A few weeks ago I was thrifting with my sibs and found these brand Banana Republic jeans (with tags!) for $10. They fit super great in the hips/thighs/legs, but surprisingly, I had to squeeze those bad boys quite a bit to button the fly. Weird. Usually it’s the other way around, right? But yeah, the waistband was just too tight, giving me a mean muffin top. The wide straight leg cut was also no bueno.
Yikes.
Yikes yikes.
So here’s what I did (in really crappy lighting): I removed the waistband completely except for the very front.
I removed the brand label, and then inserted a good inch an a half of denim.
I repinned it, using all the creases and folds that were already well in place,
And then top stitched. Surprisingly, the extended band fit perfectly to the jeans! They must have been “extra curvy fit” or something. For those of you who try this, you may have to stretch you pant top to fit the now extended waistband. Or if like me your pants fit well in the bum/thighs to begin with, and it was JUST the waistband that was too tight, it may just fit perfectly.
Then I re-attached the label over the added section cause I’m sneaky like that.
It worked super well!
I also took in the legs to be more of a slim cut–now they’re more of a skinny straight, just the way I like ‘em. 
This was a successful alteration, and now I wear these jeans all the time. I gotta say though, in all honesty, that I really loathe taking in jeans. Like skinnifying them–it’s seriously the most tedious, painstaking, annoying thing ever. I always have the hardest time getting the perfect fit! I have fat calves, so it’s tough fitting them, and then I inevitably take them in too much at first and have to seam rip my life away. Is there anything that you totally dread sewing?
26 Comments
I hate anything jeans and waistbands. I hate that to take in waistbands you have to unpick the whole part. There have been many skirts/pants that I have just thrown out instead of trying to take in the waistband.
Great fix! I don’t like messing with jean legs due to all the double stitching…Overall, I just grumble about the fit of jeans!
Awesome idea. And hiding it under a tag, sweet! I have a couple of pairs of pants that are a great fit everywhere but the waist. Now I don’t have to go and loose the weight, just fix the waist!
The thing I hate sewing is the mending. Or things I “have to sew”. I like my sewing to be more fun.
this is amazing!!! I am so very impressed. I have thought about altering my jeans on numerous occasions but it just seams too hard. I love the way you did this!
You know, it IS kinda of a pain–like I said, one of my LEAST favorite types of sewing, but so worth it if you are able to get the perfect fit!
Awesome idea! I may need to do this to all my pants post baby. Haha!
Yeah, I blame my three babies for my wide girth…. After so many, those hips just don’t go back!
I love this! I also love your posts about skinnifying pants. I have a bunch of pants I bought when I had to go back to work 10 weeks postpartum, that are just too loose now. I’m trying to work up the courage to take them in to give myself some new pairs of skinny slacks for fall. Thanks for all the inspiration!
Good luck! It’s quite a bit of work altering jeans, but very worth it if you’re on a tight budget!
Well, I somehow got into the wrong post and commented on *this* post, so.. go me!
Anyway, here is what I meant to comment HERE instead of THERE:
Smart! I love thrifting my jeans (you can’t argue with, like, a 4.00-10.00 price tag) and then taking them in. I never knew of a way to make the waistband larger, though, so what a good idea!
Storing this away for when I will (inevitably) need it someday…
Catie
Yeah, I can never resist the cheap price tag either! It’s either that or do without, so I’d rather do it! Even if it is my least favorite type of sewing..! Good luck!
Can’t wait to try the waistband trick! Any recommendations on needle size or thread type?
Yes! If you’re working with jean, you definitely want a heavy duty needle at least size 18, or they have needles specifically for denim. And as far as thread goes I just used all-purpose for construction, and jean thread for topstitching (it’s actually labeled jean thread, it’s thicker and the right color). Good luck!!
Ohh, I’m glad you addressed the thread issue… I was actually wondering about that. I bought myself some denim last weekend to do up a pair of maternity jeans (which I figure will be waaaaaay easier to do than regular ones), and I was wondering if I needed jean thread for all of it or just for the top-stitching. Good to know!
Davey, that’s my Davey! 3 . . . .2 . . . . 1. . . . . just sign me proud to be your mom.
You are amazing. This tutorial will be a godsend for me because I have quite wide hips, but then small legs so all of my jeans are tight in the waist. I had no idea you could alter a waistband on jeans without going the pregnancy elastic waistband route (which doesn’t look too cute.. haha) so again this tutorial is great. Thanks so much.
I’m seriously so glad that you like! Hope that it works out for you, let me know if you try and it and/or have any other questions!
Your alteration turned out great! I dislike adjusting jeans too, especially when I didn’t know HOW. I used to fold and stitch down the waistband and that’s that! Now with the help of tutorials like yours, I’m on my way to improvement! Thanks for sharing.
Clever girl!!!
This is genious.Thank-you so much for the tutorial
So glad you like!
Completely awesome!
Thanks for the tip! It gave me an idea for my jeans that have that gap in the back.
Yeah you’re right, it should work the other way around! Good luck, I’d love to know if it’s a success!
Excited to find this….I always lose weight in my hips but not my waist so my waist is actually larger than my hips. I have been cutting through the waist band and tucking it in to allow more room so this is perfect!!! Thanks so much!!!
I LOVE it!! Brilliant idea!