How to Make Jeans Waist BIGGER! Easy Jeans Alteration for Perfect Fit 

I've always wondered if it was possible to make thrifted jeans bigger!! So glad this is an option. I was always told that I would need to lose weight to fit jeans that were a little too small, which is so toxic and frustrating. Clothes are meant to fit you, you are not meant to fit them!

I have been sewing for 60 years. I have skills but have never attempted an alteration like this. I really wanted to wear some pants that were just too tight. You to the rescue! I went for it and the turned out great. I used a cute print fabric since I didn’t have any denim pieces. A couple of boo-boos along the way to overcome: don’t add a twist to the waistband when adding the piece in back for one! Thank you!

Another thing that you could do if you have those jeans with a leather patch on the waistband, remove the patch and make the cut where the patch is, put in your strip there, then sew the leather patch back over it. That strip will be hidden beneath the leather patch. Then finish as directed. You did a beautiful job. Much nicer than the triangular piece up to the top of the waistband, that so many people try.

This is by far the subtlest and most classy looking upsizing alteration I've been able to find! The other ideas people have shared would work, but honestly just don't LOOK good. No one wants a giant black elastic triangle on a pair of jeans they love. I am looking forward to trying it on a pair of jeans I'm dying to wear again.

Excellent. I have two pairs of vintage 31w -- 34 Leg LEVIS 544 - with 20inch bottoms. I can still squeeze into one pair but not the other. My mum has retired from constantly fixing my jeans - but she got me a sewing machine for my recent birthday. I pick it up this weekend. Reportage de Progreso PRONTO Cheers from a skint 54 year old Muso dude from Spain

This is definitely what I'm looking for! So far yours is the most subtle and "invisible?" jeans upsize, I love it! No weird cutting nor out of place black fabric, lol

Such a brilliant way to do this! Especially when you find a pair of Jean that *almost* are a perfect fit! Thx for sharing!

To believe I've called a couple of different tailors and they said that this was not possible .. only for you to be able to do it at home .. I'm very impressed

Excellent tutorial! I am a novice sewer and was nervous to take on this project for a pair of jeans that were probably 2 sizes too small in the waist. Your directions were so clear. Thank you!

Wow. Thank you so much. If I wore the jeans that fit my waist, I would look so ridiculous due to my body shape. I started to really hate shopping because it makes me feel horrible about myself. The ease tip is amazing and you did so well hiding the extra fabric. I definitely want to learn more.

This is the best video to make the waist bigger that I have seen! i have been looking and looking and everything looks so 'hacked' and unprofessional. This is great, thanks so much!!

I am a hobby-seamstress and most of my projects are making pants/jeans bigger for my customers and this video was just _perfect_ to watch and have in my 'go-to library' :D Thank you!!

I love how you put the piece of fabric at the back of the jeans rather than the sides … it hides the alteration so much better …. Love it… thank you so much 💖

Thanks so much, this was really helpful! I saved a pair of thrifted jeans I thought weren't going to work. :)

I love thrifting specifically for jeans. I have an unreal collection of jeans. I see a nice vintage pair and I buy it regardless of size. I have several that are too tight or too loose. I just followed along with your video and tailored my levi 501. They fit perfectly and you can hardly tell it was altered. This is such a great idea. Now I need to find a good method for taking in a few inches. Thanks!

Thank you so much for this tutorial! I found some vintage Levi’s that fit with the exact same problems you had so I immediately trusted this tutorial! This is my first time sewing outside of a knitting or crochet project, so easy to follow along!

Fabulous! Now I’ll be able to wear my favourite jeans again! Well, I will, when I’ve altered them. Thank you!

This is great. I have never seen the trick of leaving the top band in place on the side and filling in the back. Trying this now! And those pants look great on you. Really well customized.

Thank you for your tutorial since gaining weight I haven't been comfortable wearing my jeans. Your tutorial has made me want to attempt to do it.

This is amazing, it had never occurred to me that I could remove the waistband like that. I always have trouble with the waist being too high in front while the jeans are otherwise perfect, now I realize I can remove the waist in the front and lower it an inch, and not lose the perfect fit in the back. Thank you!

I am also an Apple shape (now that I’m well into my 50’s ! So this is very helpful! Thank you. I just recently discovered your channel and I’m viewing all your content 🙂.

Thanks for the video. Although I did not alter jeans, it gave me the confidence to alter a different style of pants. It work great and now they fit! Thanks!!!!

Awesome, thank you. If I slow it down and watch it 10 times hopefully I'll figure out this magic :)

Great info! I've actually done the reverse by taking off the back part of the waistband & sewing smart darts to bring it in then resewing the waistband & middle belt loop.

Wonderful explanation thank you so much!!!

This is such a helpful video for me. Bless you!❤😊

Omg you are brilliant! Thank you! You break it down and it seems so doable! I’m going to give it a go😊

Thank you for creating this tutorial. I followed for a pair of shorts that were just too tight around the waist area and while it took me around 2-3 hours they look as good as when I started. Thank you for making it so easy to follow!

Thank you! I ordered the cutest shorts for a trip. They fit perfectly except the tight waist You're saving my denim shorts!

Wow!!!!! I wish I could pay you to do all my jeans!!!

I am so thankful for your video! I tried taking my shorts up in the back and they didn't fit at all. I tried it according to your video and they fit perfect! Thank you soooo much! ❤ 7:49

I go to my seamstress over where I live and usually ask her to add fabric at the back of The waist. Another really few useful tips to keep your jeans looking like new is i always turn inside out on delicate cycle and wash in a laundry mesh bag followed by hanging them to dry

Wow, such a great tutorial. I had a pair of expensive jeans that shrunk quite a bit in the waist after the first wash. I took my time, and they turned out perfect! Thankyou.

Wow, was just looking on Amazon earlier to get an idea on how to make button extenders because I bought some jeans on ThredUP for $12 that is a size I wear in other brands that fits well everywhere else (especially with a 35” inseam), but the waist decided to taunt me. I didn’t think this was possible. Needed this. Now I didn’t have to sit and sulk about passing them on to someone else, because we all know how hard it is to find a good pair of jeans that fit right in certain places …. to only have that one place that taunts you and has you questioning your body. Liking, saving, downloading, I’d print it if I could lol. This will be my next project because I _desperately_ want to wear them, so thank you for sharing!

I’m not much of a machine sewer, but you’ve got me interested. I don’t have much of a waist, so my jeans are always too small and the rest is perfect!

Thank you so much. I been wanting to do this alteration and I didn’t to know how to do it. Tomorrow I’m going to make it. Yeah!! 👌🤩👏👏😍😍😍😍🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

I absolutely hate jeans but I still found this very informative for regular pants, thank you! 😊😊👍

wow, one of the best f'n sewing tutorial vids ever for those of us not afraid to really get in there and alter shit. fellow thrift-addict here and also diy sewer and way too many other things so yeah, perfect! i have a straight 'boyish' /'athletic' body shape with barely any hip-to-waist ratio (tho fake it with styling and fit/cut), so i have hips and butt (thankfully for at least some femme shape lol) but waist doesn't go 'in' as much as the avg woman in my size does, so waists rarely fit, but rest of the item fits. i used to say 'my waist doesn't go in as much as it should/looks like it should for my size' but now i try not to say that using the 'should', cuz hey, we all have something right? esp with rtw, and even more so vintage finds. lol anyway thx again! gonna attempt this and maybe will make a vid to show the results. i just scored the most awesome vintage levi's -- full-on 100% cotton thick denim 90's dark green high waisted straight/mom'ish jeans and of course the waist is like a fucking corset. like 'jaws of life needed both to close and open them' tight fr lol. i've done various stretching schemes and the ol' open up cut triangles on the side seams with other items --like reverse darts basically (?? self-taught so likely using the wrong term but i think you'll know what i mean), but don't wanna do that to such a pristine vintage item so was like 'stop being lazy, you know how to sew, look up a more 'legit' pro way.' and voila, how i got here. :)

I have gained weight and I cannot wear a pair of jeans I bought. I know I have to lose weight but this is a short term solution. I’ll do it, it looks amazing 😍

Great idea love it 👍

very good job indeed

You made this look so easy ❤❤❤ Do you have a tutorial on the opposite when the waistband and yoke bulges out please?

Love this method. I've enlarged a waist by just opening up the side seams.. but never thought of opening up the back also and adding some fabric there! I almost always have to either buy jeans that fit well in the hips and thighs, but too tight in the waist.. or just fit the waist and then have to take them in on the hips and legs. I think it's easier doing the hips and legs!

I just bought two pairs of jeans that need this exact same thing done, so thank you for sharing.

Wow, this is amazing! I think I could do this technique on my own but I paid so much for these jeans I’m going to ask an alterations lady to use your technique for me

Beautiful job! Loved it. Can you talk about variations? I’d like to see a denim colored stretch elastic in place of non stretch fabric for those days when a period makes some hold more water. Also, more lighting please!

What a great job

Thank you for this great tutorial, I really need this for my apple shaped body. How did you determine how many inches to increase your waistband ? Could you use elastic instead of woven or matching fabric for the insert.

Clever fix! Thanks for sharing your project.

I found a pair of floral flared jeans at the thrift store and they are just barely too small. I will have to try this out! Not sure if I can find a similar enough fabric, if not, maybe ill just use a contrasting fabric to make it interesting!!

My sister gave me a lovely pair of her old jeans that are too small for me around the waist. Definitely need to give this a try - though worried my basic sewing machine won't handle the belt part of the denim. Only one way to find out!

Thank you for sharing this tutorial! Now I can keep all my jeans that no longer fit me!!!

I have a wedge of elastic added to mine. They just cut down 2-4 inches and add in a thick triangle of elastic, works perfectly and gives me some waist stretch.

Awesome! Thank you. I'll give that a try. You're sewing job looks great and you look great in the pants.

This……………is………………incredible. I am not a sewing person but was looking for some solutions to get a pair of Poshmark jeans into totally wearable shape, and now it really feels possible. Thank you!! Off to find somebody in Chicago who can make this happen…

Thank you for this tutorial! I have a thrifted pair of men's jeans that are a wee bit small in the waist so this is invaluable info. thanks again :) x

You are absolutely stunning! Thank you for the tutorial, it is immensely helpful!

Thank you for showing me how to make jeans larger. It is appreciated. It

I just tried this with a pair of jeans I didn’t care too much about and it worked! The only difference was that when I went to reattach the waistband, it was a big gap at the back, way bigger than my altered dart pieces. Then I realized that there was spandex in the jeans fabric and when I sort of pulled the waistband and pinned it, perfect! Now I am going to take on some cuter non spandex jeans I like better. Thank you

Brilliant adjustments!

Great professional result. Thank you for sharing and fab filming and voice-over!

Love your videos, I too like to thrift but was Wowed by your jeans waist allowance. Thanks for that tip

So helpful, thank you! I have a pair of white jeans I need for a uniform that I can’t even get over my thighs. I don’t want to buy more as they’ve never been used, going to try this! The legs are a bit long too so I’m hoping to take the extra fabric off the cuffs

Thank you so much for making this video tutorial. You have NO IDEA how I've been looking and searching all over tarnation for something that works. Simple and easy to follow. Something that is easy on the eyes and brain lol Before this, all I came across were those videos that go so quickly without narration to explain anything. Ya know, the ones where you can see either actual edit jumps, or the videos that are made to purposely look like they had a ton of edits in them, and go by so quickly that its really hard to follow. Again, no narrative to go by if you want to work along. It was is frustrating! Not to mention the vids that feel like half of a day long before getting down to the point of the project. Because I have had these 2 pairs of Jeans, that are my size and I absolutely love! Thrifted them awhile back too! Only the waistline is just so darn tight and unbearably uncomfortable! It makes no sense, thats how uncomfortable they are! And I had some ideas I was doubting myself on already. So I had to find something else as a just in case, or for a better way of taking the waists out. Maybe something to go along with my idea(s), or to replace them altogether. Didn't matter as long as I could get it done. And then a choir began to sing, along with a light that shined as I opened your video and watched. My search is over! So clear and concise your instruction is! Clearly viewable and audible! No fast flashy pops of editing cuts or whatever they wanna call it. No guessing. I can understand fast forwarding past a particular part to save time. But not loke what ive seen and have come across. Unbearable if ya know what Im meaning, lol. Thank you a million times over!

Omg amazing thanks so much!!! Found the perfect pants today but yeah, they are a bit tight! Excited to try this out!

Thank you so much for your wonderful tutorial. 💖

Thanks for the tutorial-if you need to remove rivets, a “nipping pliers” from the hardware store works nicely. The jaws are sharpened into blades and these are waggled underneath the rivets: then it is easy to press the jaws closed to cut the rivet.

Great job

Really helpful video, so often I've rejected jeans that fit beautifully elsewhere, because after 4 children the waists are just too tight! Once a belt is inserted the patch at the back will be invisible. Now hoping to find your video about taking in the legs...

I loved this video. I don't think my machine can sew all those heavy fabric areas. Do you have a special machine? Maybe special needle? How about thread. I would love to be able to try this. Thank you.

What an amazing job!! 👏👏👏👏 And you explained everything so well. Wish I had these skills to fix my clothes 🥴 thank you for posting the type of machine you used, and the skillshare classes and tutorials? 😱🙌🙏🙏💖💖💖🤗🤗 I have to check everything out now. Bravo!

They look great on you!

Wow that’s great I did mine but didn’t go through all of that awesome thanks

This was great! You explained everything so well!

Thanks for this. I need this for some cotton and linen pants that I bought from Jjil and Talbots. I have made 5 pairs recently and put elastic in the waist. I’m in my 70’s and lost my waist in the front because my tummy has gotten so large

Not sure if commented! But it was such a great tutorial and well done. I have sued it and love this method.

Really great alteration vid. Nice job!

LOVE the Alterations videos (as well as the others). Thanks.

Thank you... I really needed to resize my boyfriend's work pants, i guess he likes my cooking :p and this tutorial is perfect!

Clear, excellent tutorial! TY.

I'm currently on the hunt for some relaxed fit/wide leg jeans and haven't been able to find any. I'm getting to the point where i am thinking about just making them. But thanks to this i might try some altering insted.

Thank you!!!

Thanks exactly what I needed

I luv this

Great tutorial!

Hai fatto proprio un ottimo lavoro

Super helpful! Thank you!!

Thanks! This was very helpful!

I'm going to try this

What sewing machine do you use in your sewing? Thatnks for your videos. It helped me a lot in my sewing hobby:)

Great tutorial!🙏

Thank you for sharing

Wow. So informative.

So impressed with this! Interested in how you took in the seam on the legs. Was it on the inside seam? Did you cut the excess fabric or simply take in the seam? I think they look great and I'll be bookmarking this video for sure! Great job. I've been sewing (as needed, so not often) for 55 years and find this is the alteration I want for myself the most often!!! Ah, old age!🤣

Great job😊

Great video thank you.

Great tutorial

looks great

Hi I really loved your video coz I was looking for a way to make jeans waist bigger properly but in the past, I had done it incorrectly and it looks like I am wearing pampers coz waistband was cut too wide then I left it to put in the bin but now I am gonna apply your method to redo the waistband. Could you be so kind to tell me how to transform high-rise jeans to medium-rise coz it was a present from someone and i did like the colour and size but the high rise is not comfortable? Many thanks, i just subscribed and liked your video. You should have more viewers

Thanks this is so helpful! Can u explain why u added ease in the center back of the waistband and not at the sides?