The situation when denim shorts become too small is familiar to many. There are 2 reasons for this: the denim fabric, consisting of cotton, has undergone significant shrinkage during washing; the acquired extra kilo or two makes itself felt.
Or it happens that excellent shorts, bought without trying on, or ordered from an online store, please everyone: style, color, finishing, but turn out to be too tight in the hips and waist. You can save and “bring back to life” your favorite item, as well as adapt new shorts you like to your size. There are several effective ways to stretch and enlarge denim.
3 ways to effectively and quickly stretch denim shorts
The simplest and quick method, which will allow you to increase the size of denim shorts by 1-2 sizes - stretching the fabric fibers naturally.
Reference! Cotton fiber can be shortened by 4–7% when washed, which significantly affects the change in size finished product(about 2 cm for every 50 cm).
You can restore lost centimeters of an item by reverse deformation. Cotton absorbs moisture well and its fibers become more elastic. By stretching them and fixing them in a taut state, you can give the product the desired size.
Stretching denim shorts is quite easy. Unlike trousers, you will have to put in less effort - only in the waist and hips.
Manual method - wearing wet shorts for a long time
The simplest, but no less effective method stretch denim shorts - wear them for a while when wet. Let's look at this method step by step:
- Moisten denim shorts with water using a spray bottle.
- Put on your shorts. If you cannot fasten them while standing, this can be done in a lying position. If the shorts do not stretch at all, then for better sliding you should lather yourself in the hip area.
- Wear wet shorts on yourself for a while while doing active movements: squats, bends, leg swings.
- Once you feel comfortable wearing the shorts, you can remove them and dry them naturally.
If weather conditions do not allow you to wear wet shorts, you can stretch the shorts with your hands. To do this, you also need to moisten the product, fasten all the fasteners and pull them in the place where they are small - in the belt or hips. You can fix one side with your foot and apply force with your hands.
Advice! For better stretch denim It is recommended to pre-wash the product using fabric softener. This will make the fibers of the material softer and more elastic.
Mechanical - use of a special retainer (expander)
The method of stretching shorts, which does not require physical effort but special equipment, is mechanical. A special device - an expander for sewing products - will allow you to stretch the product up to the right size. To do this, you also need to moisten the shorts and, using a stretching device, leave them to dry in this form. A product fixed in an extended position retains its specified size after drying.
In the absence of an extender for stretching denim shorts, you can make do with improvised means: pull the wet product over the back of a chair or other object of suitable size and leave it until completely dry.
Thermal - steaming fabric using an iron
The cotton that makes up denim lends itself well to increasing the length of the fibers during heat treatment. Using this method, you can stretch denim shorts to the desired size using an iron or clothes steamer.
A moistened product can stretch when ironed through wet gauze. By stretching the fabric using an iron along the grain and applying additional force with your hands, you can increase the size of the shorts at the hips and waist.
Similarly, a product moistened with hot steam using a steamer can be stretched with your hands or put on yourself. Put on steamed shorts immediately, making sure they have cooled slightly to avoid getting burned. After fixing the clothes in the desired size, you need to wait for them to dry completely.
Enlarging a product using a sewing machine
If the denim shorts are so small that they cannot be stretched using the above methods, you can enlarge the product by sewing. Clothes transformed in this way can acquire additional advantages - updated design and improved appearance.
Invisible reduction in seam allowances
Shorts that are narrow at the hips and waist are increased by 2 sizes by reducing the allowances of all vertical seams and darts. To do this, you need to perform the following manipulations:
- Rip the product along the seams that determine the size at the hips and waist.
- Mark new joints on the seam allowances, having previously calculated the new size and evenly distributed the required centimeters.
- Connect the parts of the shorts using sewing machine along the marked connection lines on the seam allowances.
- Iron new seams on the changed item.
How to sew in inserts discreetly
Currently, things made from combined materials have become fashionable. The combination of denim with contrasting textures of satin, leather, and suede is especially popular. This innovation should be used to increase a product that is tight at the hips and waist to the desired size.
By opening the shorts along the side seams and inserting strips of a different fabric on both sides, you can not only increase the width, but also update and update their appearance. No one will guess that fashionable stripes are not the designer’s idea, but your own creativity.
By transforming the product in this way, you can give a “second life” to your favorite shorts and continue to wear them in a new incarnation.
Expanding denim shorts using decorative elements - lace, appliqués, zippers
Spectacular decorative elements Clothing trims such as lace, appliqué, zipper, lacing will help disguise the expansion of denim shorts to the required size.
To implement the idea, the shorts are carefully ripped apart at the side seams. Additional strips of decorative material are sewn to the seam allowances for the width that is missing to the required size. This will help expand the item and complement it with a spectacular decoration.
Advice! In order not to damage the fabric when ripping the seams of the product, you should use a special ripper knife. You can purchase such a device at a store that sells sewing supplies.
By showing ingenuity and imagination, you can give denim shorts the desired size, improve their appearance, create unique design and replenish your wardrobe with an original designer item.
Have you bought brand new jeans and can't fit into them? Are you ready to throw this thing away or give it to someone? Not worth it. So that you can wear your new trousers comfortably, let's figure out how to stretch jeans at home.
First you need to find out whether in your case it is even possible to stretch your jeans to the desired size. This is not difficult to do: you just need to try on the product. If you can pull your pants up over your hips, but feel discomfort in your thighs or can barely button them, you may be able to cope with the problem.
If it turns out that tight jeans don’t fit on your hips, and you can’t put them on all the way, let alone button them, stretching is out of the question. You won't achieve desired result, but only ruin the purchased item. In this case, it is advisable to immediately return the product to the store or give it to one of your friends or relatives for whom it will fit in size.
Method 1 - using an iron
Is it possible to stretch jeans that are too tight to fit perfectly in just a few minutes? Using an iron, this is very easy to do. You should proceed like this:
- The household appliance should be turned on to steam mode.
- Next, you will need to go over all problem areas of the product with an iron. This effect will soften the tissue and slightly increase its volume.
- Immediately after this, you will need to put on still warm jeans so that they take the shape of your body.
Advice:
Use this treatment if you need to break in thick cotton jeans. It’s better not to take risks with thin products - they can become deformed.
Method 2 - spraying
This technique will help you if your trousers are too narrow at the waist and are difficult to fasten on you. In this case, you should work with the product like this:
- First, you should put on your jeans and be sure to button them up.
- Next, you need to fill a spray bottle with warm water and thoroughly moisten the elastic band of your jeans and the hip area with this water.
- Now you should walk around in this product for about an hour until it is completely dry. To make your pants stretch faster, you can do a few simple exercises in it, for example, squats. But these exercises must be done very carefully so that the fabric does not tear.
- After this manipulation, you should take off your jeans and put a couple of bottles of water in them all night so that they stretch completely. Already since next day you can wear such products comfortably.
Video: how can you still get into your pants using the spraying method?
How to quickly achieve the same result at home? All you need to do is wet your jeans a little after each wear and do some simple stretching exercises in them. This way you can distribute them in just a few minutes a day.
Method 3 - soaking
This option is for you if you can fit into your cotton jeans. How to widen your pants this way? You should proceed like this:
- First you need to put on your trousers. They must be fastened with both a zipper and a button.
- Next, you need to take a full bath of warm water and add bubble bath to this water. It will help soften the tissue. Please note: you need to take only those foams that do not have strong coloring components, otherwise you risk ruining the fabric.
- 15 minutes after the start of this soaking, the denim will become elastic. After that, you need to start gently stretching it along the inner seams and around the waistband. This procedure will take you another 10 minutes.
- After this, you should cover the floor with oilcloth (so as not to stain it blue spots from fading denim), get out of the bathroom and do a few simple exercises in jeans: squat, lunge, jump a little.
- Next, you will just need to wait for your pants to dry. This way they will take the necessary curves both on the sides and at the waist.
Important:
If you use this method of stretching jeans, under no circumstances use a dryer or hair dryer to dry such items faster, even in the calves. Under such influence, the fabric may shrink, and you will have to start all over again.
In order to consolidate the result after such stretching, it is recommended to wash the jeans several times by hand in cool water. This is necessary so that the product finally fits the figure.
Method 4 - expander
This method suitable for those who wants to increase their trousers size with minimal time investment. For this, you will need a special stretching device, which can be purchased at home improvement stores. You should act in in this case you will need this:
- To begin with, the product must be put on and be sure to fasten it in the belt.
- Then the fabric will need to be well wetted.
- Next, you will need to insert an extender into the waist area, secure it well and gradually increase its length.
- After a few minutes you will be able to remove the expander. After this, you will need to walk around in your jeans for some time so that the stretch takes the desired shape.
Important:
do not use this method of how to increase the waistband of trousers if your jeans are made of thick denim. You may not achieve the desired result, but you risk damaging the fabric of the product.
What to do if your jeans shrink
If you suddenly find that your jeans have shrunk after washing, or the model you purchased is too short, there is no need to worry. You can also stretch it without outside help. You need to act like this:
- First, the jeans will need to be wet. It is best to do this with a spray bottle.
- Then you will need to take the inseam of the pant leg and gently pull it, first from the shin to the knee, and then from the knee to the thigh. You will need to do this trick with the second leg.
- After this, you will need to try on the product. If the first time you were unable to give it the desired length, you will have to repeat this procedure.
Important:
If you choose this particular method of breaking in jeans, be very careful. Do not stretch items that have holes or very thin, worn areas of fabric this way, as you may tear them.
How to increase a product size
The methods presented were good for those cases when a person can put on and fasten a product that puts a little pressure on them at the waist or thighs. But what about those who want to stretch their pants to a size smaller than required? This problem can also be solved. You can do it like this:
- First you need to take the trousers, measure them with a centimeter and carefully fasten them with a zipper and button and lay them out on oilcloth or clean paper for further processing. Be careful: if you do not fasten the buttons and zippers on your garment, you may inadvertently tear it.
- Next, you should find a spray bottle, fill it with warm water and use this spray bottle to wet your jeans well, both inside and outside.
- If you want to increase the length of your product, you should stand on the part of the pant leg above the knee, grab the edge of the pant leg and easily pull it towards you, as shown in the photo.
- If you want to increase the size of your jeans in the hips, you should stand on the pocket area and also gently pull the opposite part of the product towards you. You need to act similarly if you want to stretch the waistband of the product, only in this case you will still need to unfasten the button, otherwise it may also come off.
- After this manipulation, the skinny jeans will need to be measured again with a centimeter to make sure that you managed to stretch them successfully.
Important:
In no case should you use this method to stretch the jeans in the area of the fastener or pockets. In these places you can simply tear the product.
It’s not enough to know how to quickly stretch jeans at home; it’s also important to understand how to do it without damaging the product. To do this, it is recommended to follow a number of rules:
- Do not place wet jeans on colored items: they may fade and stain them. After this, bright stains may also remain on denim pants.
- There is no need to pull the product by the straps if you want to increase its width. The straps will simply come off under this impact.
- When stretching jeans, you should not make sudden movements. This will tear the fabric.
You also need to remember that those jeans that you managed to stretch to the desired size cannot be washed in water at a temperature of more than 40 degrees, otherwise they will shrink. It is also not recommended to use for washing such products. washing machine machine. If you have to do this, at least turn off the drying mode and select programs with a minimum duration for such products. IN otherwise you will have to wonder how to expand your jeans after each subsequent wash.
Video: how can you make jeans bigger?
You shouldn’t deny yourself wearing your favorite jeans if they suddenly become too small. You just need to choose for yourself suitable option and stretch them.
Sometimes, during the off-season or in moments of acute desire to satisfy all their gastronomic needs, many people gain weight in the hips, buttocks and waist. I don’t really want to hide my favorite and comfortable jeans that go perfectly with sweaters, cardigans and shirts in remote places in my closet, but I also don’t have the opportunity to embroider them in a sewing workshop. Therefore, a reasonable question arises: Is there any way to stretch them?
It's no secret that denim clothing has the ability to stretch itself, which does not distort their style, appearance and texture. And this happens solely due to the fabric characteristics of denim. Although, many owners of fashionable jeans believe that this only applies to newly purchased clothes. But this is by no means true, because Only models of skinny jeans do not tend to increase in size when worn, while the rest of the styles stretch perfectly .
Stretch jeans with water
If it doesn't work out stretch jeans if you wear it constantly, then you should resort to a proven and very the easy way. According to him, jeans are required wet thoroughly, and then, armed with a hard metal hanger, pull them onto it. It is important to let your denim pants dry thoroughly. After drying, the jeans will magically increase in size and fit perfectly. Note that not many people resort to this method, since this the process is quite long , although tested in the past: for example, narrow leather shoes thoroughly wetted, and then put on shoes - thus achieving a comfortable size for the foot.
This method in practice today goes hand in hand with advanced capabilities, and many people resort to using an iron they are used to in everyday life to achieve the desired size of jeans. To do this, you should wet the belt and (or) the hip area and carefully iron them on the inside out side until completely dry. This helps a lot when needed stretch jeans quickly and it will take about 15 minutes. You can also use the steaming function, in which the action of hot steam from the iron will very quickly increase the waistband of your jeans, then you won’t have to get your clothes wet. This option is very popular among ladies who have suddenly gained excess weight.
by Notes of the Wild MistressIf you need stretch jeans, no need to worry. Of course, it is easier to prevent jeans from shrinking than to restore their size, but nothing is impossible.
There are even a few ways to help stretch stubborn denim. When using any of them, be careful: too much force will lead to the fact that the trousers will simply tear, especially if the fabric is too thin.
How to stretch jeans after shrinking
There are 4 ways to help you slightly increase the width of your jeans:
"Aerobics". The essence of the method is simple: you need to get into your jeans, button them and move around a little. Sit down several times, lift your legs one at a time, and make circular movements with your hips. All this will help turn denim into a more pliable material, and the trousers will fit perfectly.
Wet your jeans. In the 80s of the last century, fashionistas and fashionistas took a bath right in their new skinny jeans to increase their size. Today, such sacrifices are not worth making, especially since even high-quality branded trousers can slightly stain the skin and water, and this is harmful. But it won’t hurt to wet your jeans a little with water. The easiest way is to use a spray bottle, into which you need to pour either regular warm (not hot!) water, or water mixed with a special fabric softener. After that, put on your pants and do the same “aerobics.” This way you can stretch the jeans a little. Don't stay in them for too long to avoid health problems.
Ironing. Iron your jeans thoroughly using the steam program and then put them on. Be careful: let the trousers cool down a little so that your soft skin was not covered in burns. A hot iron will help soften the denim and straighten out any excess wrinkles, so your jeans will fit easily. And again, “aerobics” won’t hurt.
Expander. If you are thinking about how to stretch your jeans at the waist, purchase a special extender. Using it to increase the width of your belt is very simple:
- wet your pants and zip them up;
- insert the expander into the belt, fix it and gradually increase its size;
- act carefully, using maximum caution;
- Having reached the desired width, fix the expander and let the jeans dry;
- The waist will become wider and will remain so until the next wash.
If your jeans are a little shorter, it's harder to stretch them. To do this, you need to wash them by hand in cold water and remove them from the bath wet. Then take some laces or a soft belt and thread it through the belt loops. After this, tighten the waist area and secure the jeans so that you can pull them straight up the legs. Every half hour or hour, go to your trousers and stretch them until they are dry.
All this needs to be done at least 24 hours before you plan to wear jeans. The fact is that thick denim dries very slowly, so you may simply not have time to stretch the jeans in time.
How to prevent jeans from shrinking
To avoid having to frantically think about how to stretch your jeans, follow these simple recommendations when washing:
1. Be sure to read the label on your pants to prevent possible shrinkage. As a rule, jeans are washed by hand in warm water or in a machine, setting the wash cycle to delicate.
2. Use detergents for denim . Ideal if they are liquid. If you can't find anything suitable, you can use regular powder. Just make sure that it does not contain aggressive substances: bleach, chlorine stain remover, etc.
3. To prevent shrinkage of jeans from becoming your main problem, it is better not to twist them in a drum and do not put expensive trousers in the dryer.
4. If you want to dry your jeans faster, hang them over an empty bowl where the water will drain, and run your hands along the legs a couple of times, “driving” the moisture down.
5. Do not soak jeans in very hot water. It is optimal to use water for this purpose at a temperature no higher than 30 degrees .
6. It is better to iron denim when wet.
Choosing a new thing: will new jeans fit?
It’s easy to find out in advance whether new jeans will shrink. Enough to study denim composition: The more cotton, the higher the tendency to shrink. In addition to cotton, there is usually polyester, which increases the strength of the product, and lycra (spandex or elastane), which gives elasticity.
To successfully choose jeans, you need to pay attention to the quality of tailoring and the fabric used by the manufacturer. Good material It has sufficient density and is made of twill weaving. In this case, diagonal stripes run across the surface of the denim from bottom to top and from left to right.
Only the longitudinal thread is dyed, while the transverse thread remains with its characteristic color. This is why the underside of jeans is light blue or light gray.
Modern jeans do not shrink much, since everything good producers carefully treat the fabric before sewing. True, recently trousers made from raw denim have come into fashion, which shrinks significantly during the first wash. However, here too the companies took care of their customers: on such models The size is indicated “before” and “after” washing jeans. All you have to do is pay attention to it.
Now you know how to choose the right jeans and what to do if they need to be stretched a little. Use these proven methods and your favorite ones fashion trousers will highlight all the amazing advantages of your figure!
The basis of denim products is cotton fibers. To give them softness and elasticity, manufacturers add synthetic materials: Lycra, viscose and elastane. This allows you to stretch your jeans at home without harming the item. To ensure that your pants fit exactly according to your figure, simple means at hand and proven methods will help.
To avoid problems with unwanted shrinkage of jeans, you should follow the basic rules for caring for the product.
- 1. You should first take measurements to know to what point you need to stretch the belt.
- 2. Jeans should be buttoned and zipped, then wet the problem area.
- 3. A special device must be inserted into the belt, fixed and gradually increased to the desired size.
- The pants need to be turned inside out and ripped at the sides using a sewing ripper. Remove all protruding threads from the treated surface of the fabric.
- You should take measurements from the waist and hips to understand how much material is missing to the desired size. Following the data obtained, you need to cut pieces of fabric of the required length and width, adding an additional 2 cm to each piece.
- One strip should be attached to the ripped pant leg and sewn using a sewing machine. The second leg should be treated in the same way.
- 3. It is recommended to dry clothes in a well-ventilated area, avoiding direct sunlight. To prevent jeans from shrinking, you should avoid drying them in washing machine, on the radiator and battery.
Show all
Effective ways to stretch jeans
Jeans is an elastic material that is subject to deformation. This is easy to use if your pants become tight and uncomfortable.
With the right influence, the product can be stretched in length, width and made to fit exactly to your figure.
Fit exactly to your figure
New trousers often cause discomfort in the first days after purchase. In order for them to fit exactly to your figure, they need to be broken in, which takes time. You can speed up the process by simply charging. After active physical exercise, such as squats, bends, leg swings, stretch fabric will quickly stretch. The result will be much more effective if you moisten your pants with warm water from a spray bottle before charging.
Stretch your jeans at the hips
An old effective way to treat jeans is to wash them to stretch them. The principle of this stretch is simple: you need to put on pants and sit in a bathtub in warm (but not hot) water. When the item is completely wet, you should walk around the house in it until it dries completely. The cotton fabric will stretch to the desired size, and the product will fit exactly to your figure.
This method is not recommended for use in winter time and in cold weather, since there is a high risk of getting sick after water procedures. You also need to pay attention to the quality of the material: paint that has come off after washing can provoke an allergic reaction.
Mechanical impact – the best option stretch skinny jeans across the entire width. For use this method You will need an assistant, since it is impossible to cope with such a task alone. You need to take 2 long ropes and thread them through your pant legs. Taking the threads by the ends, you should stretch the jeans in both directions, pulling the material tightly. It is important not to overdo it in the process so as not to tear the fabric.
At the waist
If your pants become too small at the waist, you can widen them using an iron, a special device called a “waist stretcher” and simple improvised items.
Iron
You need to take an iron with a steam generator and steam the jeans in the waist area. Under the influence of temperature, the fibers will expand, and the cotton fabric will become more pliable and elastic. When the item becomes slightly damp, you need to put it on and walk around in it until it dries completely.
Waist stretcher
This is a special device designed to stretch elastic fabrics. The device can be purchased on the Internet or in a specialized store that sells equipment for dry cleaners, sewing studios and clothing repair shops.
Algorithm of actions:
Handy items
If you don't have a waist stretcher at hand, you can replace it with books, bottles or even furniture. The principle of operation is similar: into wet, buttoned jeans you should insert as many books as can fit in the belt to capacity. You can dial plastic bottle, fill it with water and also place it in the jeans, stretching the fabric. An analogue of such items can be the back of a chair, if its width corresponds to the desired size of the belt.
In the calves
If your jeans have become tight at the bottom of your calves, you can make them looser by using an iron with a steam generator function. The treated area will quickly stretch under the influence of hot, humid air, and you can consolidate the result by wearing trousers. Another effective way: pour boiling water over the problem areas of the fabric, then pull the pant legs onto cans of the required width.
Length increase
Jeans shrink after improper drying or washing. Since manufacturers often add synthetic fibers (elastane, viscose, lycra) to cotton products, under the influence high temperature they tighten. Thus, the wardrobe item becomes shorter in length. Stretch jeans can be stretched using mechanical stress or ironing.
Hand stretching
One person needs to take the pants by the waistband, the other by the legs, then pull the product different sides. If there is no assistant nearby, you need to find a stable object and tie several ropes to it. Their ends should be tied to the jeans belt, and the trouser legs should be picked up and pulled towards you. Don't put in a lot of effort physical strength so as not to damage the material. It is recommended to stretch the item for several minutes. The procedure can be repeated after an hour.
The result will be more effective if before the manipulation you wash your pants in warm water with the addition of conditioner. Liquid concentrate will soften cotton fabric and will make it more elastic.
Ironing
An iron will help increase the length by 3-4 cm. Since wet fabric is more elastic, jeans should be moistened with water, covered with gauze and ironed, pulling the fibers downwards with the tip of the iron. The temperature of the device should not be maximum, so as not to damage the fabric. After such treatment, the pants are guaranteed to become longer.
How to increase size
If your jeans have become too small and stretching methods have not brought the desired result, you can make them a size larger with your own hands using a sewing machine.
Stripes
You can embroider trousers using fabric inserts and stripes. It is advisable to choose a dense material that would be combined with jeans. Algorithm:
After such a transformation, the jeans will not only become more comfortable and looser, but will also acquire a unique and exclusive design. machine washable Spin mode should be turned off. Otherwise, the jeans will become narrower.
To avoid problems with denim products losing their shape in the future, it is recommended that you carefully read the information on the label before purchasing. The manufacturer indicates the exact composition and care recommendations. If the content of synthetic fibers exceeds 30%, the pants will be more susceptible to deformation during use: shrinkage or stretching. Denim is considered the densest because it does not contain synthetics, but this material is less elastic than stretch.
Simple ways to stretch jeans at home will help you save on buying a new item and make your pants more comfortable. To avoid this problem, you should adhere to basic care rules and try to buy things that fit.
