How to Alter Your Jeans With Sewing Darts

Hey guys! Are you looking for a good way to alter jeans that are too large around the waist? I’m going to show you how to fix that loose waistband.

Tools and materials: 

• Large jeans
• Seam ripper
• Measuring tape
• Pins
• Sewing chalk
• Sewing machine
• Scissors

1. Pinch and measure

Figure out how much fabric needs to be removed by pinching the jeans and measuring the excess fabric.

2. Remove the back of the waistband

Use your seam ripper to remove just the back of the waistband. Remove any belt loops too.

3. Measure and mark

Mark 2 points evenly spaced away from the center back.

Divide the amount that needs to be removed.

For example, I’m removing 2 inches, so I’m going to mark a 1 inch gap on each side, where I marked those 2 points.

4. Dart

Draw a line from the middle point of the measured area you’re removing downwards. This will be your dart fold line.

Join the bottom dart point with 1 of the notches at the top to create a dart leg.

5. Pin

Fold the area right sides together so that the 2 notches of the area being removed come together.

Pin it in place and put a pin at the end of the dart point.

6. Sew

Sew along the dart leg starting at the top edge, and make sure to back stitch only at the start.

At the end, leave long thread tails and tie a double knot. Repeat the process with the dart on the other side.

7. Reattach

Before reattaching the waistband, measure and cut off the same amount you removed from the jeans.

Encase the raw edge again overlapping the waistband, just where it was cut, before sewing back together. 

Use a belt loop to cover up any stitches that might be visible.

How to alter jeans

Now you have a snug and comfy waistband just like new. There’s nothing quite like the perfect fit.

Leave me a comment to let me know how yours turned out.

Next, learn How to Sew Buttons Using a Machine.