The problem with losing weight is having to buy new clothes. Often in sizes you don’t wish to own. So what do you do when you find yourself wearing jeans that look like this: 
No, this won’t do! No worries. There is a very quick fix that doesn’t involve taking apart waistbands and hems.
1. Put your pants on inside out. Figure out how much extra in the waist and legs you need to take in. PIn the top and carefully step out of the pants.
2. Sew down each side. Make sure to sew an even amount on each side so you don’t have a wonky seam up your backside. 
Notice here I made an original seam then tried the pants on and realized I wanted to take them in ¼″ on each side so I sewed another seam.
3. Finish the seam. Use a serger, pinking sheers or a zigzag stitch. 
4. Sew the seam down at the waist and bottom of the pant leg. The outside will look like this: 
Can you see that stitching ¼″ to the left of the seam? The inside will look like this: 
Sometimes you will want to take in the inseam as well to get a better fit. Just go for it in the same manor you did the side seams.
Now wear those pants with pride for the next 4 weeks until you go down another size!
Looking for adorable little girl patterns? Have you seen Petite Kids Boutique?
Comments & Reviews
Southern Gal says
I’m hoping I’ll have to do this soon. Thanks!
Erin says
I’m right there…thanks so much for the tutorial! (Oh, and congratulations on your weight loss!)
Amy K. says
I have been puzzling over how I can get pants that fit my waist but aren’t too baggy everywhere else (yes, my ‘waist’ is almost the same measurement as my hips!), and I think this just might be the perfect solution! Thanks for sharing!!
Chris says
You rock! Wishing you success as you keep working toward your goal.
Trish J. says
Thank you for this! I have several pairs of pants that are just waiting for this. I don’t quite understand what you do at the waist and (your picture with the arrow) and with the bottom of the pants. (I am rather a beginner at sewing.) Could you elaborate?
Thanks!
Trish
Traci says
Doesn’t sewing in at the side seams take in the front pockets as well? I’ve thought about trying this before, but I love me my pockets, so I didn’t want to make the pocket opening smaller.
Sonya says
I wanted my pockets too, on scrub pants. Here’s the plan. I took off the side pockets first before taking in the side seams. I also marked where each pocket belongs on the side seam. After making the cuts to downsize the seams, while each pant leg was still open, I sewed the pockets back in position. It’s easier than sewing pockets back on with the seams sewn together closed like a tube. After that I sewed the seams back up. Hope this helps.
Andrea @ The Train To Crazy says
Yes! It will definitely make the pocket smaller unless you take more out of the backside instead. This definitely isn’t a way to make perfect jeans but it works well with many types of jeans.
Andrea @ The Train To Crazy says
Trisha,
Sorry my description was not great! I’ll try to explain further but this tutorial also uses the same technique so maybe these pictures would help you.
http://www.thetraintocrazy.com/2011/05/maternity-no-more.html
Basically, you’ll have a seam sticking out at the waistband and the bottom hem so you just sew it down to one side.
hope that helps!
Andrea
jacque says
what do you do if the jeans don’t have a waistband that you can undo? I have a pair of jeans I love and need to make them smaller.
Sonya says
A quick solution is to continue the cut on the side seam right up through the waistband. But a strong sewing needle and machine that can go through multiple layers of denim is needed to join it again.
Andrea @ The Train To Crazy says
I didn't undo this waistband. I would have if I indented these to be worn forever but I just too the sides in, waistband and all. No unpicking involved.
Some pants won't lend themselves to this method. Some barriers that come to mind are elastic waistbands, cargo pockets, side zippers, etc. this is really a no frills fix to get you through. Not a true "tailor" fit.
Kara says
Thank you for this tutorial! Your explanation, together with some encouragement from a seamstress aunt, gave me the courage to try this with my warm, baggy flannel jeans. I just tried them on, and they fit so much better. I finally feel like a woman in them!
Emily says
Great info! Also comes in handy for when I buy pants at the thrift store that are too big for me, but love them anyways!
Emily
domesticdeadline.blogspot.com
Sharon says
Thanks for the great idea! I have lost some weight and have been needing to invest in some new clothes, but I’m not wanting to commit too much money to a new wardrobe just yet! I’ve still got some pounds to go! Thanks for helping me save some dough in the meantime. 🙂
Lia says
In step 3 when you finish the seam do you cut off the extra fabric?
Sonya says
Yes.
Julie says
I suppose this would work for skirts as well? I have several denim skirts that don’t fit now that I’ve lost some weight…and I really don’t want to replace them just yet!
Leah says
I know this is an old post, but I wanted to thank you for writing it! I just took in a pair of maternity pants that were way too big! It took me less than an hour (dress pants not jeans) and while it’s not perfect (I’m still learning), it got the job done! I’ll be doing my jeans soon too. Thank you so much!
Lisa Connolly says
Another very late post but I have to say thank you for the instructions.
I have recently gone down 3 dress sizes very quickly because of illness, not quite as exciting as doing it the hard way and as fast as I buy smaller they are baggy again! I bit the bullet this morning, dug my machine out and have altered 6 pairs of pants already. Much easier and quicker than I expected, look great and have saved me a fortune.
Thank you so much!
Charlane Fogle says
I do not need to take in the waist, only the butt area and the legs. I also have pockets. These are not jeans but pants I want to wear to church. Any help on how to do this without doing the waist will be appreciated. Thanks.
Galatea says
Thanks for the tutorial. I went from a size 10 to size 2. I wasn’t trying to lose weight, just wanted to eat healthier foods, so I’m still a little surprised. I don’t want to buy more new clothes, I have plenty of pants I like that just need to be altered. They’re casual clothes, (jeans, capris, shorts) and I buy most of my clothes on eBay so it’s not sensible to pay a tailor to do alterations. I can sew well enough to do it. Thanks again, and congrats on your weight loss!
L. Carol Bee says
Thanks very much. I need to take up the crotch area so do I just start at the front and go all the way around on the crotch? These are sweat pants. At 76 I don’t want to buy more if I could make these smaller side seams and crotch. Been on a wheat free (gluten-out) diet and down 20 lbs.