Rather than put elastic in the waist, I take a couple of small darts in the waist band. If I wear a belt, you can't even see them. Wouldn't it be nice if they'd make jeans to fit a woman with curves?!

Annie

Thanks so much for the information!

Pretty sure mollieann was asking how to make the waist in her jeans BIGGER, and the two replied with making the waist band more snug with elastic....I have the same question as MollieAnn. Is there any way to take jeans which are too tight in the waistband and retrofit them to expand more, most likely with elastic? Thanks!

Renee - Not easily, because the part below the waistband doesn't have any room to expand either.

You could use an extender button:
http://www.wdrake.com/WalterDrake/DisplayItem.aspx?id=303118&ICMP=Search&SourceCode=20509000002

Or, if you can get heavy-duty wide elastic, sew triangular gussets on either side (like ski pants have) ... but those show.

If you did gussets with jeans material it would show less - if you do this, be sure to back up the gusset by lining the entire waistband with something.

Replacing the entire waistband with a strip of heavy duty elastic might work.

Well, since Mollieann's problem was in 2008 - she's either figured it out or bought new pants.

I suspect this thread was spammed, and the offending post removed, which is why it is near the top.

I like to put elastic around the first belt loop on either side of the zipper and sew it on where the pants fit comfortably. That way I can wear the pants without buttoning it up all the way, though you do have to be careful the zipper doesn't drop down.

First remove the waistband and elastic. Then buy a same colour fabric and new elastic as per requirement. And attach the waistband.