Is it possible to fix these stretchy leggings?

[AintNobodyHereButUsChickens]

The stitching is coming apart up the arse crack 🤣 I bloody love these leggings, they’re perfect for work but I only have two pairs and I cannot find them anywhere in my size. They’re what you call 4 way stretch I think. I need them to be fixable 😩 I have a fairly basic Janome machine (2032) but I’ve never really sewn clothes before so I’m not sure how to go about it. Please tell me they’re fixable!

They are fixable
Better done at a shop with a serger (type of sewing machine).

Looked at your machine manual and it does look like you have a zig zag stitch, a multi step zig zag and what look like some overlock type stitches. If you can use the machine relatively well and have some similar fabric you can practice on, I would experiment to see what stitches might work and have a go at it myself. Unless they are really expensive / so precious that you are prepared to pay.

Oh that’s a good idea! I have a pair of gym leggings that I call my ‘last resort’ pair because I don’t like how they fit. I’ll have a trial run on those and see how it goes. Thanks! What stitch would you suggest? And would I use just normal cotton thread?

Your best bet is polyester thread. My go to for sewing is Gutermann Sew All Polyester which I use loads with stretch fabrics. You can get it most places including Hobbycraft, Amazon etc. I would probably use the normal zig zag stitch and maybe increase a bit from the default size, but this is where you need to have a little trial, as ideally your stitch size would be similar to the original. I should add I am by no means an expert and love trying to fix things, not always successfully! But I have made a few things with stretch Lycra and most have turned out well.

second gutermann sew all polyester

An overlocker will trim the seam. You can't do a Flat seams on an overlocker. Flat seams like that are done on a coverstitch machine. They could be stitched with a zig zag stitch and a second line with a double needle on a sewing machine, but it will not have any structural integrity.

@AintNobodyHereButUsChickens take them to a sewing shop.

I guess it depends what you mean by fix. If your goal is to have an invisible repair... Then get a professional. If the goal is to not flash your arse... Get gutermann sew all thread and look up the stretch stitches in your sewing machine. I had 'triple stretch stitch' (probably stitch A with length set to S) recommended by someone who sews aerial costumes as being pretty bombproof. Downside is..it is nearly impossible to unpick.

I’m not bothered if it’s visible, I just don’t want them to fully split! I really need these leggings 😅

Thanks, l’ll try it out on a spare pair of gym leggings!

If it's somewhere that can't be seen just fix it with a needle and thread. It's a lot less hassle and risk than messing around with a machine.

It’s right up the arse, I said that in my post. Also I can’t hand sew so it would be a lot more hassle to do that 🤣

Done! Far from the prettiest work ever done but I’m cautiously optimistic that it’ll hold 🤣

Well done! Looks good to me. Hope they pass the squat test!