Most of the jeans I buy have the same problem. Everything fits fine, except the back. I've had years of experience with gaping backs, and I've tried several options for fixing them. A belt never works, and reconstructing the waist at the back takes a lot of time that I really don't want to spend on an alteration.
After some trial and error, I developed this method. To some of you, this might be reinventing the wheel, but for me it was a game changer, and I really wanted to share it with you. It's super easy and works for almost all waist problems, whether it's an overall too wide waist or just a gaping back.
You will need:
- wide elastic (the width should be 0.5cm less than the width of you waistband)
- safety pin
- sewing machine or needle and thread (in matching color to your jeans)
- scissors
- pins
1. First, cut an opening for the elastic. Make a vertical cut about 2cm from the buttonhole and in the same place on the other end of the waistband. The cut should be wide enough to move the elastic through. I recommend not cutting closer than 0.5 cm from the edges of the waistband. Make sure to only cut the inner layer of the waistband!
2. measure the needed length of you elastic. Just put the elastic around you waist where the waistband hits, pull the elastic tighter until it's a comfortable and supporting length. From that length deduct the length of the waistband that the elastic won't be going through, and cut. Attach a safety pin to the one end of the elastic and guide it through the opening. Guide the elastic through the waistband until you reach the other side. Make sure to pin the other end of the elastic to the side of the opening, so you won't just pull the elastic out from the other side.
3. Tuck the end of the elastic into the opening. About 1cm of the elastic should go towards the button(or buttonhole) side of the waistband. Sew the opening shut with a zig sag stitch (to prevent fraying). Make sure you sew over the elastic as well since this is going to secure it in place.
Done! It's harder to explain than it is to do. After one try you'll be able to fix a gaping back in 10 minutes tops. I hope this tutorial helps.
I wonder how many more pearls of wisdom are out there. Thanks for sharing. This one is priceless xXx
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome!
DeleteGood idea!
ReplyDeleteI encounter this problem in almost every ready to wear pear of trousers but I am usually too lazy to reconstruct the waistband. Your idea is ingenious in it's simplicity! Thanks :)
ReplyDeleteGeniaalne, tõepoolest! Ma olen sageli sama asja pärast püksid ostmata jätnud, aga nüüd vist küll enam ei pea :)
ReplyDeleteSee toimib tõepoolest praktiliselt alati :)
Delete