3 Ways To Make Regular Pants Into Maternity Pants - WikiHow

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Terms of Use wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Learn why people trust wikiHow How to Make Regular Pants into Maternity Pants PDF download Download Article Co-authored by Alterations Express

Last Updated: February 24, 2025

PDF download Download Article
  • Cutting your Pants
    • |
  • Creating your Maternity Waist Band
    • |
  • Sewing your Maternity Pants
    • |
  • Q&A
    • |
  • Warnings
    • |
  • Things You'll Need
|Show more |Show less X

This article was co-authored by Alterations Express. Alterations Express is a salon-style alteration and tailoring house with walk-in service, spacious dressing rooms, fitting specialists, and an extraordinary team of tailors and seamstresses at 13 storefront locations. With over 70 years of experience, they specialize in guiding individuals through a professional fitting, evaluating an alteration project on the spot, express alterations, and immediately providing pricing for any alteration. Alterations Express has been featured on multiple websites such as TheKnot.com. This article has been viewed 152,550 times.

Maternity clothing helps you to be comfortable and look professional as your body changes during pregnancy. Maternity pants usually feature knit or stretchy fabric over the belly, so that they will expand as your stomach grows larger. It can be hard to find maternity pants that fit well in the hips, buttocks and thighs as well as the stomach. One way to ensure your maternity pants fit is to convert normal pants into maternity pants. If you do not have pants at home that you want to convert, then go to a thrift store and try on jeans or pants. You will spend less and find pants that have already been worn and stretched slightly. Find out how to make regular pants into maternity pants.

Steps

Method 1 Method 1 of 3:

Cutting your Pants

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  1. Step 1 Try on the jeans or pants that you want to use. 1 Try on the jeans or pants that you want to use. Zip them up to the point at which they can comfortably close without pinching your belly.
    • You can also remove the old waistband entirely if you want to completely convert your pants. That way, you can add the new band a few inches lower to make room as your belly gets bigger.[1]
  2. Step 2 Mark that point on the front of your pants with a fabric pen. 2 Mark that point on the front of your pants with a fabric pen. Advertisement
  3. Step 3 Draw a curve that dips from just under your side belt loops down to the marked point on your zipper. 3 Draw a curve that dips from just under your side belt loops down to the marked point on your zipper. You should have a very gentle curve that may cut through your front pockets.
  4. Step 4 Cut along the curve with fabric scissors, once you are satisfied that the curve is even on both sides. 4 Cut along the curve with fabric scissors, once you are satisfied that the curve is even on both sides.
  5. Step 5 Cut across the back of the pants, just under the belt loops. 5 Cut across the back of the pants, just under the belt loops. Your back pockets, if you have them, should stay intact.
  6. Step 6 Ready your sewing machine to stitch right below the cut you just made. 6 Ready your sewing machine to stitch right below the cut you just made. This will prevent fraying. Load some thread that is the same color as your pants.
  7. Step 7 If you are converting jeans, then consider using a size 100 jeans needle and very strong thread. 7 If you are converting jeans, then consider using a size 100 jeans needle and very strong thread. Some craft stores sell thread that is specially made for sewing on denim.
  8. Step 8 Stitch once along the entire cut edge, using a straight stitch. 8 Stitch once along the entire cut edge, using a straight stitch. Then, stitch 1 more time across the zipper and fly region.
    9. Advertisement
Method 2 Method 2 of 3:

Creating your Maternity Waist Band

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  1. Step 1 Cut a long band of elastic. 1 Cut a long band of elastic. You should use elastic that is 2 inches (5 cm) or wider so that it does not dig into your belly.
    • You can also get maternity panels online or at sewing stores.[2]
  2. Step 2 Try on the pants again. 2 Try on the pants again. Wrap the elastic around your waist, at top edge of your pants, where they meet your pelvic bones. Mark a length on the band that is comfortable and not too tight.
    • Remember that you want the elastic to be tight enough to keep the pants on, but also allow a little room for growth.
  3. Step 3 Pin the elastic band together at the point that you marked with your fabric pen. 3 Pin the elastic band together at the point that you marked with your fabric pen. Cut off excess any excess elastic. Sew the ends of the elastic band together.
  4. Step 4 Choose a 4-way stretch knit fabric or tight t-shirt to use for the section of the bands that will fit over your stomach. 4 Choose a 4-way stretch knit fabric or tight t-shirt to use for the section of the bands that will fit over your stomach. You may want to choose black, blue or another color to match your pants or a patterned fabric that will create some attractive contrast.
    • You will need at least 1/4 of a yard for the fabric waistband. A Lycra/cotton blend will work well.
    • If you buy a length of knit fabric, ensure that it is fairly elastic, so that it does not stretch too far. If you choose a t-shirt, find 1 that fits snugly over your belly. You can cut a horizontal section of the shirt to use as your waist band.
  5. Step 5 Measure your elastic band with a fabric measuring tape. 5 Measure your elastic band with a fabric measuring tape. Subtract 2 inches (5 cm) from that measurement. This is your width measurement for your fabric waist band.
  6. Step 6 Cut a length of knit or t-shirt material that is equal to the width measurement. 6 Cut a length of knit or t-shirt material that is equal to the width measurement. Cut it so that it is between 14 and 17 inches (35.6 to 43.2 cm) tall. If you have a short torso, choose a 14 inch (35.6 cm) measurement, and use a longer measurement if you have a long torso.
  7. Step 7 Pin the ends of the fabric together to form a loop, as if you are trying to make a tube top. 7 Pin the ends of the fabric together to form a loop, as if you are trying to make a tube top. Sew the side together on your sewing machine.
  8. Step 8 Fold the fabric tube in half so that the back sides are touching. 8 Fold the fabric tube in half so that the back sides are touching. The new seam should be folded in half and you should have both rough edges at the bottom and the fold at the top.
  9. Step 9 Measure a casing for your elastic. 9 Measure a casing for your elastic. Depending upon the width of your elastic band, you will need to measure the width plus 5/8 inches (1.6 cm). For example, if you have a 2 inch (5 cm) elastic band, then measure 2 and 5/8 inches (6.6 cm) up from the rough edge.
  10. Step 10 Mark the measurement with a fabric pen or piece of chalk. 10 Mark the measurement with a fabric pen or piece of chalk. Mark the measurement around the entire fabric loop.
  11. Step 11 Sew along that line using a zig zag stitch. 11 Sew along that line using a zig zag stitch. This will allow you to stretch the fabric when you pull your pants on and off. You want to sew between 2 layers of folded fabric, but be sure not to sew through both sides of the loop.
  12. Step 12 Insert your elastic loop into the bottom of the fabric loop. 12 Insert your elastic loop into the bottom of the fabric loop. It should stop at the line you have just sewn.
  13. Step 13 Sew a seam just below the elastic band around the entire tube. 13 Sew a seam just below the elastic band around the entire tube. Use a zig zag stitch again. This will close your casing for the elastic band.
    14. Advertisement
Method 3 Method 3 of 3:

Sewing your Maternity Pants

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  1. Step 1 Lay your pants out on a table. 1 Lay your pants out on a table. Fold the fabric loop so that it is inside out. Pull it over the top of the pants until the edges of the fabric tube and the pants meet.
  2. Step 2 Pin the edges together. 2 Pin the edges together. The right, outside, sides should be touching.
  3. Step 3 Sew a seam through the fabric and pants at the top twice. 3 Sew a seam through the fabric and pants at the top twice. Use a narrow zig zag stitch. You may also choose to serge the final seam to prevent fraying.
  4. Step 4 Unfold the fabric and try on your homemade maternity pants. 4 Unfold the fabric and try on your homemade maternity pants. You can either wear them with the fabric tube extending up your belly or with it folded in half.
    5. Advertisement

Community Q&A

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  • Question Why do maternity pants need a panel across the abdomen? Why not just have very low-cut pants? Community Answer Community Answer Very low-cut pants don't stay up very well. Your hips are the widest part of your body, so pants need to be relatively tight to stay up. This "tight" area tends to be right where a pregnant woman's already compressed bladder is. Full-panel pants stay up because of a band around the top of the belly, which is significantly narrower than the rest of the bump. This style can stay up without being as tight. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 1 Helpful 8
  • Question How do your pants stay up? Jen Hallman Jen Hallman Community Answer When I was pregnant, I used large safety pins to fasten jeans. Slip the safety pin in the hole and fasten the other side. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 7 Helpful 6
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Tips

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Warnings

  • Beware that these changes to your pants are permanent. You can not undo the conversion at a later date. Choose pants that are inexpensive or that you know you will not want to use after your pregnancy. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
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Things You'll Need

  • Sewing machine
  • Used jeans or pants
  • Old t-shirt or knit fabric
  • Pins
  • Fabric pen/chalk
  • Fabric scissors
  • Size 100 needle
  • Thick thread
  • Elastic band
  • Fabric measuring tape
  • Serger (optional)

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References

  1. ↑ Alterations Express. Alteration, Tailoring, and Dry Cleaning Specialists. Expert Interview
  2. ↑ Alterations Express. Alteration, Tailoring, and Dry Cleaning Specialists. Expert Interview

About This Article

Alterations Express Co-authored by: Alterations Express Alteration, Tailoring, and Dry Cleaning Specialists This article was co-authored by Alterations Express. Alterations Express is a salon-style alteration and tailoring house with walk-in service, spacious dressing rooms, fitting specialists, and an extraordinary team of tailors and seamstresses at 13 storefront locations. With over 70 years of experience, they specialize in guiding individuals through a professional fitting, evaluating an alteration project on the spot, express alterations, and immediately providing pricing for any alteration. Alterations Express has been featured on multiple websites such as TheKnot.com. This article has been viewed 152,550 times. 6 votes - 100% Co-authors: 5 Updated: February 24, 2025 Views: 152,550 Categories: Sewing Pants In other languages Spanish Russian Italian
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Reader Success Stories

  • Patti Wolfe

    Patti Wolfe

    May 17, 2016

    "I got great ideas for taking older pants or t-shirts for stretchable material for the front of my older pants. I..." more
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Yes No Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Alterations Express Co-authored by: Alterations Express Alteration, Tailoring, and Dry Cleaning Specialists Co-authors: 5 Updated: February 24, 2025 Views: 152,550 100% of readers found this article helpful. 6 votes - 100% Click a star to add your vote Patti Wolfe

Patti Wolfe

May 17, 2016

"I got great ideas for taking older pants or t-shirts for stretchable material for the front of my older pants. I..." more Share yours!

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