Fixing a loose fold over waistband , by Olivia Zamora | Sewing + Gardening on YouTube. 2 min 13 s.
- Video length
- 2 min 13 s
- Time to do it
- 20 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Turn the trousers inside out and find the seam where the waistband casing was joined. Look for a stitched gap or a spot where the elastic ends meet.
Use the seam ripper to open a gap of about 5 cm in the inner casing seam. Take care not to cut the elastic or the outer fabric.
Pinch the old elastic and pull it out through the gap. If it is still springy, measure it against your waist and cut off the excess.
If the elastic has lost its stretch, cut a new piece about 2 cm shorter than your waist measurement. Thread it through with a safety pin.
Attach the safety pin to one end of the elastic and feed it through the casing, working it around the waistband a little at a time.
Overlap the two elastic ends by about 2 cm and sew them together with a zigzag stitch. Backstitch a few times for strength.
Try the trousers on before closing the gap. Adjust the elastic length if the waist feels too tight or still loose.
Sew the casing gap closed with a small running stitch or machine stitch, matching the original seam line.
Tips and common mistakes
Keep hold of the elastic end at all times while threading, or it will disappear into the casing.
Use elastic that is slightly narrower than the casing so it slides through easily.
Wash and dry the new elastic before sewing so it does not shrink later.
Questions
Can I fix this without a sewing machine?
Yes. A needle and thread with a zigzag or backstitch works fine for joining the elastic and closing the gap.
What if the waistband has no elastic inside?
Then it is a plain folded band. You can add a casing by folding and stitching a channel, or take in the side seams instead.
How tight should the new elastic be?
It should sit snug without digging in. Cut it about 2 cm shorter than your waist and test the fit before closing the seam.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
