. This is a great way to fix that!!!!
Love this–I seriously have the gapping problem and thought I would never again find pants that fit! Thanks!
YOU ARE Brilliant!!! Thanks! I get hand me downs and such that do not have the adj. waist and I have tall slim kids. I LOVE THIS!
Oh, my goodness, this has to be the best and most-needed tutorial yet. I consider it a personal mission to lecture all those young ladies who have hiney exposure! My daughter is quite mortified with me, but I am compelled to explain the importance of nice-fitting pants to all. I will have to make copies of this tutorial and carry them with me for visuals on proper pant wearing! — Michele
Wow! Simple and usefull! Love this, thanks!
Greetings from germany,
Tanja
Brilliant. Just brilliant.
Thanks for sharing.
Just brilliant! Thank you for sharing.
I could see this working great on my toddlers pants, too! Thanks for sharing.
Great idea and I LOVED your title.
I want to post about your tutorial on my blog. Can I use your panty-exposing picture? — Michele
I don’t see your e-mail, so I have to contact you here again. Come over to my place and see my posting. Thanks for letting me put up your photos.– Michele
I had to do this exact thing for my daughter. I just bought buttonhole elastic and eliminated having to make the buttonhole myself. Laziness. Thanks for the tute!
Oh, this is fabulous! Thanks so much for sharing it. I know what I’m going to be doing this week!
You are awesome!! I have a stack of pants that I’ve been planning to adjust. And you’ve gone and done all the thinking for me!
What a great tutorial. My daughter and I both need this so badly. I was just today thinking of putting darts in her jeans but this idea is so much better. Thanks
No more builders crack, slot machine, eftpos… hehehe i sooooo needed this, what a fantastic idea, so simple!
Thank you! After years of living with gapitis or passing up otherwise great pants, I have a solution. Why didn’t I think of this? I’m so glad you did. I just tried it on a my favorite jeans and have been dancing around the house. Go hips, go!
Brilliant!! There's nothing I hate more than a gaping waistband!
I scheduled a post on Craft Gossip about your tutorial, scheduled to go live tomorrow: http://sewing.craftgossip.com/tutorial-fix-a-ga...
[...] Brenda from Whosies and Whatnots has a solution for that, and shares a tutorial on her blog, Patchwork Posse. She shows how to add a bit of elastic to the waistband to keep it snug against your skin. Go to [...]
That is great, especially for those of us with rounder booties! This happens to me all the time. Thanks for the tutorial
Fantastic solution! Many thanks!
Genious!
Thanks for sharing;}
it is a smart way to fix something sooo obnoxious!
thanks for stopping by! give it a try…it totally works too!
darn those round booties!!
it is a smart way to fix something sooo obnoxious!
thanks for stopping by! give it a try…it totally works too!
darn those round booties!!
Becky – I can not say thank you enough for this fantastic tutorial. I am curvy and have never had a pair of jeans fit just right. I’ve had it bookmarked for a while and finally got around to giving it a try. Amazing! You are brilliant!
I am so glad it works for you. nothing is more frustrating then having nothing that will work! glad that we are crafty woman who can figure things out for ourselves when the big stores can’t. enjoy.
I LOVE this idea – thank you (I have been making do with an elastic belt and I KNOW this would feel way more comfy and not slip the way the belt often does – also adore the adjustable button hole idea – plan to use the elastic they sell for maternity wear in case I fill out *grin*)
Great pictures too – detailed and helpful.
M.L.