If your child is like mine and the waist of their pants are too big, while the length is perfect, you are in the right place. I found a way to take in the waistband of a pair of pants that is adjustable so if your child grows, you can take out the waist and the pants will still fit. This was a quick and easy project with almost no sewing involved. Even a beginner would be able to do this.
Materials
Pair of pants
Buttonhole elastic (make sure it’s no wider than the casing of your waistband – I used 5/8″)
Two small buttons
Matching thread
Sewing needle
Scissors
Pen
measuring tape
Safety pin
Tutorial
Start by marking the part of your pants where you want your elastic to cover. I marked my pants 2″ away from the back middle seam on each side.
Sew each button 1/4″ away on the outside of both marks. Make sure you are not sewing all the way through the fabric so it isn’t visible on the outside.
Cut a small slit along each of your marks. Only cut the innermost piece of fabric when you do this. I was modifying a knit piece so I didn’t have to worry about the pants fraying. If you are doing this with a pair of pants that can fray, either use some fray stop or hand sew around the slits like you would a buttonhole.
Prepare your elastic. Cut your elastic one inch longer than the distance between the two slits (so 5″ for me)
Fold your elastic down 1/8″ and zig zag sew along the edge so the elastic doesn’t fray.
Attach the elastic to one of your buttons, and attach your safety pin to the other end
Work the safety pin and elastic through the casing of the pants and attach the other end of the elastic to the other button. Pull it as tight as needed.
Looking for another way to make an adjustable waistband?
