Testing Out a Quick Hack for Jeans That Are Too Big

Tools and materials:

• 1/4 inch wide elastic
• 2 large safety pins
• Scissors
• Polyester thread
• Strong hand-sewing needle

1. Try the jeans on

I tried the jeans on. The front was slightly loose but the main problem was at the back.

I didn't want to remove the waistband or do any major sewing or alterations, so I decided to use elastic.

2. Undo the button and the zipper and lay the pants as flat as possible

Pull the waistband fabric apart directly under one of the back belt loops and make a small slit in the inside layer with the tips of your scissors.

Make a similar cut under the other back belt loop.

3. Attach a safety pin to one end of the elastic

Feed the safety pin into one of the cuts and work it through the waistband, taking the elastic with it.

4. Attach second safety pin

When the safety pin is clear of the second slit, attach the second safety pin to the elastic near to the entry point and cut the elastic.

5. Pull on both ends of the elastic to gather the back of the pants

When you think the jeans waist is about the right size, try them on to confirm the final fit.

6. Pin the safety pins to the jeans and even out the gathers

Double-thread a hand-sewing needle and sew the elastic to the jeans near the slits with a strong backstitch. 

When the elastic is secured, cut it off close to the slit and hand-sew the opening closed.

When I tried the jeans on, the front fitted me very well, exactly as I wanted.

However the back didn't look as good. I had tried to gather too much fabric into a small area and because of the thickness of the denim, it had bunched up.

What I should have done was put darts around the waist instead. However if you want to use the elastic method, I'd suggest snipping the waistband under the front belt loops instead of the back. T

hat way, the excess fabric will be more evenly distributed around the waist and not concentrated in one small area. 

Jeans too big hack

I hope this project helped you understand how to fix jeans that are too big around the waist. For me, it was a learning experience. Please share in the comments below what you think of my attempt.