Clothing alterations

rjdk

Hi all! Does anyone have a way to reduce clothing sizes, specifically trouser waist bands, which doesn't involve sewing? My husband has recently lost 4 stone & is planning to loose more. Now none of his clothes fit but he doesn't want to buy a new wardrobe until he's reached his target weight. Neither of us are good at sewing, just wondering if there's a trick to help his trousers fit as he keeps losing weight. Thank you! 

ivyleaf

Well done to your husband!

I can't think of a way that doesn't involve sewing, but it's worth seeing if any of the dry cleaners near you have a repairs and alterations service; they should be able to insert some elastic at the back of the waistband. Hope this helps 

Floss

ivyleaf said:

Well done to your husband!

I can't think of a way that doesn't involve sewing, but it's worth seeing if any of the dry cleaners near you have a repairs and alterations service; they should be able to insert some elastic at the back of the waistband. Hope this helps 

And maybe take in the side & back seams a little too. Well done, that's a great loss 🙂

maman

Taking in waistbands is really not an easy task even if you did sew.

Possibly not as easy for men but when I was in your husband's position, I bought stuff from charity shops and then donated them back when they no longer fitted.

The other option is just to buy a couple of pairs of cheap trousers from Matalan or Primark or a supermarket and then donate them to the CS when he's finished with them.

Personally I was happy to get rid of my 'fat' clothes PDQ, a bit like maternity dresses. 🤣

oystercatcher

I know you don't want to sew but it can make a surprisingly easy difference if you just take in a V shape on side /and or back seams around the waistband. hand sewing will do. One pair will take about 20 minutes , won't be hugely smart but might do for around the house etc. I think it's worth a try before you spend money. Get him to try them on inside out and pinch up fabric around the waist to see roughly how much needs taking in, spread between 3 seams may be needed as he has lost so much weight . Then pin the triangles so the fabric eases out around the hips, hopefully just 3 or 4 inches in length and perhaps an inch at the top. This would reduce the waist by six inches and shouldn't notice too much if it is along the seam line. Sew the smllest running stitch you can manage.

Go on, it's worth a try on one pair. If that doesn't work unpick the stitches and take them to a sewing shop for alterations or buy new. That will cost though! 

Oh and well done Mr R !

joedenise

I'm another who would suggest charity shops to buy some smaller clothes until ready to buy a new wardrobe once at target weight.  Definitely would save a lot of money.

GSDMum

Well done to your husband! Great success.

You could have a look through youtube for an easy lesson. Or maybe have a chat with your local drycleaners, they might employ or know someone who can take them in. 

I've just Googled 'altering clothing near me' and it's come up with many links offering alteration services. You could always ask how much it would cost to take in a pair of trousers, you might be surprised at the cost.

FairyPrincessk

I'm going to concur with what others have said and say it isn't particularly easy to do even if you are sewing. Without sewing your only real option is a belt (try looking for a no buckle belt online) or one of those clips that goes on the back of dresses with a strong clip either side and elastic between. Even then I'd say four sizes is pushing it and I'd be wary of the clips coming disconnected!

If you can sew, you can open up a slot in the back of the waist band and insert a bit of elastic. This is usually done to children's clothing and doesn't necessarily give the neatest finish. See here: https://www.sumoftheirstories.com/blog//2014/04/how-to-insert-elastic-into-jeans.html

Dress trouses (like suit trousers) can usually be adjusted 1-2 sizes by a competent tailor by removing the waist band, taking in along the centre back seam and side seems and then re-attaching the waist band.  Unless the trousers are very expensive it is usually uneconomical to do this. Five pocket styles (like jeans or cords) are rarely worth the time and effort.

theoretica

There are various waistband reducers (available on an internet near you) but I have never tried any of them.  They look like they would work better with thinner cloth and struggle with denim.