How to Downsize Jeans: Explained Perfectly in Step.

It is near impossible for some people to find a pair of jeans that fits perfectly onto their bodies. You might have thought of downsizing your jeans all by yourself to solve this problem. However, downsizing jeans is not as easy as said – a single mistake or wrong method might waste your jeans. 

Therefore in this article, I would be explained the best method that I use to downsize my jeans. I have broken down the complete procedure into three parts. In Part 1, we will be downsizing the waist of the jeans. Then, in part 2, we will downsize the legs of the jeans, and lastly, we will shorten their length.

Also, in the concluding remarks, I will be sharing a tip with which you can reduce the time of this method upto 1/3^rd. So, read to the end of the article.

Methods You Should Never Use to Downsize Jeans.

By browsing the internet, you will come across many methods to downsize your jeans, but most have some limitations. Either they don’t result in a snug fit or are very complicated and laborious. Also, most of the methods are just limited to one part of the jeans, whereas the method we would discuss would cover all parts of the jeans.

1. Don’t tighten the jeans from the sides. This would make waves and gather at the crotchal area – which I don’t think you would like.
2. Don’t start ripping off the pants belt and sides to cut off excessive parts. That’s pro-level tailor stuff and would consume a lot of time and effort.
3. You would never get a snug fit from ladder stitch. So, it’s out of option as well.

The best method to downsize your jeans: step-by-step procedure.

Part 1: Downsizing jeans from the waist

Step 1. Preparing the Jeans

First, you need to remove the belt loop and the tag from the back of your jeans – using a seam ripper.

Step 2. Measuring & marking excessive parts on the back

Now wear the pants inside out and collect the excessive part of the jeans from the jeans seam over the butt crack. Use safety pins to pin the excessive part that is to be reduced.

Now take off your pants and replace the safety pins with standard pins. It would be hectic to remove safety pins while sewing.

Step 3. Sewing

Now take your jeans to the sewing machine and sew along the marked pins. Make sure that you take a jeans thread and needle. Otherwise, the needle and thread will break often. Also, at the ends of the stitch, make a couple of back stitches so that the stitches are not going anywhere.

Step 4. Cutting off excessive part

 Now all that is left is to remove the excessive part. Use tailor scissors to cut off excessive parts of the jeans. Make sure you keep a margin of 5 mm from the new stitch.

Before further steps, wear the jeans to check if the jeans are properly downsized as you desire, and you get a snug fit. If the jeans are still in a shaggy bin, you can gather the excessive material and stitch it again.

Step 5. Securing the raw edges

There are various methods to secure the jeans’ raw edges after you have cut along a new stitch. Either you can overlock using a serger. Or, if you don’t have a serger, you can simply make a zigzag stitch along the edge.

Part 2: Downsizing jeans from the legs

Using the same method as for the waist, other parts of the jeans can also be downsized. In this second part, we will downsize the jeans to slim-fit them from the legs.

Step 1. Measuring and marking excessive Parts on the legs

Now to mark the excessive parts of the jeans legs, again wear the jeans inside out. Use safety pins to pin the excessive legs that you want to reduce.

Now take off your pants and replace the safety pins with common pins.

Step 2. Sewing & cutting off excessive part

Again, take the jeans to the sewing machine, sew the legs along the pins, and make sure that you backstitch at the ends to make it stay longer.

As you did for the waist of the jeans, cut off the excessive part of the pants so they fit perfectly on your legs.

Step 3. Securing the raw edges

Likewise, to secure the raw edges, you can use an overlock or simply a zigzag stitch using your standard sewing machine.

Part 3: Downsizing the length of the jeans

Now, if you have any particular shoes or sandals under your jeans, you might wear them first before marking the jeans.

Step 1. Measuring and Marking

Wear your jeans and fold the bottom of the legs inwards to achieve the desired length. Now use common pins to pin this position.

You must sew the bottom length evenly on both legs. Take off your pants and measure the length from the bottom to the marked pins. Use chalk to mark that length on both legs.

Step 2. Creating Bottom Hem

Cut off the excessive part while keeping a 1” margin for the chalk marking. Fold the bottom inwards, creating a seam exactly at the chalk mark. Pin the bottom at this folded position. Now with the sewing machine, make a straight stitch.

Here you can see the jeans before and after downsizing – the jeans are perfectly downsized and fit nicely on the body.

Results: Before and After

Concluding Remarks

You might be thinking that this is an extensive and time-consuming method and you have to wear the jeans again and again. I would like to mention that once you understand the method. You can make all the markings – around the waist, legs, thighs, etc. once and for all in single wear. This would save a lot of time.

I hope you have learned properly this technique to downsize jeans, so go ahead and practice it on your large-sized and loose jeans.