The best way to take in trouser waistbands

9 replies

nearlythree · 15/10/2006 10:29

Little dd2 has a tiny waist, and most trousers are too big. For some reason Next trs have adjusters for her 4 yr old sister but not her! How should I take then in? Most have half elasticated waists.

OP posts:

Original poster

nearlythree · 16/10/2006 21:59

bump by useless mummy!

OP posts:

Mirage · 16/10/2006 22:08

no idea,but we have the same problem.We have resorted to belts or braces,both available from h&m

hauntymandy · 16/10/2006 22:11

dd swears by hair grips!!!

Original poster

nearlythree · 16/10/2006 22:47

Thank you! The braces sound good, dd2 likes to take her clothes off so maybe that would scupper that too (or she'd strangle herself with them). And she'd probably eat hairgrips. (should have said she's two .)

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tracyk · 18/10/2006 11:48

Can you not put elastic through the waistband yourself?

Original poster

nearlythree · 18/10/2006 22:01

Hi, Tracy, that's why I'm posting - I'm a bit of a dressmaking idiot. I know how to put elastic through a channel waistband but these trs either have a waistband made of soft stretchy material (e.g. joggers) or the elastic is shirred into the waistband. I can hand-sew quite competently but need to know what to do in the first place, if you have any ideas I'd be really grateful.

OP posts:

tracyk · 19/10/2006 09:38

How about getting an inch or so of wide elastic and gathering a bit of the material at the back of the waistband and stitching the elastic on the inside?
Or use/add belt loops and put some kind of drawstring stuff through?

Glassofslime · 19/10/2006 09:51

unpick a small section of the waistband, pull the elastic out and measure the amount you need to decrease it. Sew across the elastic so that it's decreased pop it back into the waistband. Stitch back where you unpicked. As she grows you can always open it up and unpick the stiches across the elastic to give her more room although if she's like mine they'll be too short by then.

Sherbert37 · 19/10/2006 09:55

I fold over about an inch of waistband at the back or the sides and sew this. It is ok under longer tops but does look a bit baggy around the bottom. My DD is 11, in age 14 length clothes but with a 22" waist (lucky her) and it is a nightmare. Am getting to the stage where I will need to have clothes professionally altered. She would love a shortish denim skirt but we can't find one that fits (or adult size 8 narrow shoes to go with it, but that's another thread...).

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