Have you ever experienced having trouble with buttoning up your jeans? That one moment where you pull it up only to be faced with the concerns of zipping it up. You should know that this is a typical situation to face when using jeans. Sometimes, when you load it into the washing machine, you'd notice that it would shrink to an extent wherein you couldn't button it anymore.
Feeling your jeans squeeze through your legs but finding it hard to button can be very discouraging for some. Don't worry because here are some techniques that you can use so that you can button up your pants in no time. A lot of methods have become popular nowadays wherein you can increase a few inches to your jeans. Learn more about loosening the band of your pants and when and how you should do it.
When should you loosen up the waist of your jeans?
There isn't a specific given time when you will have to loosen up your jeans. It would all come down to how comfortable you are when you wear your pants. If you feel like your jeans are feeling a bit tight on the waist, you may choose to loosen them up a few inches just to make them feel comfortable.
Another way to figure out if your jeans require loosening up is to try to button them up. If you can button your jeans comfortably, then you are good to go. However, if you are having problems like holding your breath or holding your stomach in, you may need to loosen up the waistband of your jeans.
If you're having problems buttoning up your jeans, know that there are a lot of things that you can do to wear your jeans comfortably again. There are two categories in which you can loosen up your jeans. The first one is loosening up a few inches from the waistband of your jeans, and the other one is loosening up your jeans through tailoring. Check out the different ways to loosen up your pants down below.
Loosening up a few inches from the band of your pants
It can be pretty frustrating that your pants don't just fit like they used to, and you feel uncomfortable. If you're having trouble with buttoning up your favorite pair of jeans because there's a few inches gap, here are the most tested ways to help you with your problem.
Make use of a stretcher for waistbands
Suppose you fancy adding a few inches more to the waist of your jeans. Then you can do this with the help of a pant stretcher specifically for the waistband. It's a device made up of two equal parts that looks like a half-moon with an extension spacer that connects the two of them.
You'll be mainly using the extension spacer to stretch your jeans. Start by positioning the device in your jeans' waistband and push the half-moons to your desired limit. If you want to have better results, use this while your jeans are wet and leave them for an hour or so. The longer it stays stretched, the more permanent your results will be.
Hand stretching
It is a well-known fact that jeans are prone to shrinking if you let them dry using a tumble dryer. So rather than washing your jeans by means of using a washing machine and a tumble dryer, why not pass it by hand. Before you let it dry, give the waistband a good stretch while it's wet. Better yet, step on one side of the band and give it a good pull for a better stretch. After that, let it dry by hanging it and see precise results from it.
By steaming or ironing
Another notable thing that can visibly shrink a pair of jeans is by washing them with hot water. So this next hack may shock you. Did you know that you can stretch the waistband of your jeans by steaming or ironing them? If you mix high temperature with moisture, it will help soften the fabric of jeans, which is usually denim, so that you can stretch them to your heart's desire.
If you're willing to do this and for future use, you can choose to get a portable steamer as you will get both the efficiency of ironing and steaming all in one. This method will help you with all of your future jeans dilemmas.
Coat hanger stretch
If you think that manually pulling your pants to make them stretch is a lot of work, then you can try using a coat hanger. Although many people have been using coat hangers to hang their jeans for a long time now, did you know that using a coat hanger can help loosen up the waistband of your jeans?
This method is super easy and definitely worth the try for those who have problems with their jeans. Simply hang your jeans using a coat hanger, and make sure to hang them using the waistbands so that they will stretch. If you're looking for more efficient and more loose jeans, use a wider coat hanger for a more permanent change.
These methods are some of the most proven ways of loosening up the waistband of your jeans. However, this will only work if you want to loosen it up with just a few inches. If you aim for a more efficient way of making your jeans bigger on the waist, you may need to resort to tailoring.
Loosening up by tailoring
There are only a few inches that the previous methods can give you. Just a few additional breathing spaces, but what would happen if it still won't button up? Worry no more as you can still fix up your favorite jeans with the help of a bit of knowledge with tailoring. If you like this type of technique, here are the best tailoring methods to loosen up your jeans.
Stitching in some extension patches
Are you planning to add more than a few inches to your jeans? Then, we've got the perfect solution for you. If you need more than a few inches, adding extension patches is the right solution. These patches can be affixed on both sides of your jeans so that you can comfortably wear your jeans again. You would also be able to add the right amount of extension patches so that you won't have trouble with buttoning up ever again.
If you don't know where to start, here's what you should do. Start by making 2 to 3 inches cut along the sides and stretching it to a V shape. This is where you will be inserting the extension patch. Then, find a piece of cloth or fabric that matches your jeans well.
Keep the piece of cloth in place with the help of pins before stitching it up. Doing this will help position it well and avoid mistakes in the process. Once you're done, you can choose to cut off some of the fabric to prevent excess material. Just make sure to leave enough so that it won't tear.
Playing it safe with elastic extensions
If you are trying to find easy ways to make the waist bigger on jeans by tailoring, this is the proper technique. Unlike the other methods, you wouldn't need to cut through your jeans. Instead, you can make an elastic band all on your own, or you can buy elastic bands available in some stores.
Elastic extensions are the best option as you can also remove them in the future if you happen to lose weight. They are very easy to install and also very easy to remove. This technique is very efficient for pants that still fit you, but there's not much breathing space.
Pregnant women also love elastic extensions as they can simply add them to their jeans as their bump continues to grow. The extensions even provide excellent support for their growing bump. It's a great and quick solution for them for the first few months of pregnancy before collecting maternity outfits.
Style it up with a stretch waistband
Stretch waistband jeans are the perfect mix of comfort and style. These are the kind of outfits that people in their old ages would love. Wearing it is very easy with little to no effort. You wouldn't even need a belt to wear this type of jeans. However, no pair of jeans can be perfect. Creating this kind of pants will require the help of a professional tailor who's had experience with making this kind of pants.
Conclusion
There are many concerns and questions to consider when we ask how to make the waist bigger on jeans. It may seem very frustrating for some, but remember that there are many ways you can get back to wearing your jeans comfortably. Whether manually or by tailoring, these techniques will help you fit in comfortably with your jeans.