7.18.2009

fit as a fiddle, post two reconstruction

Step 5 (one through 4 are found in the post below)
pin sides together starting at the crotch and working up to the waist)

Step 6
baste stitch sides together with dark matching tread (be sure to use a denim or jean needle). I find I often need little adjustments to this seam so it fits just right. once you find the perfect fit seam sides together over your baste line.

Step 7
serge off excess. if you don't have a serger I recommend you run a second stitch line 1 to 2 mm from the raw edge and then zigzag over the raw edge.
Step 8
pin serged edge to one side from the right side (or outside) of the jeans. you will be top stitching next. here are views from the right and wrong (inside and outside).

Step 9
using your top stitching tread run two stitch lines 2 to 3mm apart over the folded raw edge. don't forget that you can loosen the presserfoot tension if the layers become too bulky. If you are unable to find top stitching tread in the right color you can buy regular tread and stitch over the same line 2 or 3 times to bulk it up. I ended up having to do that one these jeans.
Step 10
reattach the belt loop over the waist band seam line. you may have to do this by hand as there are so many layers of fabric here.

Step 11
marvel at your before and after. total time = 1.5 hours...so worth it.

49 comments:

  1. Wow! You just lost an easy 10 pounds, and you didn't look big to begin with. Strong work!

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  2. Thank you for posting this tutorial!! I refuse to wear a pair of jeans that allows a peak down at my undies, but that tends to be most of what's in the stores.

    I posted a link to your tutorial on Craft Gossip Sewing:
    http://presserfoot.blogspot.com/2009/07/fit-as-fiddle-post-two-reconstruction.html
    --Anne

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  3. Nice job! I've never been confident enough to tackle denim. You are a pro!

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  4. Anonymous18.7.09

    Thank you! Thank you!!!!!! so much for doing this with the pictures

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  5. Great tutorial - thanks! I really don't understand why the manufacturers don't make jeans to fit curves because most women I know have this problem. I've done alterations on dress pants but never on jeans, I've been to scared! I'll definitely try now.

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    Replies
    1. I can tell you as I work for a manufacturer in design and product developmemt.
      The womens hips are so distinct from woman to woman that you would need to make at least 3 different shape types. Sales teams would have to guess how many pear,apple and square type women of which size would also like that jeans and produce as many. Because if you just produce an equal amount per shape (lets say in spring season you have produced 9.000 pieces of this jeans, 3.000 each type) but apple butt ladies don't buy their share of 3.000 jeans, pear and square cant buy it even if they like the style. And next season this cut/washing/pocket style is out of season already and the leftover apple shape jeans go to waste.
      So manufacturers made a "universal" fit that neither fits the apple square or pear but does fit all of them good enough to at least pull it up. As there are no other options all 3 kinds will accept the small fitting issue and all 9.000 pairs are sold.
      Also the tendency to blame all fitting issues on the womans body not the item of clothing helps us a lot, here.
      For model photoshoots all items are altered to fit. Which also increases the costumers whish to buy that item because it looks so much better than any of their own which is again helping us.
      In short: better fitting jeans would lead to less sales and more production costs, while ill fitting jeans are sold anyway. So why should we?

      Delete
  6. Extremely Impressive! TFS!

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  7. Love the "no more crack" jeans fix! Can't wait to try it!

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  8. So do you think this will work with maternity jeans as well? I have a pair from Liz Lange's Target collection and they give me "saggy baggy elephant butt" Im just wondering if the lack of a regular waistband will somehow hinder this project?

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  9. Well, I've never tried this on maternity pants, but I suppose it would. Is there elastic in the back? If so you could make a small cut in the waistband and just take in the elastic. if not I think it would work. Let me know:)

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  10. Dang! Those don't even look like the same jeans, or cheeks. Great job.

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  11. Anonymous21.8.09

    You are my new hero! I was just complaining the other day about how jeans aren't made for curvy girls!

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    Replies
    1. I think the fabric that the manufactures are using is no good. I think I'm just going to go back to wearing men's pants. I'm not very curvy.

      Delete
  12. Anonymous16.2.10

    Totally Awesome Tutorial with Fantastic Photos. Thank you for this great info. I REALLY feel like I can do this now. Tamara :)

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  13. Anonymous19.11.10

    Ohhh, THANK YOU for sharing these instructions! You saved my butt! :D

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    Replies
    1. Anonymous10.4.13

      LOL! Saved a lot of butts!

      Delete
  14. Anonymous18.2.11

    Don't wanna turn this into a "perv" thread, but DANG...nice butt!

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  15. Anonymous4.3.11

    I'm impressed - I usually just put tucks in - but this looks so much better.

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  16. Anonymous6.8.11

    Thank you, thank you, thank you. After checking several sites, yours is the most complete with pics and instructions. And, who can argue with the results! :)

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  17. Anonymous8.4.12

    Thank you sooooooo much :) This is probably the only clear tutorial I was able to understand and I reduced my wasit upto 3 sizes! :)

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  18. Anonymous11.4.12

    My machine aint an industrial one, so top stitching on machine was hard. Therefore I did a back stitch by hand, and it still turned out perfect! :) Thank you so much for this wonderful tutorial!

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  19. Genius I tell ya'!! Thanks so much for this :)

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  20. Thank you, thank you, thank you! As I was not blessed with a curvacious backside, I have dealt with "saggy britches" ha all my life and altering jeans on the side seams does not always seem to provide a flattering fit. I can't wait to try this!

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  21. Thank you so much for this detailed amazing tutorial! I got pretty big with my first pregnancy, I was having complications so very little activity kind of lost my butt and had only just started coming down in weight when I found out I'm pregnant again (very big oops) And I have been mourning the loss of jeans that fit right over the rear-they all look loose and mom jeanish to me :( But this is such a fantastic tutorial I want to test it out immediately!

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  22. Lots of Good information in your post, I favorited your blog post so I can visit again in the future, Thanks.

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  23. Thank. It makes me feel great when I read all these stories. It helps me from hopelessness and make me more stronger to fly… thank… for everything.

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  24. Anonymous10.4.13

    Great work! Great tutorial!

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  25. Best tutorial I've ever seen for altering jeans! As a seamstress for over 40 years now I've done my fair share of these but have never seen such good instructions for others...Great post!!!!!!!!!

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  26. Almost all my clothes come from thrift stores, so I can't wait to hack at some jeans and try this! Thanks, this is a great tutorial.

    ~Gillian
    youngyankeelady.blogspot.com

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  27. this is fracking awesome. Thanks, I'm gonna have a Butt again ;)

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  28. Anonymous5.8.13

    Thank you so much for this tutorial. So easy to understand and such a professional result. :)
    Maria Lisa from Italy.

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  29. Thank you so much for this tutorial. It is really so easy to do, I'm thinking "now why didn't I think of that?" :D

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  30. Anonymous21.7.14

    This is fantastic! Thanks so much for this tutorial. So easy to do and what a great fit!

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  31. Anonymous4.11.14

    Where are steps 1-4?

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  32. Anonymous16.8.15

    Click 'Older Post' - below, right. :)

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  33. Great tutorial, thank you!

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  34. I love it!
    I have the same problem and now I know what to do.
    Perfect! Thank you!

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  35. Absolutely love this tutorial.

    To be honest, I had looked at many tutorials that removed the baggy butt problem, but I still had not worked up the courage to give it a try. Your tutorial takes it step by step with detailed pics and gives me the confidence I can do this. Thanks a ton!

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  36. i dont believe it.

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  37. Anonymous4.1.17

    Not an easy thing to do, I'm lost.... where can I find a video tutorial?

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  38. Gracias yo tengo ese problema pero se me ase mas en la pierna isquierda bendiciones

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  39. Anonymous5.6.17

    I just did this last night by following the tutorial. It WORKED! I tried it on a pair of jeans that were really old first. The only part that was a bit confusing was step 5. I tried to pin it but when I ended up sewing it, the butt crease was off center. How do I fix this? And also, is there a way to alter the butt without taking in the waist?

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  40. In order for jeans to fit on a "natural" waistline, they must have a 7 inch zipper. Any ideas on adding to the top of the waistband on high raise jeans to accomplish this without using anything stretchy. I want the waist band to fit snug like a pair of dress pants.

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    Replies
    1. Have you tried making your own? There are plenty of patterns available for jeans & dress pants. You can combine the feature you like preconstruction. Sometimes it's just easier to start from scratch. It would be awfully difficult to accomplish what you are suggesting. You are very unlikely find the matching fabric you will need to raise the waistline. Even if you do, it will be a fairly challenging task to get get the extension to lay just right for a traditional look. On the other hand, you may have a creative design idea in mind that would give your jeans a very unique and individual look.

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    2. @Sherry: 'they must have a 7" zipper ... not necessarily. Since method is difficult to explain web search: Pinterest for examples/instructions. (If English, you may have to use google translate for some.) Hope this helps.

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  41. I can’t find steps before 5 �� and I need them �� can you help me find them? Hi Ivy’s saggy baggy butt jeans need help

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    Replies
    1. http://presserfoot.blogspot.com/2009/07/getting-rid-of-gap-in-back-post-one.html

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  42. so wait what happens to the waist band? thats always the part i don't know what to do with. Do you just seam over it like its just part of the center seam? ive seen some tailors us a seem ripper to unstitch the waist band from the pants enough to stitch it together by its self and then reinsert the top of the pants into the seem of the waist band. Thoughts as this seems to be the hardest part.

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  43. Anonymous8.1.22

    I didn't see anywhere where it shows how to fit the jeans so that you know how much fabric to eliminate.

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