Wearing jeans has become a part of our culture since it’s heterogeneous. There is nothing better than a pair of jeans. From young kids to old people, everyone wears jeans, regardless of their age. However, many people find their jeans too tight and uncomfortable so they won’t be able to wear them. Once a pair of jeans purchased so dearly from the shop, now reside in the dusty corner of the shelf. But instead of losing them and buying a new pair of jeans, you can learn “How to Stretch Jean at home?” In this blog, we will explore the various kinds of ways to stretch your pair of jeans so you can wear them with all your heart.
Understanding your fabric before stretching
Before we dive into the How-to, we must first understand why your jeans might need widening in the first place. So, when you’re working on jeans, you should know the type of denim you have before taking your first step. It will determine how easily you can stretch it.
- Rigid denim (100 percent) tends to shrink more but stretches well when it is wet.
- Stretch denim (Cotton blend with elastane) has a natural flexibility. But it could lose shape if it is overstretched.
- Selvedge denim is often raw and stiff because of which it takes more effort to stretch than the other two denim.
Simple Ways on how to Widen Jeans at the Waist
Everyone finds it hard to go with the sewing method. So, If you don’t want to deal with a sewing kit, start with these tried-and-tested methods to gently stretch the waistband.
1. The Warm Water Soak & Wear Method
This method is one of the oldest ones. It is an effective trick to widen jeans at the waist naturally.
Here’s how to do it:
1. Fill a bathtub or other large utensil with warm water. Not boiled.
2. Then put the waistband area for about 20–30 minutes in the warm water.
3. Gently remove excess water.
4. Now, while the jeans are still damp, put them on. It might feel uncomfortable to you, but it’s the perfect time.
5. Time to stretch! Do a series of squats, lunges, or sit on the floor with legs stretched out. This will encourage the fabric to stretch out.
6. You need to keep the jeans on until they dry, or at least partially dry. This will help them mold to your body shape.
Why it works: It’s a proven way that warm water relaxes the fibers. While wearing the jeans while they are wet, you reshape them naturally.
2. Spray Bottle Stretching
There are always different methods to achieve your goal. Just like that, if you don’t want to soak the entire pair, you can just focus only on the waistband part of the jeans.
Here’s how to do it:
1. You need to fill a spray bottle with warm water. Not boiled again.
2. Lightly spritz the waistband until it is damp. Make sure it is not dripping.
3. Now grab each side of the waistband and gently pull in opposite directions.
4. You need to repeat this a few times. You can tug more in areas that feel especially tight.
5. Wear the jeans while they dry. Otherwise, you can place them over the back of a sturdy chair.
3. The Chair Back Method
Now we are going to have a look at the classic trick for stretching out a waistband overnight. It’s easy and comfortable, and anyone can opt for this method.
Here’s how you have to do it:
1. First of all, find a sturdy, wide-backed chair.
2. Then, slide the waistband over the chair back so it’s snug.
3. Leave it overnight and wait for the results.
4. In the morning, you will feel a stretch in the waistband. It happened because of the constant gentle tension that encouraged the fibers to relax and hold the wider shape.
4. The Towel Roll Hack
It’s similar to the chair trick. But this method comprises the use of a rolled towel rather than a sturdy chair.
Here’s how you have to do it:
1. For this, you need to dampen the waistband.
2. Now, start rolling a towel until it’s about the same width as your waist measurement.
3. When you’re done, insert the rolled towel into the waistband.
4. This is the final step, when you need to leave it for several hours or overnight.
5. This will help in stretching the waistband evenly.
5. Waistband Stretching Tools
This is for the serious denim lovers. Most of them know about the adjustable waistband stretchers that are available online. These are some tools that are specially designed to expand jeans gently and evenly.
Here’s how you need to use it:
1. You need to wet the waistband.
2. Insert the stretcher and twist the handle to expand.
3. Then leave it for 6–8 hours.
This is one of the safest ways to stretch up to an inch or more.
6. Use Heat for Extra Stretch
We already know that heat makes denim fibers more flexible and makes them expandable.
Here’s how you have to do it:
1. Firstly, wet the waistband of your jeans
2. Now, use a blow dryer on medium heat to warm the fabric.
3. Gently stretch it while applying heat.
4. Repeat as needed.
There’s a precaution that you need to avoid using too much heat for too long. It prevents damaging any elastic fibers.
How to Widen a Pair of Jeans at the Waist Using The Sewing Method
Sewing methods are one of the quick and effective ways of stretching or widening your jeans at the waist or the pair of jeans. Home methods are good, but instead, you can go if your jeans need more than a slight stretch. You may need to add fabric or adjust the seams. Here are some simple DIY tailoring tricks for how to widen a pair of jeans at the waist permanently. For this, you may go to the tailor, or you can do it by yourself, if you have the skills of sewing.
1. Add a V-Shaped Denim Insert
Here’s how you can do it:
1. Use a “seam ripper” to open up one or both side seams or the center back seam.
2. Then, you need to cut out a triangular piece of a matching denim fabric.
3. Now, pin it into the open seam.
4. Sew it properly using a sewing machine.
5. Finish edges to give a complete look.
6. This way, you can give yourself up to 2 extra inches of widening.
2. Let Out the Seams
Some jeans have extra fabric tucked into the side seams. So, you check the inside seams; if it has extra seams, you can go with this sewing process.
Here’s how you can do it:
1. Take the jeans and turn them inside out.
2. Use a seam ripper to carefully open the waistband or side seam.
3. Let out as much fabric as is available.
4. Re-sew the seam with a smaller seam allowance.
5. This way, you might gain a half inch.
Tips to Keep Your Jeans Perfectly Fit
Once you’re done with the stretching, you need to know the ways to keep that stretch in its normal shape.
- Wash Less Frequently: Usually jeans don’t need washing after every time you wear them. So, it’s simple: less washing means less shrinkage.
- Use Cold Water: Whenever you wash your jeans, always use cold water.
- Air Dry: Don’t use the dryer. It’s because heat is the main culprit of shrinkage.
- Re-Stretch as Needed: If your jeans tighten up again, repeat the spray-and-pull or soak-and-wear method.
Closing Thoughts
Now, since you know how to stretch jeans and widen jeans at the waist, you never have to give up on the tight pair again. There are so many ways that have been listed in this blog. From quick fixes like spraying and wearing to permanent solutions like sewing.
So, next time when your favorite pair of jeans feels too uncomfortable, don’t panic – just stretch it out using different ways.
