How to Shorten Track Pants from the top and from the bottom!

It’s not difficult to shorten track pants, either from the top or from the bottom, or both!
MY FAVE SEWING TOOLS: My sewing machine - Babylock Sofia 2
My serger - an old Kenmore
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases:
My Wiss scissors - US: amzn.to/48fkFXl Canada: amzn.to/41PJsiZ
My little Zwilling scissors - US: amzn.to/3HpeS6d Canada: amzn.to/3O3P1Er
C-Thru Ruler - US: amzn.to/3tfqdSS Canada: amzn.to/3TwBAk8
6x24” Olfa Ruler - US: amzn.to/3GEwV8f Canada: amzn.to/486Mm4V
Hip curve - US: amzn.to/41BMkQp Canada: amzn.to/41GVx9V
Erasable Frixion Markers - US: amzn.to/3tfjVCS Canada: amzn.to/3RVq68K
Sharp Tracing Wheel - US: amzn.to/3tfPr3s Canada: amzn.to/41DLF0z
Loop Turner - US: amzn.to/3RH6HIw Canada: amzn.to/483Z30q
Tailor’s Ham - US: amzn.to/3RGEXDG Canada: amzn.to/485SPNN
My cordless iron - similar: US: amzn.to/48kprDb Canada: amzn.to/4aus5rJ
To support the growth of my channel, please don't forget to give a thumbs up, leave a comment, SUBSCRIBE and share! Thanks so much!!!
Thank you, Matthew Inwood, for help with editing! You're awesome! [e-mail]
#sustainablefashion #sweaterupcycling #DIYFashion
Music: You’re No Help from the KZbin Audio Library
EMAIL: [e-mail]
TIKTOK: catherinesews
INSTAGRAM: @cathbhay
Thank you for watching and supporting the growth of my channel!
Until next time, take care!
~Catherine
0:00 Intro
0:43 Planning and Cutting
3:57 Reattaching the Waistband
7:42 Hemming the Bottoms
8:16 Double Needle Hem
9:50 Outro
DISCLAIMER: Some of the above links may be affiliate links, meaning if you purchase a product or service via these links I may receive a small commission/reward, at no additional charge to you, and I promise I will never try to sell you something that I don’t think is an EXCELLENT product!!

[@robintheparttimesewer6798]

That was brilliant! I never would have thought of splitting it top and bottom!! Also your friend has a great sense of humour

[@helenablignaut662]

😂 Your friend is such a good sport!

[@IMOO1896]

Your friend must have a great sense of humor. Great alteration!

[@christinec1928]

Agreed. Not so sure about his sense of fashion though ... 😁😁😁

[@RebeccaTreeseed]

Ben looks cute in his fancy duds and smile. You fixed him right up!

[@BritInvLvr]

We recently attended a track suit party for my daughter's boyfriend's birthday. Your friend would have fit right in.

[@CatherineSews]

Haha, that’s so cute 🤣

[@miaschu8175]

It takes a certain kind of man to pull off a style choice like that. Your friend has what it takes!

[@lorrainedempsey3320]

I would have been afraid to try an alteration like that, but watching you do it, was so helpful. I think I'm over the fear. Thank you.🤗🤗🤗

[@lucilledaub5991]

I love the sweat pants material. You did a great job.

[@user-vl9ou4nb3l]

The dude modelling these track pants is one handsome, confident guy! So impressed with your amazing sewing skills!

[@bonniecrowe1531]

"Dinner" Ha ha. I love the sense of humor.

[@lifeofjoy9404]

Ben is so lucky to have such a skilled personal tailor!!

[@sarahferrell5458]

Oh, yeah, that was as SMOOTH!! 😂❤👍. Good job, C.

[@CatherineSews]

Haha, I agree! So glad you liked it!

[@kylieinnocente242]

Excellent tutorial - excellent model 🤩

[@tinahenderson9990]

I need to do this on so many things!! I'm 5' and always roll the top.

[@mungbean345]

My husband is a shorter guy and has several pairs of super soft bamboo pajama pants. He currently rolls the waist about 6 times (it's skinnier than the elastic of Ben's track pants), but the legs are still too long, so he tucks the excess fabric into his house slippers! I knew it was going to take more effort than just shortening the leg length, so thanks for showing me what to do! 🎉

[@janelangdale6022]

Thank you for explaining about which needle to use. I thought skipped stitches were a tension problem. Please continue to educate me about needles!

[@mammastreed5070]

Awesome fix to that spectacular outfit! 🐯🐯🐯

[@craftymystic4868]

Fun friend, that suit takes a certain kind of man to wear, I loved it! And the metallic accent might be just the solution to not wanting full on faux leather pants, but could put that down the side of a pair of pants. Inspiration always, thanks.

[@applechipsiu]

The alternation came out perfect!

[@reeseoroni]

Soooo styling’! And love how you tackled that job.

[@sharongallagher3443]

Very knowledgeable as always. Great demonstration.

[@wekebu]

When you use a double needle what setting do you use on the sewing machine? Is it just a straight stitch?

[@CatherineSews]

Yes, just a straight stitch. Make sure you have a zigzag foot in though so both needles can fit through the hole in the foot!

[@AngeVPV]

The slow turn made me giggle!

[@CatherineSews]

Haha, me too!

[@themamachar]

Thanks.

[@sandrarekker585]

Nice!!

[@pamelabartlette6354]

That was fun !😅

[@lizhart901]

As a true petite, I really appreciate seeing how to shorten the crotch length of knit pants. It never occurred to me to take a bit off the waistband as well as the pants. It can be hard to find moderately priced clothes in petite, especially shopping online. I have a question about the seam where you removed the zipper. You finished the edge with the serger but mentioned that it could also be done on a regular machine, just finishing the edge with a zigzag. With a knit fabric, can you zigzag right at the edge. I've seen instructions to zigzag a narrower seam allowance, then trim off just outside the zigzag. Knowing me, I'd probably get too close and clip a few zigzag points.

[@sissy3220]

Men are so much fun 😂

[@Maplecook]

Woooooot!!

[@MariaMartinez-xm4fl]

❤❤❤

[@MariaDavids-db2pt]

❤❤❤smart

[@cheryl3366]

Hi Catherine, I have a serger question for you. I am clipping a seam, it's a band on the neck. Can I surge it after I clipped it for ease? Hope you can help thanks

[@CatherineSews]

Is it a neckband as on a T-shirt, or a neckline with a facing?

[@cheryl3366]

@@CatherineSews neck band

[@CatherineSews]

@@cheryl3366 On a T-shirt or other knit garment? that’s confusing. We generally don’t clip a neckband. But yes, if you’ve already clipped it, you can probably still serge.

[@cheryl3366]

@@CatherineSews yes I agree, I will try putting the under stitching in and see if it lays flat. Not impressed with the pattern. Thanks for the help

[@jillhulatt4647]

There is no way my baby lock overlocker would go through all those layers at the waist band, what settings would you use. Many thanks

[@kathyf7757]

Those old Kenmores are awesome! I don’t know about the overlockers (sergers in the US), but Janome made the Kenmore sewing machines from the 60’s to ‘13. I’ve been wondering if Catherine’s Kenmore serger is also a Janome make, which would explain the quality. Yup, a Google search confirms it’s a Janome in disguise! 🎉

[@kathyf7757]

Baby Locks sewing machines are made by Brother, and the sergers are made by Suzuki, btw, according to Google. (I am really weird and find the history of what company makes which sewing machine lines fascinating. 🤷‍♀️)

[@alanagoetzinger777]

I want to order the wax marker that you frequently use but I 'm not sure which one you recommended to order from Amazon. Would you please reference it again? Thank you.

[@CatherineSews]

Good news! It's just a scrap of soap!

[@kathyf7757]

I keep a dollar store mesh cup from office supplies in my bathroom so when my soap bar gets to that scrap size, I drop it in the cup to dry. That way I always have a ready supply of marking “wax” when I need it! If you don’t use bar soap in the shower you can always shave off a piece to use for fabric marking!

[@karinaalatorre5038]

☄️☄️☄️

[@lovemesomeslippers]

Is there any reason i couldn’t raise the crotch instead of lowering the waist? There are pocket details I don’t want to mess with.

[@CatherineSews]

No, unfortunately, raising the crotch means adding fabric. You can always drop the crotch, but raising it means pulling it up at the waist.

[@junewinger8044]

This was the same question I had as I was imagining it in my head.

[@sherrylparks2893]

The size of the needle, and perhaps the thread, was what caused me to ask what you are using. You already anticipated my concerns by using a 'test' run. However, your voice was so low I am not certain what "universal" needle size you recommended?

[@jonweaver2215]

'Promo sm' 😚

[@cassieoz1702]

Oh they are some ugly track pants 😆

[@CatherineSews]

Oh no! Don't tell Ben that, lol.