Make Too-Big Jeans Fit by Following These Easy Steps

7 Materials
2 Hours
Easy

There’s nothing like a pair of jeans that fits just right, properly hugging your waist. It’s not always easy to find that perfect fit, though, and sometimes you just have to take matters into your own hands. In this tutorial, I will show you how to easily take in jeans at the waist so that you have that perfect pair of jeans you’ve been looking for. So grab that too-big pair and follow along.

Tools and materials:

  • Jeans
  • Sewing pins
  • Measuring tape
  • Pencil
  • Seam ripper
  • Clippers
  • Sewing machine
Take in jeans
Pin your waist


The first thing you need to do is determine how much you need to take in. So put on your jeans and fold in the fabric on either side of your waist until your jeans are the right size. Pin both sides where you folded in the fabric. 

How to take in the waist of jeans
Take apart waistband


Take your measuring tape and measure from the button of the jeans to where you pinned, then use your seam ripper and clippers to take apart the seams at the top of the belt loops in the front of the jeans. Then also remove the stitching from the bottom part of the waistband. 

How to easily take in jeans
Create darts


Now that your waistband is no longer attached, you’ll be able to create darts to take in your pants. So take the material under the waistband and measure and mark darts according to the fit and measurement you’re going for. Then sew those darts into place.

How to take in jeans
Reattach waistband


After you’re done sewing the darts, sew the waistband back on, first by hand then with your machine. You’ll also need to sew the belt loops back in place. Once you’ve sewn the waistband and belt loops by machine, you’ll need to go back and remove the hand stitches, and then you’ll be done!

Taken in jeans


That’s it! That’s how you take in jeans at the waist in just a few easy steps. It’s so easy to take a pair of pants that no longer fit you and make it fit you perfectly. To see it in action, be sure to watch the video. Do you have a pair of jeans you’ve been dying to make fit again? Show me your before and afters in the comments! 

Suggested materials:
  • Jeans
  • Sewing pins
  • Measuring tape
See all materials

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