Photo: Tatevosian Yana (Shutterstock)
After we parted How to Shrink Your Clothes, we were asked if this was possible with pants – so of course we went looking. Adjusting the waistline of your pants is especially helpful if you’re someone like me whose waistline tends to sit right between most factory sizes. Of course, you can work with a tailor to get bespoke pants or leave your store-bought pants out a bit, but if you just need a little extra space, you can try stretching them at home for a bit more breathing room.
How to stretch the waist of elastic pants
Elastic cuffs have a lot of stretch, but they also have a limit. If this border is just a bit too tight, you can use an iron to stretch the elastic a little more. Kippiski gives detailed stretch instructions – all you need is an iron, ironing board, and a couple of washcloths.
First, you’ll want to pull the elastic pants around the ironing board to keep them taut. Feel free to use pens if this helps hold the pants in place. Then turn your iron on the highest setting and place a warm, damp washcloth on the elastic band. Press down on the iron for about ten seconds, then let the pants rest for another ten seconds. Repeat this process for five to ten minutes, working your way around the waistband. The waist has stretched and you can repeat the process as many times as necessary to stretch it as much as possible.
How to stretch the waist of your pants
Pants are a little different than an elastic waistband because the fabric is flexible, but not nearly as stretchy as jogging pants or leggings. They will be very different, but you can still use an iron to loosen the waist.
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As with elastic cuffs, start by stretching the pants on the ironing board. You can also use the back of a chair, cutting board, or other hard, heat-resistant surface. Then dampen the trousers visibly with a spray bottle or sponge Set the iron to the steam setting and iron along the waist. At the same time, pull and pull on the waist of the pants, stretching them as you go. Try on the pants to check the size and repeat the process if necessary.
How to Stretch the Waist of Your Jeans
Denim is an even harder material than pants, but it will still stretch with a little help. Tips bulletin shows several ways to stretch the waist of your jeans, including the inconvenient way of getting into the bathtub with them and wearing wet clothes.
If this is the route to go, fill the tub with warm water and step in with your jeans on and buttoned up, and make sure your pants are completely soaked before you step out. After that, towel dry and walk around for half an hour, doing lunges, squats or something else to stretch the pants and waist.
You can also try the same ironing technique used on pants, which is likely to be a lot less uncomfortable. Simply put on the jeans and dampen them with warm water using a spray bottle or a washcloth. Then take off the jeans and tighten them around a hanger at the waist. Make sure the hanger is wide enough to stretch out a little. Let your pants dry on the hanger and try them on again, repeating with a larger hanger if necessary.
