Thread: Waist of harem pants creeping up?

Is there a way to stop a waist band from creeping up 'til its at my rib cage like how some little old men wear their pants? These aren't even fun to wear in class, let alone workable in a performance costume. Can the waist band be re-engineered with different elastic? Is so, what to use? I bought these from another bhuzzer who made them herself, so it's not like I can return these to a store because they didn't work out.

Open the casing of the elastic and try pinning it smaller so the band is a little tighter. See if that helps?

When they are at hip level, where is the crotch? It sounds like the distance from the crotch to the waist/hip band is too long. Think of low-rise pants - you CAN'T pull them up because of the way they are made.

When they creep up, are they too short? If not, you can roll the waistband for a quick fix or can cut some extra off of the top and re-do the waist/hip band.

Another option would be to pin or tack them to a pair of nude boy shorts. (I do this to my lycra skirts to stop them from falling down, but it would work the opposite direction as well).

If any of the suggestions given above do not work, look at the seam allowance of the crotch seam: it shouldn't be any wider than 1/4 inch, or if wider, then little notches should have been cut through to allow the U shape of the crotch seam to "open" properly. Otherwise the fabric of the seam allowance keeps the U tighter at the top and makes the pants creep up.

Good suggestions. This drives me nuts too. Most likely the crotch length is too long AND the elastic is tight. If the elastic was too loose, the pants would drop lower as you shimmy, not creep higher.

I would first try loosening the elastic, and see if the pants drop to the right level.

Then if the crotch hangs way low, I'd cut the hipband LOWER for a better fit. That requires a little sewing skill: cut off the old casing (tunnel) and make a new casing, then thread the elastic thru using a large safety pin.

Or you could pin the hip band to snug shorts or the inside of a snug hipscarf or hip belt.

I like the pinning/sewing to shorts idea. ..g.:
Thanks for all the ideas, though!

The crotch length shouldn't make it ride up tho- I have a couple pairs made that way on purpose & know other dancers who like that effect as well.
The best way (IMHO) to keep elastic waist anything from riding up is using wide enough elastic- you might have to redo the casing or put a new casing on, but I don't use anything thinner than 1" for waistbands and prefer wider. if you don't have wider elastic, putting in another casing for a second band of elastic has much the same effect. hugs your curves better!

I pin on... the body stocking. The Powernet body stockings are much better for this, if the material is too slippery it will not stay. Figured this out one day. Boy, I wish I had pictures, but I do have video. lol...