Mark and Measure the Waistband

• The pants or skirt should be tried on before altering. Pull the waistband in the back of the garment until it fits snugly. Bunch the excess fabric and secure it with a safety pin so that the fold faces out. Use a washable pencil to mark the spot on the pants or skirt. If there is a loop in the back, remove it with a seam ripper or with small, sharp scissors. Before removing the loop, examine how it is attached so that you can attach it later. Remove any tags sewn inside with a seam ripper or scissors.
  
  

Remove Waistband Stitching

• Use a seam ripper to open up the horizontal waist seam about 4 inches, or about 2 inches on each side of the center back. If the skirt or pants has stitching along the upper edge of the waistband, remove about 3 inches of that or about 1 1/2 inches on each side of the center back seam. Many skirts and pants do not have a center back seam. If your garment does not have a center back seam, you will add it later. If the skirt or pants needs to be taken in 2 inches, take in 1 inch at each side of the center back. Mark the pants or skirt 1 inch from the center back with a washable pencil. This should be done to the right and left of the center. These marks need to be done on both inside and outside of the waistband. A center back seam should be drawn with a washable pencil. If there is elastic in the band, take in 1 inch more on each side.
  
  

Take in the Waistband

• If your garment does not have a center back seam, then you do not need to do the following. If the pants or skirt does have a center back seam then do the following. To conceal the new center back seam, it should be sewn to the left or right of the existing center back seam. Move it over about an 1/8 of an inch. The center back seam will be concealed by the belt loop. Take in the waistband by folding it against the new seam line with the right sides together. Pin it in place and stitch it together.
  
  

Remove Top Stitching

• Only trim the seam allowances inside the skirt or pants after you are done altering. When you are finished, turn the pants or skirts inside out to remove the top stitching. Use a seam ripper or scissors to perform this. Pin the pants or skirt at the necessary amount and sew it. Turn the skirt or pants to right side up and top stitch the seam as it was originally. Resew the belt loop and put the labels back on. Attach the waistband to the pants or skirt and top stitch the opening closed. Use a top stitch to the top of the belt loop and the bottom to secure it.