Be careful not to catch your underwear (or your skin!) when you are placing the pins. Try to pin as far down as you can along the seat of the jeans. The further you go down, the less noticeable the transition from the original thread and your new thread will be. [2] X Research source
If you don’t have fabric chalk handy, you can also use a highlighter. [4] X Research source
To make sure you don’t rip out too many stitches, try cutting the first and last stitch you would like to take out. Then, pull at the loose threads to take out all the stitching in between. [5] X Research source
If there are any leftover threads from the belt loop after you remove it, leave them in place. Sewing over these when you reattach it later will help disguise the alteration. [6] X Research source If you don’t want to remove the belt loops, cut the top of the center back belt loop and the bottom of the left and right back belt loops. Then, sew them back into place after you replace the waistband. [7] X Expert Source Andrea BeaulieuProfessional Tailor & Fashion Designer Expert Interview. 1 May 2020.
It may make it easier and more precise to cut the first and last stitch you would like to take out, and then pull at the loose threads to remove all the stitching in between. [8] X Research source
To reduce the bulkiness of the new waistband, you can cut off the extra fabric outside of your stitches. Leave about 1⁄4 inch (0. 64 cm) of fabric outside the stitches. Press the cut ends of the fabric with an iron so they open up on each side of the seam. [10] X Research source You may find it easier to pin where you would like to sew and draw a chalk line as well to help keep you on track. [11] X Research source
It may help to take a hammer and pound the original jean seam you are sewing across in this step. This will flatten out the layers of fabric there and make it easier to sew across. [12] X Research source Try on your jeans after you sew the seat to make sure the seams look straight and properly positioned. If anything looks funny, use your seam ripper to take out the seams and resew that section. [13] X Research source
Using a longer stitch length setting on your sewing machine can make the topstitching look more professional. Try 3. 5 millimetres (0. 14 in) stitch length. [15] X Research source If you have a double needle for your [[[Thread a Sewing Machine|sewing machine]], you can also use that to sew both lines of topstitching at once, instead of doing the two lines separately. If you can’t find topstitching thread, you can also try to use two strands of all-purpose thread at the same time to get a chunkier look that will better match the original topstitching. [16] X Research source If your jeans are very worn along the seat area and the topstitching you put in looks too new and out of place, try roughening it up a bit with a nail file. [17] X Research source
It may help to hammer where you will sew first, since you will be sewing through many layers of denim. [18] X Research source
You can secure the pinched fabric with a large safety pin to help you as you proceed to the next step. [19] X Research source
You can pinch and pin just along the waist, down to the mid-thigh, or even all the way down to your knee if you want an extra skinny fit. [20] X Research source
Try a stitch length of 2 and a thread tension of 4 to start. If that doesn’t work, you can easily take out the stitching with a seam ripper and try again with different settings. Don’t be afraid to experiment until you are happy with how your seam looks.
You can also fold the excess fabric to one side and sew the end down so it lies flat inside when you wear them. [22] X Research source
Ironing the waistband before putting your jeans on can help make your measurements and fit more accurate. [23] X Research source
The slit should be at least 3⁄4 inch (1. 9 cm) long to accommodate the elastic.
The shorter your elastic band, the tighter it will pull the waistband.
You may need to cut out the tag from the jeans if you cannot push the safety pin through. Only stick the safety pins through the inner layer of the waistband so won’t show from the outside. If you want to alter the waistband again later, you can always use a looser or tighter elastic band. You can also sew the elastic in place with a single straight stitch instead of using safety pins if you want a more permanent solution.
