How to make jeans bigger in the waist and thighs

Hi Creative Mamas! Welcome to another DIY Clothes Refashion article!

Today, we’re diving into some of my favorite sewing hacks and creative methods for sewing jeans and how to make jeans bigger or smaller—especially if you’re dealing with a snug waist or tight thighs.

Whether you’re working on upcycling old jeans you’ve just thrifted, doing DIY make jeans bigger projects with pieces from your own wardrobe, or practicing your fashion design skills on a beloved pair, these ideas will help you bring comfort, style, and sustainability together.

Maybe you’ve been wondering how to make jeans bigger in the waist or how to make jeans bigger in the thigh—or you’ve got that one pair you love, but they just don’t fit like they used to.

Let’s explore easy sewing tips to resize your jeans

If your waist size has changed, you don’t need to change your body—let’s make jeans bigger to fit you.

For most of these methods, you’ll only need a seam ripper, sewing machine, some safety pins, and a little creativity.

These aren’t temporary fixes—these are clothes alterations DIY methods to resize jeans (upsize and downsize) so they truly fit your current body shape.

Why It’s a Great Idea to Resize Instead of Toss

Maybe you scored a gorgeous pair of jeans at the thrift store, or maybe your favorite jeans no longer fit the same. Instead of tossing them away you can:

• Dress for your comfort—no more awkward tight spots when the waistband of your jeans fits you perfectly.
• Eco-conscious choices rock—alterations jeans DIY saves fabric and keeps clothes out of landfill.
• Unique personal style—from Patchwork Jeans DIY to subtle waistband extender panels, you can make your jeans as creative as you like, even incorporating your own naturally dyed or eco-printed fabrics.

Easy Methods to Make Jeans Bigger

Before you start any alterations…

You will need to know:

• Your hip size
• Your waist size
• The size of the jeans you are about to alter (measure the circumference of the jeans while they are flat on your working table)

The difference between your own body circumference and the jeans circumference will be what you need to add or reduce to make your jeans bigger or smaller.

1. Triangle Side Gussets – How to Make Jeans Waist Bigger

This is one of my favorite sewing hacks for how to make waistband bigger on jeans.

• Use a seam ripper to open part of the side seam and waistband. This is a simple how to adjust the waist of your jeans method that looks professional when done right.
• Measure and draft a triangle pattern, remembering to add seam allowance.
• Cut your gusset from extra fabric—I love using contrasting cottons or denim from clothes alterations DIY scraps.
• Pin right sides together and sew using a zigzag stitch or sturdy straight stitch.

This method is perfect if you want to upsize jeans in the waist to fit you perfectly while adding a unique design detail.

Please note: The waistband will need to be adapted to the new circumference size as well.

2. Insert a Panel Down the Leg (make the thighs bigger)

If you’re trying to figure out how to make jeans bigger in the thigh as well as the waist, a panel insert is a great option.

• Draft a panel that goes from the waistband all the way to the hem. Use as much fabric as you need to achieve the desired size.
• Add seam allowance.
• Cut from matching or contrasting denim—perfect for Patchwork Jeans DIY fans.
• Unpick the waistband and the side seams of your jeans
• Pin and sew in place with a zigzag stitch, then turn right side out.

This method works wonders if you’ve found jeans that are gorgeous but need a little extra room in the legs.

How to take in the waist gap on jeans

We have 2 favorite methods at La Creative Mama and we teach both inside our Jeans Alterations Course.

The first method requires no sewing machine and it involves using an elasticated buttonhole tape.

This method is great for a boyfriend’s jeans fit because it will fit tight around the waist but will still have the extra room around the hips. It’s a super comfy fit for every day wear!

The photo below illustrates a big pair of boyfriends jeans that I reduced by 5 inches (2 sizes).

The second method requires sewing and cutting and it looks amazing on the body. We have received a lot of good feedback from our students who have taken the time to do this alteration. It does take a little longer but it looks great!

The photo below illustrates the results for the non sewing machine method (left) and the sewing method (right).

They are both super easy to do and they both look great but one looks oversized and comfy and the other looks snug and tight. on the body.

Adding patchwork panels to create bell bottoms and flared jeans

Another great idea to make the most out of old jeans is to embellish by creating panels of patchwork using fabric scraps and adding them to the side seams of your jeans.

This alteration will add width around the legs and hips so its another great re size method!

You can add big panels of patchwork fabric or smaller ones, this will change the amount of flare so you can be in control of how wide you want your flared jeans to be!

How to taper jeans in 5 minutes and how to re hem your jeans

Taping your jeans is so quick and so easy. Just put them on and pin the extra fabric you want to remove.

Turn the pants inside out and transfer the pins to the inside of the pants and sew a straight line following your markings, its that easy!

If you have a lot of extra fabric you will need to overlock or zig zag the inside seam, but if you only have reduced the leg by 1/2 an inch you can press it and it will sit nicely!

When re hemming your jeans be sure to mark the desired length by fitting them with the shoes you intend to use the jeans with.

Mark the new hem line and then remember to allow for the hem allowance. Now you are ready to cut and sew your new hem!

Your Next DIY Step: The Jeans Alteration Course

If you’re serious about jeans alterations—whether it’s how to take in jeans at the waist, how to make waistband bigger on jeans, or how to make jeans fit your waist perfectly—my Jeans Alteration Course is your best next step.

It’s a video tutorial course with lots of step by step video classes.

You’ll learn:

• The DUCT Framework: Design, Unpick, Cut, Transform.
• Resize your jeans to fit perfectly— waist and hips re shaping – downsizing or upsizing
• Shorten hems and taper legs to match your body
• Embellish & upcycle old or thrifted jeans into stylish, one-of-a-kind pieces
• Customize your jeans with just a domestic sewing machine and simple techniques

We cover every detail of the process:

• What topstitching you need to use in your domestic machine
• What needles you need to use so that they don’t break
• How to backstitch using topstitch thread and thick denim without jamming your sewing machine
• How to create stitches that are the same as the original jeans ones

Ready to Rediscover Your Favorite Jeans?

Whether you want to make jeans bigger, re size jeans, or simply add personal flair, there’s a method here for you. Start with a temporary fix or jump into a full alteration—either way, your jeans can fit your life again.

👉 Click here to join the Jeans Alteration Course and start making your favorite jeans fit comfortably in the waist and thighs—while adding your own creative magic.

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