Sewing help needed

[simba20]

I need help on a sewing issue.

My DD needs new pants for fall. Problem is that she is lanky but has a tiny waist. She needs a 2T for the length, but fits in an 18 month waist (she is three). I'd buy 18 month sized pants, but they are highwaters on her.

I DID buy two pairs of adjustable waist jeans from Old Navy for her, but even on the smallest adjustment they are seriously bunched up in the waist and still have a gap.

Is there some type of temp stitiching I could do to make the waist smaller and then let it our later when her waist/tummy expands?

 

[golfgal]

I would just wait until she needs the pants. Kids grow so fast and I can't imagine that she needs the jeans yet. If she does need them now, get her some from the boys department. They will probably fit her better. I did that all the time when DD was little for the same reason. Also, belts are nice if she isn't potty training yet.

 

[Sorsha]

I need help on a sewing issue.

My DD needs new pants for fall. Problem is that she is lanky but has a tiny waist. She needs a 2T for the length, but fits in an 18 month waist (she is three). I'd buy 18 month sized pants, but they are highwaters on her.

I DID buy two pairs of adjustable waist jeans from Old Navy for her, but even on the smallest adjustment they are seriously bunched up in the waist and still have a gap.

Is there some type of temp stitiching I could do to make the waist smaller and then let it our later when her waist/tummy expands?

I am not sure what you are asking... are you asking, is there some way to alter the adjustable waist jeans from Old Navy that you have already purchased? Or just in general, is there a way to alter the waist of jeans that are too big?

If it is the first question, no, not really. In order to make the waist of any pants not so "bunched up" you would have to take some fabric out, and that would not be something you could add back in later.

If you have elastic waist jeans that are too big - elastic all the way around, not adjustable, then yes, there is a way to make those smaller, and it can be reversed later, though it is kind of a pain to do. Let me know if you need instructions on that.

My DDs have always been this way too, and finding jeans has always been impossible. This is what made me such a Gymboree addict - we LOVE leggings!! I have a 10 year old who hasn't worn jeans in YEARS! Leggings or Yoga pants, that's it!

 

[RadioNate]

Both my kids have this problem. My 9 year old still does. He can fit into 5's at the waist but needs 10s for length. My DD is the same as yours, 18 months waist and needs at least 2T for the waist.

I live by adjustable waist pants and leggings for her. The bunching doesn't bother her. Last winter we had a lot of Gymboree leggings. Though I'm not sure why they still insist on being the only major children's clothing manufacturer who doesn't put adjustable waists in on a consistent basis.

I've actually found the Big Girl 3's (not a 3T) fit her better than the 2Ts. They are slimmer.

 

[NotUrsula]

I've actually found the Big Girl 3's (not a 3T) fit her better than the 2Ts. They are slimmer.

That's because "T" sizes are sized to accomodate a diaper. Unfortunately, DD is thin enough that it still doesn't matter, for the most part; while her tushie is large enough in a pull-up, her waist is still small, and I don't like low-riders at her age.

OP, you can always roughly pleat the pants in front. (Yes, I know, terribly out of fashion, but just how fashionable does a child that age need to be? It's more important that they be able to run without tripping, IMO.) That's what I do with my kids adjustable-waist pants if they are still too big after buttoning in as far as the adjustment elastic will go. If you still have slots to use, then use them; little kids are not far removed from diapers, and they generally don't care if their pants have a lot of gather around the waist.

Your other alternative is to take big tucks at the sides near the center back, WITHOUT using the button adjustment until the tucks are in. Then you can use the button elastic to adjust only the area frontward of your tucks. That will give you a flatter back to the pants, but you'll still have some tucking at the sides.

 

[simba20]

I am not sure what you are asking... are you asking, is there some way to alter the adjustable waist jeans from Old Navy that you have already purchased? Or just in general, is there a way to alter the waist of jeans that are too big?

If it is the first question, no, not really. In order to make the waist of any pants not so "bunched up" you would have to take some fabric out, and that would not be something you could add back in later.

Oops sorry for not being clear. I don't need advice on the adj waist jeans, just regular jeans/pants.

I threw the adj waist mention out there just to state that I HAVE purcahsed adj waist jeans for her, but even on the smallest setting they are heavily bunched.

I do put her in leggings, but I also need variety in her wardrobe (you know something to send to daycare in case she has an accident -- she is potty trained--that will go with any top.

 

[Colleen27]

Rather than messing around with the waist, I'd buy the 18 month pants in plain colors/styles and then add cuffs or ruffles to make them that little bit longer. Altering the waist is going to be a pain in the rear however you do it, but adding length is simple.

 

[marlynnp]

You can easily add a dart to each side of the waist thereby taking them in about an inch/inch and a half. Basically if you were to look down at the waist of the pants - fold the seam over and back on itself like a Z and stitch the closed.

You can also add a ruffle to the legs of pants that are too short.

 

[Sorsha]

Rather than messing around with the waist, I'd buy the 18 month pants in plain colors/styles and then add cuffs or ruffles to make them that little bit longer. Altering the waist is going to be a pain in the rear however you do it, but adding length is simple.

This is a very good idea, adding cuffs to jeans is a very easy way to add length.

Here's how to tighten up the waist of a pair of elastic waist jeans, pants, or leggings.

Measure out a piece of 1/4 -1/2 inch wide elastic that fits just right around the child's waist. Turn the pants you want to alter inside out, and slide them onto the arm of the seing machine. Center the back of the waist under the needle. Lay the new elastic over the waist, under the needle, lower the needle, and start to stitch it on. As you stitch, stretch the new piece of elastic out. This takes some practice to know just how much to stretch, but basically you need to stretch-as-you-sew the new elastic so it fits just right onto the old waist of the pants, none left over. Make the ends of the elastic meet up, and backstitch a few time over the ends to make sure your ends are secure. Now, when you are done stitching and take the pants off the sewing machine, the new elastic will tighten back down to its regular size and it will evenly tighten up the waist of the pants to that size!

ETA - If you find you need to, later on, you can pick the stitching out of the new elastic and return the waist to its normal size pretty easily.

 

[dawson5]

My sister in law had this problem with my niece. She would just cinch them in about 1/2 in on each side, stitch them. If you baste it, they come out pretty quickly.

She was doing this for my niece until she was around 14 or 15.