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Sunday, January 16, 2011

Jean dilemma...

I don't know if anyone else has this problem with jeans, but most every pair of jeans that I have, has this gap in the back and I usually have to wear a belt so they will stay up. Even the jeans that are snug on my hips and legs are not snug at the waist.  I love all of the new stretchy jeans because they are so comfortable to wear but I don't like wearing a belt all of the time. I would have taken a picture of how the jeans looked before I solved my dilemma but I think you get the picture and it is not always pretty.
Most jeans have a waistband and there is 2 sides of the jean fabric that is sewn together to make the band.  I measured a 1 1/2 inch wide piece of elastic on my back side to see how tight I wanted the back to be, the elastic was about 6 1/2 inches long. I then made a little slit on the inside of the waistband and used a safety pin attached to the elastic to pull it through the waistband.  When I got the elastic part way through I first attached the elastic on the right side.  I ran a few stitches back an forth to secure the elastic to the right side.  I then finished pulling the safety pin through to the other slit that I had made on the left side. I pulled the safety pin through the slit and removed the safety pin from the elastic making sure to hold on to the end so it won't slip back through the slit. I then ran some stitches back and forth to secure this side. 
Can you see the little slit on the left hand side with the elastic showing through?

If your jeans have a label on the back you will need to use your seam ripper to remove the stitches on the sides. ( The elastic will then still slide through the band.)



Here is another pair of jeans that fit great in the legs and thighs but gaped at the waist.

and one more...
I have another couple of pair that need this alteration.  I love how they fit now and I don't have to wear a belt!  They are so comfortable I feel like I am wearing my sweats :)

Since losing the weight that I lost, I have a closet full of winter sweaters, turtlenecks and t-shirts that do not fit anymore.  I spent one day taking all of the "do not fit items" out of my closet and I was going to give them away, but there were so many that I wished still fit me.  So, I spent the day with my serger altering a pile of clothes.  The tops were the easiest to alter, I would just try them on put some pins in the arms and sides where they needed to be cut and then used my serger to cut off the excess.

I now have a closet full of tops that fit!!

Here is the pile of leftover fabric from my alterations.  I am thinking they would make some great rolled flowers to match some of tops!  So, I not only lost weight but my clothes lost weight as well!!
It feels awesome!!
I will have to take some pictures of my alterations when I am wearing them, they look great, but I am ready for bed right now so I will have to do it later!

9 comments:

Carrie @ Dittle Dattle said...

Love your solution! I would be honored to have you add it to my blog party

Amaze Me Monday Blog Party

Be Colorful Coastal said...

You clever woman. When will jean manufactuerer's realize we have curves?
Congrats on losing the weight. How long did it take you?

I have another question to ask you too. I am unfamiliar with blog hops. What is it exactly and how did you get involved?
Thanks for sharing your post on Motivated Monday at BeColorful.
Pam

~Beth D. said...

I have the opposite problem with weight, but still the gap in the back! thanks for the inspiration.

An Oasis in the Desert said...

I have the same problem, so thanks a bunch for a simple solution. Bravo to you for losing weight and finding solutions for your "too-big" clothes. You should try making some of those rolled flower pins. They are such the rage.
CAS

The Treasurista said...

Thank you for linking up. What a great idea!

Megan Gunyan said...

Awesome! Congrats on a great weight loss! I love how you saved $$ with your alterations. The jean solution is a wonderful idea! Can't wait to see you model your new clothes. ;)

AllieMakes! said...

Great Idea! Great job!
Thanks for linking up to Making It With Allie! I can't wait to see what you have for next week!
AllieMakes.Blogspot.com

AllieMakes! said...

Just swinging back to tell you I'm featuring this as one of the Making It With Allie Features this week! Come on by and grab a button!
AllieMakes.Blogspot.com

Liz @ the Brambleberry Cottage said...

How wonderful that you've lost enough weight that your clothes need to be altered! Can't wait to see what you do with all those terrific fabric scraps, crafty lady. ;)

Thanks for linking to the party.

Blessings,
Liz @ the Brambleberry Cottage
http://thebrambleberrycottage.blogspot.com/

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