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Waistband for the apple shape
Annette Wright KS USA Member since 2008 Posts: 1032	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 2/24/10 2:01 PM I seriously can't determine what style works best for me. I can get everything to fit but then the waistband is either too big or too small. I swear my stomach expands and shrinks countable inches everyday. I do not want elastic though. I think a contoured waistband is hard to fit me though. My latest slacks look great, no butt wrinkles or anything, and now that they are all done, the waistband is too big. It gets so frustrating. The fabric was a lightweight wool with spandex, I interfaced the waistband, put in beltloops to use a belt (to cinch in as needed) but I think I have to take off my beautiful waistband and make it smaller...and then I'm scared it won't fit. I'm just kind of looking for a discussion. Thanks. ------ Annette http://needlesnails.blogspot.com/
jeanau Intermediate PA USA Member since 2007 Posts: 180	Login to reply to this post In reply to Annette Wright Like this post Date: 2/24/10 5:00 PM I'm sorry that I don't have any answers, but I want to tell you that you look great!
Vintage Joan Intermediate ON CANADA Member since 2007 Posts: 7969	Login to reply to this post In reply to Annette Wright Like this post Date: 2/24/10 5:08 PM I think the first thing you need to do is stop thinking of yourself as an "apple" shape. Your reviews ------ my shield and my very great reward (Gen. 15:1) ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ If you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid. ~Albert Einstein ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Image: Berthe Morisot, Young Woman Leaning on Her Elbows, 1894
Annette Wright KS USA Member since 2008 Posts: 1032	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 2/24/10 5:15 PM Well, considering I have less than a 5" difference in my hip and waist measurements, most of which is in the front, I am very much in the apple category. I have a heck of a time keeping my pants up without a tight belt. I did make a pair of pants recently where the waistband seems a good fit (it's contoured) though the pants came out too tight. And the pants I just made fit really well, though the straight waistband is too loose. So now I'm trying to merge them once again. Seriously, my pants fall down in the front as that's my biggest body part. It measures slightly larger than a size 22 pattern, though my hips are at a size 18, top about a size 16 (yup, I've been gaining weight back, and I'm not pleased.) And I still need to wear clothes. Alas.....lol ------ Annette http://needlesnails.blogspot.com/
misschris AUSTRALIA Member since 2006 Posts: 1040	Login to reply to this post In reply to Annette Wright Like this post Date: 2/24/10 5:29 PM Have you thought about a partial elastic waistband? Even just in the back of the waistband can make a big difference. It cinches it in enough to stop pants falling down, but gives a little if your waist expands. ------ chris Melbourne
Vintage Joan Intermediate ON CANADA Member since 2007 Posts: 7969	Login to reply to this post In reply to Annette Wright Like this post Date: 2/24/10 6:10 PM Quote: Well, considering I have less than a 5" difference in my hip and waist measurements, most of which is in the front, I am very much in the apple category. Well, that's your call, of course, but you seem more like a middle-aged version of whatever body type you had when you were younger. From what I understand, true apple-shaped ladies have flatter tushies and usually less definition than 5" between waist and hip. But whatever! You look very nice. Anyway, it almost sounds like you need to make your waistbands smaller, if they're falling off. Or perhaps find one of those elastic-waist patterns where the elastic is nicely concealed (doesn't have the "elastic-waist" look), or maybe add a section of elastic to the sides or back of the waistband? ------ my shield and my very great reward (Gen. 15:1) ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ If you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid. ~Albert Einstein ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Image: Berthe Morisot, Young Woman Leaning on Her Elbows, 1894
novicesewist   Beginner CA USA Member since 2008 Posts: 65	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 2/24/10 6:52 PM Have you tried Debbie Cook's hidden elastic waistband method? There's elastic inside a regular waistband, so it looks flat when worn, but tightens up if needed (if the fabric stretches out). I used it when I sewed the Jalie 2908 jeans, as I was unsure I cut the right waistband size. Turns out they were a bit small, but that wasn't the elastics fault! She gives step by step instructions Here -- Edited on 7/26/10 1:54 PM --
quathy   Intermediate CA USA Member since 2006 Posts: 602	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 2/24/10 7:16 PM I wonder if you added something like power-net to the area between waist and hip, if that would provide some extra 'hugging' support? Not that you need it - you look great to mebut I have that problem sometimes when things just don't fit right in the waist, but if they are 'snug' enough in the high-hip to hip line they work out. I wear belts for this reason, too, so I'd love to hear what everyone has to say!
Sherril Miller   Advanced CA USA Member since 2002 Posts: 7235	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 2/24/10 10:08 PM I use a straight waistband. I am a true apple shape and I have 5.5" between my waist and hips. That said, I make the pants to fit, then I take my straight waistband and wrap it around my waist, pinning it at center front while wearing the pants. I haven't measured anything, just made a straight waistband that is interfaced. Then I mark the center back, side seams and center front from the pants onto the waistband. Then I pin the band onto the pants. This way, I know the waistband will fit me and the pants. I've never had a problem with this method being too big or too small. ------ Visit my blog at http://sewingsaga.blogspot.com If it's worth sewing, it's worth sewing well; and if it's worth sewing well, it's worth FITTING FIRST! - TSL
Annette Wright KS USA Member since 2008 Posts: 1032	Login to reply to this post In reply to Sherril Miller Like this post Date: 2/25/10 8:18 AM Thanks Sherril, that's kind of what I was wondering, what others use and use well. I've been doing it wrong, I've been making the pants, and they fit well without the waistband and then I just add the waistband, not marking exactly where the CF (button closed point should be.) Silly me, that makes sense. Whack me upside the head with a baseball bat. Have you found a width of waistband that you prefer? And what do you like to interface waistbands with? These fabrics with lycra make some of these things more difficult. ~~~~~~~~ And my question had nothing to do with whether or not I look "great" in a review. It had to do with keeping my pants up, what works well with you, and finding some answers. If someone wants to call me a "fluffy H" rather than an "apple" so be it. A skinny person with no waist can just pull the belt tighter, a heavier person just gets rolls. I'm trying to avoid that. And I try to put a photo in my review that looks good, not bad. ------ Annette http://needlesnails.blogspot.com/

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