Great information. It’s hard because this is obviously so individualized to each persons own body. I do not have a “flatter” section of my waist running down the sides of my body (excepting the line along my rib cage), but where my natural waist sits, it definitely has a defined “dip or nip” in. So for me, I have found the curved waistbands (that should hit at my natural waist) fit exceptionally better 9 times out of 10 compared to straight waistbands that would sit at that spot. Also, I have found that with curved waistbands, I don’t get the “rollover” crease in that part of the garment from daily wear/movement/sitting because the waistband settles correctly on my body. Again, I don’t think this is a hard and fast rule as much as a way to really individualize and tailor a pattern or garment to our own unique bodies and curves. As with most other sewing topics, no exact right or wrong way to do it. Just preference.
Great insight! I just want people to not be accepting of one way as the right way, as you said. Somehow curved waistbands became the "right way" and it's not always the case.
The online sewing community has really opened my eyes to the freedom of changing things to really personalize my fit and taste. Your discussion about waistbands was another ah-ha moment for me. Thanks!
What great information. I’m going to be making my first skirt in a few weeks. Definitely sewing up a muslin. I will refer back to this video if (when) I need to adjust the waistband. It’s fun to see how you are using your ditto form. I remember when you got it. 😊
Great help! Am sewing my first skirt ever and waistband, where I'm drafting my own pattern. Read a lot about curved vs straight waistbands but can't really decide but now it's much easier! 🥰
Thank you! I'm doing a wide and high waistband and every other tutorial I found was preaching that curved was the only way to go and I couldn't understand because bottoms of my fitted top patterns are not curvy, they're like squares with inclining sides
I made pants from a lutterloh pattern and of course all of the waistbands are straight. I had to draft a curved one. It was so much easier than I thought it would be and the fit was perfect.
I have a short torso & my waist is at my belly button. My rise in the front is short. I'm interested in experimenting with both waistbands. Thank you for insight.
Super helpful. Playing with top down center out. I've done the method you showed (taking a few tucks) with a straight waistband before. I feel like otherwise even with a straight waistband I get a gap in the back. My question with high waisted pants is they do hit your ribs, right? So then you need breathing room? Or do most people have a bigger gap between the top of the hip and lower ribs?
Only video I could find explaining the difference between how a curved and straight waistband actually look. In my head, a curved waistband just goes "up" higher at the sides, but it doesnt. It just tapers more. Maybe I should stop making clothes because im so bad at imagining 2D patterns as 3D objects.
Most of the patterns i'm finding have contour bands. I have always made the straight bands. My daughter and I BOTH have high hip bones and smaller waists. RTW pants are usually a nightmare for me (ALWAYS a gap in the back, sometimes pulling in the seat as well. Is there any way to convert a pants pattern for a contour band to use a straight waistband?
Of course there is!! I might even have a video for it. I can’t remember for sure. But it’s just putting little wedges in the wb making the bottom a little longer that the top.
When you have a ditto form, is there anything the company can adjust if you lose weight? If you gain weight I guess you could pad it out. But what about losing weight? I’ve been steadily losing weight since May(30 lbs lost). I have some skin hanging under my arms and stomach and I’ve lost my butt. I think my upper chest has shrunk too. Sigh..
Yes! They will do a video call with you to walk you through how to shave down the foam! I had to do it to one shoulder blade and it was so easy. Sort of like slicing bread?! LOL!
Novice here attempting my first skirt. I found this video because I searched “troubleshooting waistbands.” It’s going to take me a while to figure out what works for me. I have no curves, am short-waisted, no butt…but now that I’m post-menopausal I seem to be rounder in the middle. No waistband fits me particularly well so I’m not even sure where to start.
![Seungmin "그렇게, 천천히, 우리(As we are)" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/kAzmhLHePqU/mqdefault.jpg)
Have you tried both curved and straight waistbands in high-waisted garments? Which one worked best for you?
Great information. It’s hard because this is obviously so individualized to each persons own body.
I do not have a “flatter” section of my waist running down the sides of my body (excepting the line along my rib cage), but where my natural waist sits, it definitely has a defined “dip or nip” in. So for me, I have found the curved waistbands (that should hit at my natural waist) fit exceptionally better 9 times out of 10 compared to straight waistbands that would sit at that spot. Also, I have found that with curved waistbands, I don’t get the “rollover” crease in that part of the garment from daily wear/movement/sitting because the waistband settles correctly on my body.
Again, I don’t think this is a hard and fast rule as much as a way to really individualize and tailor a pattern or garment to our own unique bodies and curves. As with most other sewing topics, no exact right or wrong way to do it. Just preference.
Great insight! I just want people to not be accepting of one way as the right way, as you said. Somehow curved waistbands became the "right way" and it's not always the case.
Oh wow! I had no idea! Great visual showing the differences between the two. Thanks for sharing! :)
You are so welcome!
The online sewing community has really opened my eyes to the freedom of changing things to really personalize my fit and taste. Your discussion about waistbands was another ah-ha moment for me. Thanks!
As usual, darts save the day on curves! Thank you for sharing this!
What great information. I’m going to be making my first skirt in a few weeks. Definitely sewing up a muslin. I will refer back to this video if (when) I need to adjust the waistband. It’s fun to see how you are using your ditto form. I remember when you got it. 😊
Very interesting. Thanks!
upside down unicorn 😂😂😂 Thank you so much for this explanation!
Great information! I never though of this before. Thank you!
This is exactly what I was looking for. Thank you so much for the great demonstration and explanation, I will now go and get my tissue paper 😄💯
Oh my oh my... Thank you! I've been looking for this crucial info & that's an awesome idea. No more flappy waistband for me! Thank you! ❤️
Great help! Am sewing my first skirt ever and waistband, where I'm drafting my own pattern. Read a lot about curved vs straight waistbands but can't really decide but now it's much easier! 🥰
Thank you. Finally clear to me -I am an upside-down unicorn. Of course! Proud of it!
LOLOLOL! You do you!
Thank you for this! So helpful!
Thanks for the information. This becomes perfectly clear now.
Brilliant information.
Thank you! I'm doing a wide and high waistband and every other tutorial I found was preaching that curved was the only way to go and I couldn't understand because bottoms of my fitted top patterns are not curvy, they're like squares with inclining sides
Thanx this is so helpful
I made pants from a lutterloh pattern and of course all of the waistbands are straight. I had to draft a curved one. It was so much easier than I thought it would be and the fit was perfect.
I ALWAYS have to make the curved waistbands even more curved when they sit on my natural waist 😃 But I am short waisted and have a swayback.
This is a good point!
Hooray for the DITTO.
Is the dart in the band visible when you do that?
No. You’d transfer it to the pattern piece and cut your fabric with the new pattern piece.
I have a short torso & my waist is at my belly button. My rise in the front is short. I'm interested in experimenting with both waistbands. Thank you for insight.
Super helpful. Playing with top down center out. I've done the method you showed (taking a few tucks) with a straight waistband before. I feel like otherwise even with a straight waistband I get a gap in the back. My question with high waisted pants is they do hit your ribs, right? So then you need breathing room? Or do most people have a bigger gap between the top of the hip and lower ribs?
TDCO - Ruth has made pant fittingvso much easier by sharing her method with all sewists.
Only video I could find explaining the difference between how a curved and straight waistband actually look. In my head, a curved waistband just goes "up" higher at the sides, but it doesnt. It just tapers more. Maybe I should stop making clothes because im so bad at imagining 2D patterns as 3D objects.
Most of the patterns i'm finding have contour bands. I have always made the straight bands. My daughter and I BOTH have high hip bones and smaller waists. RTW pants are usually a nightmare for me (ALWAYS a gap in the back, sometimes pulling in the seat as well. Is there any way to convert a pants pattern for a contour band to use a straight waistband?
Of course there is!! I might even have a video for it. I can’t remember for sure. But it’s just putting little wedges in the wb making the bottom a little longer that the top.
When you have a ditto form, is there anything the company can adjust if you lose weight? If you gain weight I guess you could pad it out. But what about losing weight? I’ve been steadily losing weight since May(30 lbs lost). I have some skin hanging under my arms and stomach and I’ve lost my butt. I think my upper chest has shrunk too. Sigh..
Yes! They will do a video call with you to walk you through how to shave down the foam! I had to do it to one shoulder blade and it was so easy. Sort of like slicing bread?! LOL!
Hmmmm. Interesting.
Novice here attempting my first skirt. I found this video because I searched “troubleshooting waistbands.” It’s going to take me a while to figure out what works for me. I have no curves, am short-waisted, no butt…but now that I’m post-menopausal I seem to be rounder in the middle. No waistband fits me particularly well so I’m not even sure where to start.
Start with a straight one, wrap it around your body, and pinch out any excess just like I did. If there isn’t any, make a straight waistband!!