How to Make Jeans Bigger
The perfect pair of jeans would fit like a dream at every inch of your body from waist down. But as almost all of you would agree, such a perfect pair is a rare find. If it fits your waist, it gets a bit tighter on the thighs. And when it fits the thighs, you almost feel breathless because the waist is so tight.
So, what do you do when your favorite jeans get a bit tight here and there? Do you discard them? Absolutely not! You try out the following simple methods and wear them with ease. And without further ado, let’s get started.
How To Make Jeans Bigger?
Contents
- How To Make Jeans Bigger?
- How to Make Jeans Bigger With Sewing?
- How To Make Jeans Bigger Without Sewing?
- How To Make Jeans Bigger In The Thighs?
- How To Make Jeans Bigger At The Waist?
- How To Stretch Jeans Calves?
- How To Make Skinny Jeans Looser?
- Tips & Tricks for Sewing Jeans
- Which Needle Should I Use When Sewing Jeans?
- Wrapping Up
How you make your jeans bigger depends on the area of the pants with which you have an issue.
You can make them bigger at the thighs using foam rollers and wearing the wet wants.
To enlarge your jeans overall, you can add elastic or patches extension with sewing. If sewing is not your forte, try the warm water method and the hair dryer technique.
Also, sewing the inseams and taking a warm bath in your jeans works for even the skinny jeans.
How to Make Jeans Bigger With Sewing?
You can add extension patches to the waistline. It works well if you have high rise jeans. Choose between the stretch band and denim patches.
Though when using denim patches, make sure they have the same color as your jeans. In case the button doesn’t close, add an elastic extension at the end. It won’t require cutting of jeans, so less hassle on your part.
Method 1. Adding Extension Patches to Expand Jeans
Extension patches or panels are among the most popular methods for making jeans bigger. Add a piece at either the seam’s side or along the center back. They can give a new life to your old jeans while being fashionable and cute.
You can choose a fabric that compliments the color of your existing material for a more natural look. However, you can be as creative as you want by experimenting with different fabrics.
You will only need an extension panel or patches, pins, and your jeans in this project.
Step 1: Do proper measurements. Start by measuring around your waist, thighs, and hips. Besides, measure the distance between your body’s broadest area and your waistline. Lastly, measure the jeans’ waist. Make sure it is buttoned.
Step 2: You can create your own patch/panel or have a completely designed one.
Step 3: Cut the jeans carefully to the length of your patch or panel. Toss inside and out. Then, stitch from side to side together with the fabric’s inner seam in which the cut ends. Doing so will prevent the stitch from unraveling.
Step 4: Pin the patch or panel on your jeans. To avoid getting speared by the tiny sharps, pin with the right sides facing simultaneously.
Step 5: Next, sew the patch to your denim with an overcasting foot and stitch. Maintain 1/2 inch seam allowance. A serger machine is a nice-have but is not a dealbreaker if you don’t have one at home. Use a regular straight stitch instead if your machine is not capable of doing an overcasting stitch.
Step 6: Iron the seam. Toss the fabric right side out. After that, sew a straight stitch starting down to the sides of both patches. As for the top fold, hand stitch it so the patch will lay evenly in the jeans.
Method 2. Adding Extension at the Center Back of Your Jeans
Step 1: If your jeans have a center back belt loop, take it away using a seam ripper.
Step 2: Cut down the center back directly to the yolk with a sharp scissor. How far should you cut down depends if you need extra room in the hips.
Step 3: Cut and fold the piece of material. Again, pick a durable fabric in identical color or purchase a small patch. Fold in half. Make it twice the cut length.
Step 4: Grab your sewing pins and start pinning the fabric in the proper place.
Step 5: Create a zigzag stitch alongside the borders of your jeans. Do this by setting the machine to carry out a slackened stitch number and thick stitch width. You will need it to make a high-density stitch.
Step 6: Trim down extra fabric inside. Be careful not to cut into the spot you just stitched. You should leave at least 0.64 centimeter or 0.25 inches fabric alongside the border.
Method 3. Adding an Elastic Extension to Expand Jeans
What makes an elastic extension a better alternative is that it will shrink or grow with you. So, no more fitting issues!
Step 1: Choose an elastic with a similar width to the waistband of your jeans.
Step 2: Rip off the waistband with a seam ripper. You may want to mark your belt using a pin so you won’t have to rip it off completely.
Step 3: Cut down the marked waistband.
Step 4: Pin the elastic from the sides. It should go along the waistband’s front, too.
Step 5: Sew up while keeping a 1/4 seam allowance. Sew backward and forward multiple times as you can to strengthen the seam.
Step 6: It’s time to sew the other side of your elastic.
Step 7: Reconvene the waistband. Pin into position and then sew. The use of stretching and feed foot will help you achieve smooth sewing.
Step 8: Once the other side is completely sewn, enjoy your perfectly comfy jeans! That means you no longer have to hold your breath while wearing it.
Important Points to Note
Before doing any sewing projects with denim, it’s always recommended to prewash it. It will soften the fabric and make it a lot easier to manage it throughout the process.
When measuring your waist, divide the total amount in two mainly because you will add the piece of fabric to the jeans’ side seams. Assuming you need an extra two inches to your waistband. You must add two pieces of one-inch material for both seams.
You may notice the denim tends to stretch while sewing it. The trick here is to hold it securely both in the back and front of the needle. Be sure not to pull it, though! Still didn’t work? Don’t worry, as long as you have foot pressure or Teflon foot. Both will keep your fabric feed efficiently in the machine with little to no amount of friction.
Use thicker, sturdier pins when sewing denim items, such as jeans.
How To Make Jeans Bigger Without Sewing?
You are literally having to hold your breath while putting on your jeans, but sewing is not really your forte. Don’t worry as you can make your jeans bigger without going anywhere near the sewing machine.
Method 1: Spray Lukewarm Water And Pull The Fabric
This is the easiest method you will find to moderately stretch your jeans. Here’s what you got to do:
Step 1: Lay your jeans over the floor or on the table. After this, get lukewarm water in a spray bottle and spray all over your jeans.
Step 2: Stand on one leg of your jeans. Now, bend down and use your hands to stretch and pull the jeans while they remain wet.
Step 3: Stand on the other leg of the jeans and repeat the process. Also, remember that you can pull the fabric in any direction you want.
Step 4: Keep adding lukewarm water to the jeans whenever it feels dry while pulling the fabric. Though it will feel like a mini arm workout, your jeans will be sufficiently stretched.
Method 2: Use A Hair Dryer To Stretch Out The Jeans
Lay your jeans on the floor or bed, depending on which one is closer to an electrical socket. Afterward, get your hair dryer and let’s get started.
Step 1: Place the jeans in a way that its front side faces up. Then, spread out the jeans to make it easier for it to get even heat.
Step 2: Set the hair dryer on its medium setting and start heating your jeans
Step 3: Hold your hair dryer at least fifteen cm over your jeans. Also, while heating your jeans, make sure to keep moving the hair dryer such that each area gets even heat.
Step 4: After heating the front of the pants, you need to flip the jeans to continue the process at the backside. You can choose not to repeat the process on both sides of the jeans, but it’ll get you more stretch in the pants.
Step 5: Afterward, stretch the jeans using your hands. All you need to do is hold the opposite sides of a section of the jeans and pull hard.
Step 6: Move your hand along the surface of your jeans and pull it in every area that you want to widen. Additionally, you can also put your arms inside each leg of the jeans from the waist and pull it in opposite directions.
How To Make Jeans Bigger In The Thighs?
You have a perfectly fine pair of jeans that is a little tight around the tights. Fret not because there are simple ways to address this problem.
Method 1: Stretch The Thigh Area Using Foam Rollers
No, you will not have to take your favorite jeans through a foam rolling schedule. It is a lot cleverer than that. Also, in case there are no foam rollers lying around, try the same steps using a roll of a paper towel.
Step 1: Lay down the jeans on a table to start stretching the thighs of the pants.
Step 2: After this, use a spray bottle filled with water at room temperature to wet the pants. Wet the jeans from the knee to the bottom part of the pocket on both sides.
Step 3: Put your foam roller or toilet paper roll into the pants leg for at least ten to fifteen minutes. Now, continue the same steps on the other leg. The amount of stretch you get to achieve will depend on the foam roller’s width.
Method 2: Wash Your Jeans And Wear Them In The Sun
Before moving on to a method that involves sewing, here’s another simple way out for you.
Step 1: Wash the pants on the cold setting of your washing machine or get them soaked in cold water for at least five minutes.
Step 2: Next, wear the jeans while they are wet and step out in the sun.
Step 3: Wear them until they dry down completely, and move around as much as possible during this time. Bend, squat, and do cartwheels! It will stretch the jeans and shape them to fit you perfectly.
Method 3: Opening The Seam Between The Legs Of The Pants
You can open the seam between the legs (inseam) and alter the fit of the jeans around the thighs.
Step 1: Measure your thighs and the width of your jeans around the thighs. So, let’s say you need about an inch bigger.
Step 2: Check out the insides of your pants to note the amount of material present there to let out the seam.
Step 3: If you need the jeans to be an inch bigger in total, you’ll need half an inch of fabric (including seam allowance) to make your jeans fit.
Now, the problem is that companies usually don’t leave out enough fabric for this purpose. If you sew ½ or ¼ inch seams, you might not have enough for an inch worth of stretch. So, check your measurements well and see if this method works.
How To Make Jeans Bigger At The Waist?
If the jeans are fitting well everywhere else except the waist, there are a few simple ways to stretch them out.
Method 1: Doing Lunges And Squats In Your Jeans
Read on to know how you can stretch the waist of your jeans and get a workout done at the same time!
Step 1: If you can put up your jeans past your hips, thighs, and butt, put them on. Also, ensure that you button your pants before you begin to try and stretch them at the waist.
Step 2: Keep doing lunges and squats for one minute straight. For this, stand straight and keep your feet apart at your hip-width. Now, bend at the knees to lower your bottom and hips as if you are about to sit on a chair.
Step 3: The knees should not jut out past the toes. After this, push through the heels and rise back to the starting position. Continue repeating this exercise for at least a minute.
Step 4: Keep doing the exercise for at least five minutes, if possible. It might feel a bit tiring. But the stretch of the fabric is directly proportional to the length of the time you do the squats.
Step 5: Sit, walk, and stand in the pants to see if they fit more comfortably at the waist at this point. And now, you will note that they are a bit loose around the waist.
If this does not work out, try out the hair dryer method that you learnt before, but only for the waist area.
Method 2: Soaking The Jeans Using Water And Fabric Softener
A bit of fabric softener, some lukewarm water, and arm strength are all you need to stretch the jeans at the waist.
Step 1: Soak the waist of your jeans with enough lukewarm water. Also, make sure to put a bit of liquid fabric softener in that water while wetting the jeans. It will soften the fabric and make it easier for you to stretch.
Step 2: Lay down the jeans on the floor so as not to get the bed all wet. Moreover, put a plastic bag or an old towel below the jeans in case the dye of the wet denim stains the floor.
Step 3: Next, unbutton the jeans to make sure the button does not get damaged.
Step 4: Stand over the waistband of the jeans on one side. Then, bend down and pull the other side of the waistband with as much force as you can muster.
Step 5: After the waist gets sufficiently stretched, dry out the jeans on a line.
Method 3: Buy A Simple Button Extender And Use It
When it comes to extending your jeans in the waist area, you can also use button extenders. You will find plenty of quality button extenders online nowadays. In this case, you will only have to hook one side of the extenders on the button. The button hole goes into the button at the end of the extender.
The zipper of the jeans might look a bit lopsided at this point. But you can cover that up with a longer t-shirt or shirt.
How To Stretch Jeans Calves?
If the calves of your jeans are too tight, you can loosen them both with and without sewing the fabric. Given below are both the methods for you to choose as per your convenience.
Method 1: The Cool Water Trick To Stretch The Calves
Before trying out this method, remember a word of caution: don’t wash the jeans because the calves will get tighter.
Step 1: Soak the jeans in cool (not cold) water like in your sink or in a bucket.
Step 2: Pull out and stretch the jeans by putting your hands through the calves.
Step 3: Next, keep stretching it for at least twenty to thirty seconds.
Step 4: Finally, air dry the jeans and they will be noticeably bigger.
Method 2: Add An Extra Fabric On The Inside Of The Calves
If the calves are way too small for you to get your legs through them, you might have to resort to sewing.
Step 1: Cut out the jeans as per the patch’s length and stitch it from the sides, while staying on the inner seam.
Step 2: Pin your patches on the calves carefully. Now, start sewing but leave a seam allowance of at least ½ inch as you do so. Also, you can put a regular straight stitch and there is no need for anything too complicated.
Step 3: Toss your jeans right side out and iron out the calves. Now, put straight stitches from the sides of the patches on to both sides.
Step 4: Hand stitch the top fold to hold the patch evenly over the calves of your jeans.
How To Make Skinny Jeans Looser?
If you have smaller legs, you might face this perennial problem where the jeans are loose at the waist and tight at the legs. You cannot sacrifice a fitted waist only to get looser legs, right? So, try this method out.
Method 1: Sewing The Inside Edges Of The Seam
This nifty method will ensure at least ½ to ¼” of extra space in each of the legs of the pants. Also, it is better to do it on dark wash jeans to hide the stitching.
Step 1: Turn the pants inside out to check if there is at least a non-felled seam running down the jeans.
Step 2: Take the inside edges of the jeans’ serged seam and start sewing.
Step 3: You do not need to have expert sewing skills. Simply the ability to sew relatively straight would be enough. Now, unpick at the inner seams and remove all stray threads.
Step 4: Put the jeans in the washing machine and air dry them before wearing
Method 2: Take A Warm Bath In Your Tight Jeans
This might sound a bit crazy, but try this out because it gets the job done on your skinnies.
Step 1: Put on your skinny jeans and fill your bath with warm water. Also, remember the water has to be warm and not hot.
Step 2: Sit in the bath until the water starts to cool down. It will loosen out and stretch the threads in your skinny jeans.
Step 3: Let the jeans hang in the line to air dry before you can wear them once more. Remember to try this technique in advance if you want to wear the jeans somewhere soon enough.
Tips & Tricks for Sewing Jeans
Is sewing not your thing but need to stretch your jeans for an upcoming event? There are other tricks for that, and I’ll share some of them below:
1. Spray lukewarm water on the waistband and its surrounding area. Don’t forget the back and front areas. They must be damp enough to stretch out the pant’s fibers. Then, stretch the waist using your bare hands. Pull towards the outside as hard as you can.
2. Put your pants on like you normally would and hop in the bath filled with water. Go down and sit for approximately fifteen minutes before getting out of the water. Bend your waist and enlarge your stomach to help stretch out the waistband.
3. Otherwise, toss your pants into the wash. Just don’t dry it. Take the fabric as soon as you complete the washing cycle. Tug the waistband over a piece of the wood, hook, or the back of a wide chair. You can use any materials providing they are able to stretch the pressure on your waistband.
4. If your jeans are made of 100% cotton (or at least close to it), consider washing it in hot water. Press hot iron to dry or allow to dry in the hottest setting.
Which Needle Should I Use When Sewing Jeans?
Jeans are made of denim fabric – an essential combination of polyester and cotton. Therefore, you must only use special jeans or denim needles for every sewing project you have.
This type of needle commonly features a larger eye to hold the thicker thread with ease. Tackling denim materials requires gentle sewing to avoid rupture.
Wrapping Up
Regardless of which part of your favorite jeans felt tighter before, now you have more than one way to loosen it up. The best part is that none of these methods are too difficult to try out.
It does not matter whether you know how to sew or not. You will not have to squeeze uncomfortably in a tight pair of denims ever again.
After all, you embrace jeans for their comfort quotient. And now you can be truly comfortable in them!
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