How can you increase the waist size of your skirt?

Answer 1

Making a Skirt Waist BiggerSometimes these questions don't give you enough information but if my answer doesn't help, please submit it again. Once a garment is made it is very unlikely that you can make the waist larger, BUT................Idea #1,if there is a button and a zipper in the garment, you could add a PC of elastic to the current button and button hole to give you a little more room, but you will need to wear a blouse or jacket over the area to hide it. Remove your button and sew it on the end of the elastic that will now extend into the button hole and sew the other end of the elastic where the original button was attached........#2, If the original waistband was sewn separately to the top of the skirt, you will first need to remove the waistband and let out some of the seams of the skirt. If you can get the extra width out of the skirt, you will then need to make a new, larger waistband to fit on the adjusted skirt............#3 If the skirt has a sewn on waistband, you could remove the waistband completely and then sew a piece of binding or ribbon around the top of the skirt, then turn it to the inside and hand sew to finish. This works most often if it is just the waist that is too tight. You will find it much more comfortable as well. I sincerely . Kate

Answer 2

I am doing that very thing for my husband. The best way I've found (and I'm not a tailor- just a home clothing maker) is to

1. remove back middle belt loop

2. seam rip waist band from back of jeans

3. seam rip crotch area. The length depends on how much you are going to take in. If it is just a little (1/2 in or so) maybe halfway. For me, I am taking in 2 inches, so I seam rip all the way down to the bottom crotch seam. If you do not go far enough (ie make a gradual dart), you will get a pucker

4. Trim seam to width needed (ie if need to take in 1/2 in, measure that at waistband and slowly decrease width down the existing seam- it will form a "v").

5. For a real "jeans" look, the back seam is formed by folding both sides of the seam and tucking them together (pay attention to how they are nestled when you rip- you'll see). Mimic other seams and double stich

Note: for a regular pair of pants, or if you don't care about a different seam, just sew seam edges together on inside

6. Take allowance out of waistband (be sure to resew it before folding over b/c you have to overlap it on the back of jeans)

7. Match waistband up to back of pants and reattach

8. Reattach belt loop

REMEMBER to use a heavy gauge needle- regular ones will break.

Yes, it is a pain in the butt, but it gives the best appearance.

If you are not up to all of that, just put darts in front between front and side seams. If you don't tuck your shirt or wear short shirts, you'll never even see them.

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Okay here is an easier way but it will only work for you if you plan on wearing your shirts on the outside of your jeans and not tucked in. I have done this for my adult son who's waist line likes to fluctuate.

First go to the fabric store and buy some of the 3" wide elastic that they sell to make belts. Usually it only comes in black, grey or sometimes white. I usually use black. Now cut through the waistband on both the left and right sides of your jeans. Take out the side seams on both sides until you have an opening that resembles a "V". The opening is going to depend on how much larger you are increasing your waistband. (Example: if you want to increase your waistband by 4" open the stitching on both sides approx. 2 1/2" down so that the opening at the top of the "V" will be approx. 1 1/2". You don't want to do 2" because you have to take into consideration the seam allowance that you have now just opened up.) After you have opened the sides up cut a piece of the 3" wide elastic to fit the opening, plus 1/4" to over lap, and pin it into place. Now just simply zig zag the elastic and the jeans together. This will not give you a beautiful look but will increase the waistline as well as give you a pair of jeans with an expandable waistline which will come in handy during the Holiday seasons!

Answer 3

remove the stitches very carefully, remove the elastic. then shorten it or buy elastic to lengthen it. sew the skirt leaving room for the elastic, then pull the elastic through the casing with a safety pin on one end of the elastic to 'thread it' through. then sew the small opening left to thread the elastic. it would help to get a sewing book from the library to see diagrams of the process. if the skirt is too long, then you can measure the necessary amount from the top of the skirt with a ruler, mark it with chalk, cut off the top including the elastic and make a new top for the elasic to fit in. this is the easiest way.