Sew What’s Up Presents
The Sew What’s New Archive
This archived content is from Mary Wilkins’ sewing and
quilting message board “Sew What’s New,” which was
retired in August 2007. It is being provided by
“Sew What’s Up,”
which serves as the new home for many members of “Sew What’s New.”
From: MaryW
Date: 02-27-2004, 01:48 PM (1 of 6)
Please respond here if you can help. thanks.  I have a question and hope someone can help me out. I am not a novice sewer but I am no expert either. I am trying to broaden my horizons and am willing to try new things. I am sewing a skirt for a friend. The pattern has a zipper and waist band. My friend wants an elastic waist on it. Please help me know how to modify the waist. Thank you very much MaryW
owner/editor of Sew Whats New |
User: MaryW
Member since: 06-23-2005 Total posts: 2542 
|
From: barbara j
Date: 02-27-2004, 10:19 PM (2 of 6)
|
Hi Mary, What I do is alter the pattern by: straighten the side seam up to the waist straighten the centre front seam, if not already like this ans straighten the centre back seam, although sometimes, during fitting, I can remove some of the centre back later I have narrow hips and this works for me, but others may have other ideas. |
User: barbara j
Member since: 09-18-2003 Total posts: 41 |
From: stitchmd
Date: 02-28-2004, 11:52 AM (3 of 6)
| I have wide hips and I agree this sounds good. What you need for an elastic waist is a waist opening large enough to go over your hips so you can get the skirt on. You can either then add extra length for a casing or simply sew wide elastic directly to the seamline where the waist band would have been attached. |
User: stitchmd
Member since: 02-25-2003 Total posts: 226 |
From: DorothyL
Date: 02-28-2004, 07:25 PM (4 of 6)
|
Take out any darts and perhaps add an inch or an inch and one-half at the side from the hips up. I've done it and it works fine. Just be sure you cut it bigger -- you can always take it off later but adding more is a pain after it is cut. Dorothy |
User: DorothyL
Member since: 12-09-2002 Total posts: 3883 |
From: clind22077
Date: 03-04-2004, 04:47 PM (5 of 6)
|
Wonderful tips on the elastic waist bands when you are making a garment!!! But -- how about revamping a pair of pants that have a waistband and zip up the front??? I too have large hips and I see many, many pants on sale as well as garage sales and thrift stores that are made with the 'fitted' waistband and open down the front. They NEVER fit me, no matter what the size. Help???? Carol
|
User: clind22077
Member since: 02-15-2003 Total posts: 1 |
From: stitchmd
Date: 03-04-2004, 07:30 PM (6 of 6)
|
It would probably be possible to open up the darts and add on either a fabric channel for the elastic or a wide, heavy elastic waistband. Either way you would need to find something that matches or coordinates. Why not try this with thrift store or yard sale pants and some leftover fabric first to experiment and work out the technique and fit. It won't make dress pants but it might make every day casual pants. Another possibility is to remove the back band only and make that elastic using either replacement waist treatment. You would probably need to leave the zipper in place and do a snap or hook front opening on your replacement band. If the darts open enough to allow you to pull the pants on zipped you can disassemble the fly, open it out and close the front center seam. Whatever parts you open out will need a LOT of pressing and will probably leave color differences and fold lines. If you wear tops that cover the top few inches of your pants this won't be noticeable. If you can find pants that fit your hips a third solution is to open the waistband on the inside at the seams and feed elastic through and tack it down. Sometimes this is enough to snug the waist up without creating too much bulk at the waist. Now you have me wondering if I kept those too-large pants I bought on sale hoping they'd shrink. One of these might be the solution to their fit! |
User: stitchmd
Member since: 02-25-2003 Total posts: 226 |
Visit Sew What’s Up for the latest sewing and quilting tips and discussions.
This page was originally located on Sew What’s New (www.sew-whats-new.com) at http://www.sew-whats-new.com/vb/archive/index.php/t-12189.html
Sew What’s Up is hosted by ZenSoft