Take In Trousers at the Waist – Step by Step

Start at the centre-back seam

Trousers have a single seam straight up the back, from the waistband down towards the seat, made for exactly this. By taking in here you remove waist width without touching the side seams, pockets or fly. Most trousers have enough margin in the centre-back seam for a normal adjustment, and dress trousers often have extra allowance hidden here. That is why the centre-back seam is almost always where to begin.

How to take in the waist at home

With a little patience and a sewing machine this is a manageable home job on an unlined pair. Try it with pins before you sew.

1. Put the trousers on inside out, pinch the excess width evenly on each side of the centre-back seam and pin – ideally with someone helping.
2. Measure how much you have pinched in total, take the trousers off and lay them inside out.
3. Unpick the waistband over the back seam, and the back belt loop if it is in the way.
4. Draw the new seam line: most in at the top by the waistband, tapering evenly out to nothing down towards the seat, so it does not pucker.
5. Sew the new centre-back seam, try the trousers on again and fine-tune if needed.
6. Trim the excess seam allowance if there is a lot, finish the edge, reattach the waistband and loop, and press the seam flat.

Darts as an alternative to the seam

If you only need a little taken in, or want to keep the back height, two small darts in the back can look neater than taking in the whole seam. Place them symmetrically either side of the centre under the waistband and sew them as tapered folds. This gives a clean fit at the back and is a straightforward home technique for small adjustments.

How much can you take in?

Taking in is rarely limited by fabric – you always have enough to remove – but by shape. The centre-back seam comfortably handles a moderate reduction, roughly one size. To go further, you shift the balance across the back and have to take in the side seams too. Then belt loops, pockets and the waistband come into play, and the job gets clearly more technical – usually tailor's work.

When should a tailor take them in?

Some trousers give the best result with a professional. That covers lined and dress trousers, where both lining and waistband have to follow; jeans, with a thick waistband, twin-needle stitching and rivets; and any reduction bigger than the centre-back seam can absorb alone, where the side seams and loops also need adjusting. Our tailors take in from the garment's own seams so the cut is kept, we pick up and deliver across Norway, and you see the price before you order.

Frequently asked questions