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Permalink Reply by Triciababe on September 1, 2009 at 1:41pm

I've taken in pants/shorts at both side seams and the back seam after losing weight (I don't cut anything from the front 1/2, only cut from the back 1/2). This seems to work well for me and my pockets and zippers remain where they should. I'm sure someone else can explain it better and I suppose it matters just how much you're taking in. But for just a few inches this has worked very well for me. I often have to make the back center seam like a very large dart (I have a flat butt!) so I'm not bagging so badly back there! But it works and my pants/shorts look fine.

Permalink Reply by Zhizara on September 1, 2009 at 4:35pm

I got the idea from men's slacks where they leave extra material at the back for letting pants out. When I lost weight, or when altering too large slacks and shorts, even skirts:

After marking how much I need to take in the waist, I remove the waistband stitching at the inside of the middle back seam and take the clothing in there,

Starting down low on the garment, I take a long dart to the waistband and the mark there, sewing through the waistband material. The waistband can then be hemmed back into place. It does leave a seam in the middle of the back waistband, but that beats removing the whole waistband, shortening and reattaching it.

If the pants legs are too big:

After measuring and deciding how much to take in:

Starting at the crotch seam, taper gradually out to the new seam marking and run your new seam down the inside of the leg. Repeat on other leg.

This method can also be used when you have a too long crotch. Mark where you feel more comfortable, I usually try an inch or so at a time and cut away the excess fabric and try them on. Be sure your check your fit by sitting down and crouching to make sure you have enough room. It's a good idea to sew a double seam for strength in this area.

I hope this helps.

Sally

Permalink Reply by Triciababe on September 1, 2009 at 4:55pm

Jeane, you can always use a basting stitch at first, try them on without cutting. Once you get a good fit, go ahead and machine stitch and cut afterwards. When taking in clothing, I nearly always sew first, try it on, cut last.

Permalink Reply by Jeane Howell on September 1, 2009 at 6:08pm

Thank you for both of your suggestions. I have printed off all the answers & I feel less intimated now
about trying to alter my slacks. Oh gee, I just noticed that I wrote about pants getting too small soon.
I meant getting too large as I continue to lose weight. Hope that wasn't a Freudian slip.


Jeane

Permalink Reply by Jeane Howell on September 1, 2009 at 6:10pm

Thank you for your instructions. They have been printed & I will work on them later this month.


Jeane

Permalink Reply by Cat on September 18, 2009 at 12:19pm

Hello Jeane, congrats on the weight loss, Hope it was intentional. Depending on the pants style, try taking the pants in at the crotch seam, this shortens the cener back and center front seams and takes fullnes out of the leg......may not work with a hard center crease on the legs, works great with jeans, lowers the waist and gets rid of bagginess in the back of leg. Sometimes need only take excess out of back leg....I know you have to take the seam apart, but this doesn't mess up the front center crease, and sometimes its only the tushy/upper thigh that has diminshed in dimension...am told using distilled vinegar help remove crease lines and set new ones.....good luck

Permalink Reply by Jeane Howell on September 18, 2009 at 12:54pm

Thank you, I will try that. The weight loss is intentional & I have a long way to go. I suppose I'm
going to learn about alteration since I have a closet full of clothes in various sizes. Much better to
resize those than to spend money for new clothes.

Jeane