Can a Tailor Make My Pants Waist Bigger?
Ever found yourself in a situation where you’ve gained a few pounds, or discovered an amazing pair of pants that are just a bit too tight around the waist?
However, you may sometimes buy pants that are too tight at the waist. Or, you may have gained some weight and your existing pants become too tight. Instead of throwing them away, you can consider having a tailor expand their waistline.
Can a Tailor Make Pants Bigger at The Waist?
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Yes, a skilled tailor indeed has the ability to make the waist of your pants bigger.
Many pants, especially those designed with a certain amount of flexibility in mind, have extra material hidden in the seams. This extra fabric allows a tailor to let out the waistline, giving you that extra bit of room you need. Usually, a good tailor can manage to add around 1-2 inches to the waistline in this way.
However, in cases where no extra fabric is available or the allowance is insufficient, an experienced tailor can still find a way.
This may involve adding a matching or contrasting fabric panel (known as a gusset) to extend the waistline. The feasibility of this approach hinges on the style of the pants, as well as the color and material.
How To Make Your Pants Bigger At The Waist?
Add Extensions To Your Waistline
Step 1. To make the pants of your waist bigger in this method, a tailor will require a measuring tape, elastic band, scissors, marking pen or chalk, and a sewing machine.
Step 2. The tailor will then identify the part of your pants’ waistband that the additional fabric will be added. Adding fabric to the waistband effectively expands the waist of your pants. The fabric to be added needs to be similar to the pants.
Step 3. Now that the additional size is determined, the tailor will cut your extra fabric into two parts. Each of the parts will be added to the two sides of your pants’ waistband.
Step 4. The tailor will now get some elastic tape.
Step 5. Your tailor will now identify and mark the part of the waistband on your pants that they want to fix the additional fabric. The mark made will be about ? inch.
Step 6. On both the marked parts, the tailor will make V-shaped cuts. This cut starts at the top of the waistband and ends at the seam. It will be made on the layers both inside and outside your pants.
Step 7. Take your piece of elastic band and place it on one part of the waistband.
Step 8. The tailor will now sew the elastic band from the top of the waistband and downwards along both sides of the v-cut sealing the cut.
Step 9. It is now time for you to try on your pants. You will feel that they fit substantially better than before. Your pants will fit your waist perfectly.
They will allow some space to stretch so that you can tuck in your shirt properly and wear the pants for longer.
Expand Seam Allowance at The Center Back Seam On Your Pants
Step 1. You will need a sewn ripper, measuring tape, sewing machine. Wear your trousers and confirm that you need to take out the waist. This may because you can no longer close the button or the waist is too tight. Measure your waist size to determine the length you need to increase your waist by.
Step 2. Place your trousers on a working surface. Taking out the pants’ waist can only be done for about 2-3 inches. This is due to the allowance provided for at the seams. Inside the trousers, reach for the center back seam. The extra fabric for the allowance to expand the waist of the trouser is easily visible.
Step 3. With a seam ripper, rip out the stitches holding the extra fabric onto the waistband of the pants. This effectively expands the trousers.
Step 4. With your measuring tape, measure how long this extra fabric is. If it is enough for the additional length you need, you can wear your trousers as they are. If you need less, measure the length of the fabric and mark at the length of additional waist size you need.
Step 5. Your tailor will then stitch the rest of the seam allowance back in place.
Step 6. Try your trousers on to confirm that their waist size has increased. This will make your trousers a better fit and more comfortable.
How To Make Jeans Waist Bigger?
It is much easier to expand the waist in jeans pants than it is to expand on dress pants. You can expand the waist size of your jeans in several no-sew methods.
First, you can use a waist expander. Take off your jeans and place them on a flat surface. Insert the waist expander into the jeans at the waist level. Leave the waist expander in your jeans overnight.
The waist expander pushes your jeans outwards until they are bigger.
Second, you can use a button waist extender. This is an external additional buttonhole. It is an elastic band with a buttonhole and a button. Insert your jeans button into the extender’s buttonhole.
Then insert the button on the extender into the jeans buttonhole. This gives an allowance at the waist and allows your tight jeans to fit perfectly.
The third no-sew method you can use to expand your jeans waist is wearing them when wet. You can spray water on your jeans waist and then wear. The jeans will dry on the waist and adapt to the size of your waist.
How Much Does Waist Alteration Cost?
If you are going to have a professional alter the size of your pants, you will need to consider the cost. You have to pay for the service that you will be offered.
Depending on the type of alteration you need and the type of pants being altered, professional tailors will charge you between $10 and $150. For quick and simple alterations you will pay less. For a complicated process, you will pay more.
Sometimes, the cost of alterations is affected by the type of fabric your garment is made of. Some fabrics are difficult to work with for which you will be charged more.
The styling of your garment may also complicate or ease the tailor’s work. Expensive suit pants have an extra allowance on the seams that allows tailors to take out or take in the waist easily.
Cheaper pants or suits on the other hand may not have this allowance. This would make the tailor use a longer or more difficult process to take in or take out the waist of your pants. Thus charging you more.
Factors Influencing Waistline Alterations
Venturing into the world of clothing alterations, one soon realizes it’s not as simple as it may initially appear. When it comes to expanding the waistline of your pants, a multitude of factors can determine the extent of alterations and the success of the operation.
Material of the Pants
As discussed in the previous section, the type of fabric plays a critical role. Some materials, like cotton, linen, and wool, have a certain level of ‘give’ and are generally easier to alter.
On the other hand, fabrics like leather, denim, or synthetic materials may be more challenging to work with due to their rigidity or special requirements in handling.
Seam Allowance
Seam allowance refers to the extra fabric included in the garment during its construction, intended for potential future alterations. This ‘hidden’ fabric can provide the extra inches you’re looking for.
The seam allowance varies between garments; designer or high-quality pants often include more generous seam allowances than cheaper, fast-fashion counterparts.
Pants Structure and Design
The design of the pants can also affect the possibility of making the waistline bigger.
For instance, pants with pleats, a higher waistline, or a looser fit might provide more opportunities for successful alteration compared to low-rise or tightly fitted designs.
Current Size and Desired Increase
The amount of enlargement required also matters. It is easier and more feasible to increase the waistline slightly—around one to two inches—than to make drastic changes.
Presence of a Belt or Waistband
If the pants have a belt or waistband, this may need to be altered or replaced entirely, complicating the process and potentially adding to the cost.
Understanding these factors helps clarify the challenges and possibilities of making the waist of your pants bigger. It also equips you with the necessary knowledge to discuss your needs and options with your chosen tailor more effectively.
Beyond creating and testing patterns, I'm passionate about teaching sewing techniques and sharing garment knowledge.
Also, as a sewing blogger with a BA in Costume Studies from Dalhousie University, I enjoy writing articles that delve into the rich worlds of clothing history, sewing, textiles, and fashion.
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