Best Way To Make Suit Pants Waist Smaller (Ep. 26)

In this video you'll learn to complete a suit pant waist alteration from start to finish. Follow along for a step by step tutorial on how to make a suit pant waist smaller.
Shoot us your questions and let us know what else you want to see by commenting below!
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00:00 Intro
01:57 Seam Ripping The Waistband
04:17 Understanding The "Double"
09:45 Sewing The Waistband
12:21 Releasing The Original Stitch
16:07 Pressing
19:21 Correcting Our Work
22:37 Pressing The Corrected Stitching
25:18 Tacking The Waistband

[@nenasalobir6379]

You are the love child of Bob Ross and Leslie Knope and I AM HERE FOR IT! Don’t ever stop, please and thank you x

[@sewshowwithshae]

This is one of the most thoughtful compliments I have ever received 😍

[@shrutis7997]

Thank you for showing the corrections. Being a beginner it helps in seeing it is ok to not have it perfect the first time and how to adjust and correct. It gives confidence to start working on the project.

[@user-sc9bq9eu6f]

You are, from far, one of the best ever !!! Sooo clear and professional. Thank you very much !!! I'm waiting for more tutorials. Hello from Québec, Canada.

[@miggy.a]

For some reason sewing tutorials are difficult to learn from because there is no context. This video taught me a lot because you provided the context for each step! Thank you! I am also going to buy a ham now.

[@monam7984]

PERFECT teaching video! I LOVE the attention to detail you show on every little move!!! I also like that you showed how to fix mistakes and what to look for. It was definitely the step-by-step help that I needed!! Thank you. PLEASE, I would like to see you do this type of video for taking or letting out the crotch and leg side seams, also hips if needed.

[@sewshowwithshae]

Yes! A crotch video is coming soon, I get a ton of requests for this procedure in the shop

[@andrealim9938]

The loop at the CB waistband is for hanging the trouser on a wall hook, or something similar, and you don't have to use a trouser hanger.

[@standingbroom]

Thank you! All of your videos I have watched have been excellent. You have great teaching skills along with sewing.

[@kimjay2380]

Beautiful tutorial, you’re such a natural teacher! Thank you 🙏🏻

[@vonnakuykendall8059]

Love love your videos. I have a little alternation shop and I’ve learned some great tips from you Keep them coming

[@kairu86]

So clear and easy to follow!

[@Taluta394]

Thank you for great explanation and directions

[@jeaniechampagne8831]

You are a perfectionist! So am I. Enjoyed your video!!

[@dirkdubois4666]

These videos are amazing. So clear with great steps

[@lucilledaub5991]

I love the way you cut hem n use the original hem. Great way. I loved your video.On the jeans.

[@munderscore1156]

Thank you so much for this video it was so helpful! You're amazing, keep up the great work!

[@rosejacks8662]

Thank you for a great explanation!

[@martinharris5017]

Thanks Shae. very clearly explained. great presentation.

[@aprilcarter749]

Your video is very helpful I have 4 pair of men’s pants that need this done. So happy the belt loops can stay in the same place. Thanks for sharing alone with measurements & the demonstration. ❤.

[@jerseyrose67]

Absolutely loved this video. I did great. Got everything straight. Thanks 😊

[@thelukaverse]

The purity that you radiate is rare. God bless you miss.

[@tallestdrink]

Hello, I'm a new sewer. I've just been given my first sewing machine for Christmas. I've taken a beginners sewing class back in October, but I've bought some pants/culottes that look like a pleated skirt. (Expecting that I'd intuitively be able to figure it out. Not the case...smh) In the beginning of this video you were talking about the pockets being moved too far to the back... the slacks I'm trying to alter are a size 4xl, but I'm a 34 waist and when I measure trying to just remove from the back the front side pockets almost end up behind me. So confused. Any advice? Just started following you. But I absolutely love you style of teaching! Hope you can help.

[@julieball9467]

Very well done. I think I can do it !!! Thank You. Wow that machine is awesome!

[@user-gx4qi5uy6e]

Very good instruction

[@petraqnati9747]

You explain very well Thank you

[@user-vx3mz8sp7p]

great video!!

[@lucilledaub5991]

Loved the bigger way to do the waistband.

[@johnregan2443]

I have had trousers let in and taken out - fascinating to see how it's done.

[@Marlyn616]

I appreciate your video well done

[@michellemabelle100]

That is really neat, that you can just take out those tacks and everything on the inside flips out so easily. (Easy to see I've never taken in or let out pants before!) I was going to ask whether you need to move the belt loops afterwards, but I guess not. I'm going to go look at a pair of my husband's dress pants now and see what that centre back waist is like! Super helpful video, thank you!

[@sonipitts]

If you're taking pants in and the resulting rear belt loops are going to end up being too close together, you can always remove them and then just replace one over the center seam once you're done (save the orphaned one in case you ever need to let them back out again, or if another belt loop gets damaged or torn).

[@kevinorr6880]

I have to take in a 38” pants waist down to 33” oh boy…gonna be a busy day!

[@hibiscus-dreams]

TY for this demo. My son is rather small in waist but long legged. Hoping I can find slacks with the appropriate length & use this method to adjust the waist.

[@TiffHartley]

I am working on some pants that have already been altered. Looking at the inside center seem, it looks like the previous person took in the left side more than the right side. Should I even out the center seam before I bring it in? I need to bring it in 3 1/2 inches total. From the outside, the pockets are 1/2 inch off center from each other. From the inside it the pockets are 1 inch off in difference. I am cautious to bring it in 1 1/4 inch before centering because the pockets may look extremely off-center at that point.

[@danielturner7743]

Thaks for a very straight forward and informative video. Its good you left in mistakes and corrections. Is it possible to shape the bottom area in other places to remove any bag and sag? Thaks again, really easy to follow.

[@sewshowwithshae]

Yes, it is possible to shape other areas however, I would caution you that once you get into the lower cheek upper thigh area that is actually a crotch alteration, and not a pant seat alteration, they are very different and I’m trying to get a video up on this very soon!

[@karenanjasmara]

You’re such a good teacher. Thankyou so much for helping me🤍

[@oluwakemihannaadeoye3548]

You’re so sweet. Love your videos

[@shirleyggne984]

Thank you so much for your wonderful, helpful videos! I enjoy them very much ! I was wondering if there is a reason for not stitching in the ditch at the end instead of tacking?

[@sewshowwithshae]

Sometimes I feel like stitching in the ditch holds the seam allowance in a stiff position that is unnatural to the curve of the back so I go back and forth between tacking and stitch in the ditch depending on how far we are taking the garment in.

[@shirleyggne984]

​@Tallgrass Tailor thank you so much for your answer!

[@vickibouzos7044]

Hello! Your videos are very helpful. The dress pants I’m working on require a 3” take in. The belt loops will be almost touching so I need to place them further apart. Any help or instruction would be appreciated. Do you have a video for that? Thank you!

[@sewshowwithshae]

In the case of belt loops it’s pretty straight forward; we often re-space them after the take-in is completed and just topstitch them right back on.

[@michelleparson9105]

Do you have a video of doing this, with the men's hidden elastic band in the Seam?

[@sewshowwithshae]

If the waistband just includes that silicone gripper tape then the process will be the same if it actually has elastic, I thought that usually occurred more on the sides of the pants and since this is the center back seam that shouldn’t affect the process either.

[@marthaluciagarcia176]

what a young man and so much talent, glorious future.

[@zaraduarte8638]

Man?. She es a beautiful woman.

[@Taluta394]

Strange comment about a female 😳

[@lilianagiovinazzo2174]

That Luke very had work for you I think it eser than that Done lot of them😅😅

[@user-hg3hg6zo6z]

❤❤❤❤❤

[@marthaluciagarcia176]

I apologize for my mistake, of course she is a beautiful woman.

[@lilianagiovinazzo2174]

Sorry i do lot of soween my self that what you doing seam very had work for you

[@meivalai724]

Hello, I have a men's suit trousers to take in 2 inches but if I do it from the back seam only as in your video, the two back pockets will be too close to each other. would you please suggest any other methods?

[@sewshowwithshae]

Yes! Time to buy new pants!

[@michelleparson9105]

You didn't run your stitch down the line that you made into the seat. How much of an adjustment was that?

[@sewshowwithshae]

If I am not intentionally taking in the seat of the pants, I just run the line down smoothly until it merges with the existing seat seam in a natural looking way.

[@kevinorr6880]

What to do if I need to take in 7” in waist? Thank you.

[@sewshowwithshae]

Don’t. The side seems will be thrown way back and the pockets will overlap on the seat, 7 inches is just too much and not worth it.

[@flygbaggen]

Probably my first youtube comment ever but this deserves it. This video was super clear and easy to follow even if ur like me and cant even spell sewing makine. Good job, you have saved me alot of time and money from having to buy new clothes, next step, downsize the suit jacket 🫣

[@kimjay2380]

Beautiful tutorial, you’re such a natural teacher! Thank you 🙏🏻