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From: phyllsplace
Date: 09-26-2006, 01:55 PM (1 of 7)
I need to shorten the waist in my daughter's jeans and have no clue how to. And what I'm meaning is that I need to shorten the area between the waistband and the crotch so that the waistband doesn't come up to my daughter's eyebrows (just a slight exaggeration there  ). Does anyone know how to do this?
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User: phyllsplace
Member since: 12-21-2004 Total posts: 6 
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From: AndreaSews
Date: 09-26-2006, 04:57 PM (2 of 7)
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it's a pain, haha. The last person who asked me to show her how changed her mind and went out shopping for pants that fit! Mark the height you're aiming for. Or better, mark the height you'd like the bottom of the waistband to be. You'll remove the stitches all around the waistband, and doing so will give you a good idea how it was constructed int he first place. Now you may need to lop off some of the excess fabric. Reposition the waistband and sew it back on. The tricky part is the zipper. I have found that I can sew "through" the zipper, since some of it will get buried into the seam allowance of the waistband--You can't just race through that part, b/c if you hit a zipper tooth with the needle you can break the needle or worse, but you can roll the machine's wheel manually to go one stitch at a time making sure not to jam it. Depending on how much too-deep these pants are, you could have trouble with the pockets--Will the openings of the front pockets become too small when the waistband moves down? Also, if you're lowering it down toward the hips, as opposed to the natural waist, will the waistband still be wide enough to go all the way around? (Hips are bigger than natural waist, ideally, but who's ideal?) Now you might be wondering if you still want to do this!
Andrea
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User: AndreaSews
Member since: 02-18-2005 Total posts: 1007 
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From: lizzybugsmommy
Date: 09-26-2006, 06:08 PM (3 of 7)
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Easier to start from scratch. dont you think Andrea?
Catherine
http://www.photoworks.com/share/shareSignin.jsp?shareCode=A0E42A2C202&cp=ems_shr_a lb_pml&cb=PW Husbands gone fishing..... I've gone fabric shopping |
User: lizzybugsmommy
Member since: 05-20-2006 Total posts: 207 |
From: phyllsplace
Date: 09-27-2006, 12:57 AM (4 of 7)
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Thank you, Andrea! Her waist and hips are about the same so I don't think I'll have a problem there but I will look at that to make sure. Catherine ~ It may be easier to start from scratch but I only paid 99 cents for these jeans so I am bound and determined to make them work! 
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User: phyllsplace
Member since: 12-21-2004 Total posts: 6
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From: lizzybugsmommy
Date: 09-27-2006, 09:53 AM (5 of 7)
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I understand that. It sounds like you are up to the challenge. Let us know how they turn out. I am too lazy I guess you would say to tackle a store bought pair. It is just to big of a pain. I like quick easy here lately. I guess I will blame it on the weather. It has been so pretty out that not alot of sewing has been finished the last few days. The thought of jumping into that project would scare me at this moment.
Catherine
http://www.photoworks.com/share/shareSignin.jsp?shareCode=A0E42A2C202&cp=ems_shr_a lb_pml&cb=PW Husbands gone fishing..... I've gone fabric shopping |
User: lizzybugsmommy
Member since: 05-20-2006 Total posts: 207 |
From: Teri
Date: 10-04-2006, 09:41 PM (6 of 7)
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Catherine ~ It may be easier to start from scratch but I only paid 99 cents for these jeans so I am bound and determined to make them work! I think that's a good reason NOT to do this tedious project! Donate the jeans to a charity or sell them on e-bay (you'll make the $.99 back) and sew something for your daughter that will be more fun! Teri
"Where are we going, and why am I in this basket?" |
User: Teri
Member since: 09-14-2005 Total posts: 66 
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From: VenusElaine
Date: 10-04-2006, 10:47 PM (7 of 7)
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Sometimes, and not always, you can "raise the crotch" as opposed to lowering the waist. Have her try on the jeans, as they are. See where the waistband lays on her body. Now pull the waistband to where it should be, and measure the difference. If it less than two inches, often the crotch can be raised, creating a new inseam, rather than dealing with zippers, pockets, and rivets. Simply create a new inseam through the crotch from leg to leg. I often do this in my business. If it doesn't work, your only out the $.99. (It will also make the leg longer, you may have to hem,) VenusElaine "Always put as much effort into your marriage as you do into your wedding."
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User: VenusElaine
Member since: 10-22-2005 Total posts: 126 |
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