An alteration for a rise that's too low

Here's an alteration I've done successfully a couple of times for jeans where the front rise is too low for me. After the alteration you won't be able to wear anything tucked in, but I never do so it's not a problem for me.

To get about an inch extra rise, I use 1.5 inch wide grosgrain ribbon (it's the ribbon that has ridges on it) that you can buy at any fabric store, at the top edge of the jeans waistband. You will need twice the measurement of the front band from seam to seam plus another couple of inches for turning under to make it look neat. Cut the length in half and then fold each piece in half (so now you have a piece for each side of the jeans waist). Place the folded edge of one piece even with the front edge of the waistband with the long ribbon edges meeting and placed on the inside of the waistband. Pin the ribbon along the waistband edge all the way to the side seam making the edges of the ribbon meet (so you have a double thickness, this gives the waistband the extra body it needs). I taper it so when it meets the side seam it's even with the top of the original waistband (the extra ribbon ends up on the inside of the jeans). When you get to the side seam turn both of the raw edges of the ribbon to the inside (between the two pieces of ribbon, so it won't ravel when washed). Now sew along all 4 edges of the ribbon to both attach to the waistband and to keep both thicknesses of the ribbon together. When I get to a belt loop I stop the sewing and then start again just after the loop (so the belt loops can still be used). You can stitch right over them if you never want to use them though. Now do the other side the same way. When I wear the jeans I just use a safety pin to keep the front edges of the ribbon together (they're overlapped just like the original waistband is), it makes for no extra bumps like a button would.

I hope the directions are clear, but if there are any questions i'll be happy to answer them. It sounds more complicated than it really is, if you have basic sewing skills you can certainly do this and save a pair of jeans that otherwise would not be comfortable.

17 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Great info and I'm intrigued. Thanks, Donna. Could you take a pic to give us a visual by any chance? I'd be grateful.

Donna

Active Member

Angie here are some photos:
http://picasaweb.google.com/do.....lteration#

Thanks for the amazing pictures, Donna. You are an impressive seamstress. Seeing as you haven’t used an elastic fabrication, how does the ribbon actually help? Does it lie flat against the stomach and feel like extra coverage? The difference in fabric weights is throwing me off.

Amanda

I have a pair of jeans that are fine in the front but always seem a bit low in the back when I sit down. Do you think this would work in the back as well as the front? And I'm curious too about Angie's question.

Angie-First, it's critical to use grosgrain ribbon (as opposed to satin ribbon) because the grosgrain has some stiffness to it and since the ribbon is doubled it actually has a lot of body (even though it's not thick). I use a safety pin (I pin on the inside because that's my preference) to keep the ribbon closed in front and the ribbon does lie flat. It does not roll down so it feels just like the regular waistband. I think one of reasons this works well is that I'm only getting another inch or so of rise, I don't think it would work as well if you needed more that that. But the inch makes a big difference in the comfort of the jeans, before the alteration I felt like I had to keep pulling my pants up. I wasn't sure how this would work before I tried it but I had given up wearing this pair so I thought I would give it a shot. I was pleasantly surprised and have since done it to another pair and have one more to do when I get the time.

A.J.-I think this would work very well for the back also as long as you only need an inch or so. I would taper the ribbon to the side seams or just beyond depending on the shape of the original waistband. I hope you'll try it and let me know your results.

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