Maybe it's just me and my body shape, but a lot of my jeans have that giant gaping spot in the back. It's like a canyon between my bum and the back of the pants. This is what I'm talking about. On some pants it's worse than others. I tucked a shirt in so you wouldn't have to see more of me than you want to :)
I'm pretty sure it's not just me because I've caught some crack with quite a few teenage girls. Hot? No. Nasty? Yes. Anyhow, enough about that. We're going to fix it today. Here's how....
I took some 1/2 inch elastic and I cut a strip to be about 6 inches long. I sewed it on, but let me explain how.
I started at the middle and sewed to the end using a zigzag stitch. As I sewed I pulled the elastic quite tightly while I let the denim layer feed through the machine normally. Then I did the same thing again. I started in the middle and sewed to the other edge. This made it so that the elastic was centered and I didn't stitch throught the belt loops on the other side. Lastly I did one stitch in the middle, also making sure not to stitch through the belt loops.
Now I don't have to bulk up with a belt. You can't really see the stitching, since I used navy thread. Best of all, now the Grand Canyon is the only canyon people are staring at.
EXTRA INFO: This works best with lighter-weight denim. I haven't tried it on really heavy denim yet. To really get even more pull inward, you could try a wider elastic and sew two lines along it.
Thanks for dropping in. See you tomorrow!
Thanks for dropping in. See you tomorrow!
Awesome! It is definitely out there... because there is a Flikr group dedicated to it... which was a BIG help when I was creating a Butt Crack calendar for a gag Hillbilly themed gift! ;)
ReplyDeleteYou're a GENIUS!!!
ReplyDeleteI have this same exact problem!! I have found only one kind of jeans that fix the problem for me... Levis curvy fit. They sell it in two colours. lol I LOVE this! I just got a sewing machine and I forsee many pairs of jeans getting this treatment in the near future!
ReplyDeleteI like this "easy" fix... I have seen the Instant buttons but never wanted to pay shipping... Maybe I will try this fix! The Instant buttons are pretty cool too though...http://www.instantbuttonforjeans.com/products.html
ReplyDeleteThis is so great! And thanks to a previous commenter about using this idea on kids pants.
ReplyDeleteomg, LOVE this!! thanks for posting!
ReplyDeletebrilliant!
ReplyDeleteawesome...love it!!
ReplyDeleteI don't have quite the same problem, due to my lack of booty, but I tried the same concept (except at the sides) with my jeans to keep them from slipping down my straight boy-hips. I only sewed at the ends of the elastic though, and it didn't work. I still have to wear a belt. I'll try it your way with the zigzag stitching. Maybe that will work better!
ReplyDeleteI hate this!!! Glad to know, I'm not alone, I will have to try ur trick. FYI Lucky Brand jeans do a great job of eliminating this. I get them at their semi annual 1/2 off sale or the outlet. They are quite pricey but they have all sorts of cuts for all types of figures. Lucky should pay me for this advertising.
ReplyDeleteAhhhhhhhhhhh! Pure genius!
ReplyDeleteYou are a rockstar.
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Off to sew all my jeans :)
NIce bum! Where you from? JK! Love this solution because I have this problem. I'm not a lover of crack. I featured this at somedaycrafts.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteAuuurgh, thank you!!!!! Actually, thank you to the Shepherd Family poster, too. I have a size six waist and size 10 hips, so you can practically zipline across my canyon! I don't have a sewing machine...is it possible to sew this elastic in by hand, too?
ReplyDeleteFailing that...it's Instant Button for me!
A friend of mine showed me this trick a couple of years ago. It is the most awesome idea to close the gap. They look great!
ReplyDeleteThis is great! I thought I was going to have to sew two darts in the back, but if I can do it, I'm sure this will work. Thanks so much!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea. I am so not a belt wearer, this will work great! This will work great for my daughter's pants too.
ReplyDeleteI love this, I publish a e-newsletter weekly and would love to use this as a tip for the teenagers, do you mind if I share it? I'll give you props and a link back of course.
ReplyDeletethankyou!!! I have the same problem as you! I always have to watch out for that canyon (hahaXD) when buying pants so thanks for the tip!
ReplyDeleteGreat tip. Thanks! But now I am wondering, do you have any ideas for keeping pants up on 4 little girls that have no hips or bums to speak of? I am constantly telling them to pull their pants up. In fact, sometimes they start pulling up their pants out of reflex as soon as I say their name! I've tried belts, those pants that have the adjustable waistband, and even long undershirts. Nothing seems to work! Any suggestions?
ReplyDeleteyou are sew smart!
ReplyDeleteGenius. Seriously.
ReplyDeleteYou are very resourceful and the jeans look good! An alternative is to have them (cheaply!) tailored by getting some darts put in. I always end up taking jeans to be tweaked.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea!! I am going to try that once I can fit into my prepreggo jeans.
ReplyDeletewww.emilyguerra.com
I'm constantly telling my 11 year old "say no to crack"! I think this would be a great fix!
ReplyDeleteLove this! I constantly have this problem. I just got a sewing machine so as soon as I figure out how to use it I will have to give this a try.
ReplyDeleteI also love the Levi Curvy jeans. The red stitching is fun for me and it's so nice not to have to worry. Right now I only have one pair, though...so all my other jeans might soon have elastic! It looks so smooth and invisible. Before, I would hear elastic and have horrible 80s flashbacks.
ReplyDeleteLove your ideas! How do you think of them? I have had this same prob for years and couldn't come up with a solution. I AM trying this. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI lived in South America for a little bit, and it was quite common for women there to tailor their jeans -- for exactly the reason you mentioned. They typically sewed in two places at the back of the waistband. Brought back memories. :)
ReplyDeleteGreat idea! I don't like to wear belts, so this will be great!
ReplyDeleteYou are brilliant! Thanks for sharing! :)
ReplyDeleteGenius idea! I've had this gaping problem since I was a teen! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteAgain. Genius!! I don't know why I'm surprised. ;o)
ReplyDeleteoh my gosh! i have this exact problem!! even more so before i gain a few pounds since i stopped nursing last month (tmi?!) since my mom is a seamstress, i would take my jeans to her and she would take tucks in the wasitband, but somtimes it was kind of bulky. this is indeed genius!!!!
ReplyDeleteI wish I had your problem. Now can you figure out a crafty way to keep all my rolls in my jeans. That would be very helpful. Actually this will be great for my kids, they are super skinny, and not all pants come with an adjustable waist.
ReplyDeleteAs a somewhat bigger guy, my butt crack always seems to be hanging out no matter what pants I wear (to my dismay).
ReplyDeleteI might just have to try this! I have a couple of buddies who would probably benefit as well...
--James (aka 'Dirty')
That is so much better than this 'product' they were talking about on our local radio station....be warned...*shudders*
ReplyDeletehttp://wqyk.radio.com/2010/04/29/butt-crack-problem/
I love you! (not in a creepy way, haha) This has always been my problem! I have to go up a size because I have a butt & thighs...but then my pants are always too big on my waist. Grand canyon indeed, lol. And I HATE wearing belts too. Totally going to do this! Thanks so much for sharing!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea! This post just made me laugh... I hear it not just from my kids and husband but from the occasional friend as well :l Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteHey, my name is Heidi, I've been following your blog for quite some time, this is the first I've commented tho, for some reason! Just have to say LOVE YOUR BLOG! :)
ReplyDeleteI have that problem too! I hate having to worry about if my crack is showing. :( Thank you for creating a solution!
This is brilliant!! I haven't been able to find a pair of jeans that fit right ever since having my son -- the waist always gaps horribly, regardless of what size/style/brand I try. Thank you so much! I'm eager to try this out!
ReplyDeleteThis is brilliant!! I haven't been able to find a pair of jeans that fit right ever since having my son -- the waist always gaps horribly, regardless of what size/style/brand I try. Thank you so much! I'm eager to try this out!
ReplyDeleteI am soooo glad you posted this! I just bought a pair of pants for under $7.00 on clearance, and they do that in the back. It's something I've lived with forever, so I just deal with it. But I'm glad there's a solution!!! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteGenius!
ReplyDeleteOMG! This is GENIUS. I've been fighting with a pair of pants ALL. DAY. LONG. I'm going to do this to them right now. RIGHT now.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the sweet tip!!
Holy cow! This is so great! I was just thinking about this issue today. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea! I think I'm going to give this a try...the next time I can find elastic...it seems the craft stores in town are always out of the wider widths. I'm always stuck with 3/8" or something thin like that.
ReplyDeleteThat's genius! I love this idea! Thanks tons, I'll be linking.
ReplyDeleteThat is GENIUS!!!
ReplyDeleteI have to put darts in the back of ALL of my pants for this very reason. No pants fit me right since I have bigger bum and smaller waist.
This is so much easier and more forgiving!! I am switching to this method from now on.
I just recently found your blog and am loving it already!
Wow, this looks so much easier than putting darts in! I always have my pants tailored (sewing on the yoke & waistband kind of scares me) but THIS is super easy. thank you from a curvy gal! :)
ReplyDeleteThat is such a great idea! Thanks for the tip!
ReplyDeleteThis is what my Mum used to do to a lot of my clothes when I was a kid - tall and skinny meant not a lot of clothes fit well straight from the shop!
ReplyDeleteYou're a jean-ius! So easy.
ReplyDeleteNext time try black elastic...you will like it even better! And, you did a great job!
ReplyDeleteBrilliant! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely gorgeous. Thanks :-*
ReplyDeleteLove it! Love it! Love it! Must do this today to my pair of jeans after I get home from church. I have 4 kids and am so familiar with the elastic adjustable bands inside their shorts/ pants so I can't believe I never thought of this and suffered through constantly pulling my shirt down in the back! THANKS!
ReplyDeleteYou are a genius!! I always sewed darts in them, but this is way way better! Thanks so much and I hope I don't forget it the next time I need it.
ReplyDeleteAs I was sewing darts into my last new pair, I was wondering if something like this would work. Thank you for figuring it out for me. (I also used to get the Levi's curvy, but they discontinued the petite ones and the rise is too long for me in the regulars.)
ReplyDeleteLove, love, love this idea! Genius!!
ReplyDeleteYeah, so I'm a little slow on finding your blog (in my defense we did just recently get the internet)Anyway, I LOVE this idea. I thought I might be the only one with crack pants. I've always had a big bottom and a smaller figure and so I've had this crack my whole life. My daughter now has it. I usually just make my own skirts so I don't have to worry about the crack. I'm so excited to try this out!
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh! Where was this tutorial when I was in high school?!?! Shopping would have been so much simpler! Thank you for this...will definitly keep this in mind the next time I go shopping.
ReplyDeleteOh, thanks for the idea!!! I had a more complicated one but this will save me time...i was thinking to cut the belt from inside and put the elastic, but oh, boy this is much simplier...thanks again...
ReplyDeleteblessings,
nádya
BRILLIANT! I just found this via Pinterest, what an amazing idea! I will be trying this :)
ReplyDeletelove this idea! My family is cursed with high butt cracks! lol -- this will be an embarrassment saver, for sure!
ReplyDeleteI run the elastic inside the waistband by opening up two little slits on the inside waistband fabric, in the back, about 7" (give or take) distance from each other. Usually there is a space between the outside waistband fabric and the inside--making a casing...Use a long piece of elastic to start, which you will cut. With a safety pin, run elastic through casing in one slit, through casing in waistband, and out the other slit. Machine sew a vertical line through each end of the elastic--pull to tighten before you sew the second line!! Cut elastic, and handsew the slits if desired (since they are inside there is no real reason to do this...) Hope this is clear--hard to describe--need more coffee.
ReplyDeleteI do this on my jeans too and it makes a big difference. It's really easy to run the elastic inside the two pieces of fabric of the waistband. Sometimes I leave the elastic a little longer, sew one end and then just use a safety pin on the other end - that way it is adjustable! Just like some of the toddler pants, but they use buttons for the adjustment. I leave the elastic long, so it an be folded over the safety pin and won't dig into my skin!
DeleteLove that idea, too!
DeleteAlthough the elastic was very impressive, I however am MORE impressed at your skills of taking pictures of your own behind!!!!! :)
ReplyDelete{Great idea!!!}
i find wearing my 17 year old son's jeans eliminates this gap -i do have a JLO body shape. Something bout teenage boy jeans & woman's shape fit better. the only downside: the pockets are wayyyyyy to long for my 5'3 petite sized.
ReplyDeleteHope This Helps
TwoDiffSocks
This is brilliant!
ReplyDeleteLove this! I have too much thighs, and not enough waist, and my pants are always falling off. I love that it doesn't look like elastic waist pants too. Ty!
ReplyDeleteShiloh
everydaygameplan.net
Thank you for solving a life long problem of mine!
ReplyDeleteI have the same problem so this is something I just have to do! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteI don't see how the instant button would help at all. They would be too tight in the tummy and I still would have a giant gap in the back - really, I have tried that kind of jean on too. But this elastic idea might work! I have also had success with Seven jeans. Tag says "Seven 7 Premium Denim" Have no idea where to buy them since I found them at a great resale shop.
ReplyDeleteOh, and I should have said I used to tailor my jeans by adding three darts in the back. Worked great at making them fit but you could see the darts :(
ReplyDeleteYou are brilliant!!!
ReplyDeleteThis alone should make you a winner of some kind of award, a really awesome award! You just fixed one of my biggest clothing problems. Thank you!
ReplyDeletebrillant idea
ReplyDeleteHere's a way to take this one little step farther (yes, I've done this in the past). On the inside of the waistband - somewhere near the side seam - cut an up-and-down slit in the inside of the waistband only. Feed the elastic through this and then zig-zag through both ends securing the opening and the elastic in one stitching. Before you start, make sure the waistband can accommodate the elastic and there isn't any stitching (like belt loops) that would block you. If it has room - this looks really nice and holds the pants tight!
ReplyDeleteI have a pair of straight leg jeans that fit nicely when I first put them on , but they drop off my hips as the day goes on. I dont like belts. Its very frustrating! No gaps on this pair but I still may try your idea!Thanks!
ReplyDeleteThis does work great. I have done this with my jeans, as well as my kids jeans. If you are sewing on a lighter color denim, use a shade of grey thread instead of navy and it blends quite well.
ReplyDeleteUse your 3 step zig zag and it will work even better!! Great idea!
ReplyDeleteNo! OMG! you are certainly not the only one with this problem. I tried on at least 50 different brands/styles of jeans in 1/2 dozen stores until I found one that fit right and bought 3 pair. Argghh! I will definitely do this to 'save' the rest of my jeans and a whole bunch of other pants/shorts as well. Another whydidntithinkofthat...Thank you!
ReplyDeleteI share this problem - who are they making these jeans for anyway?! I've joked that I could carry my purse in the gap back there!
ReplyDeleteLove it! Love it! Love it! My ever modest for me husband will thanks you. :)
ReplyDelete