Making a long skirt’s waist smaller is a simple alteration that can be done at home with a few basic sewing supplies. It is a great way to give an old skirt a new fit or to adjust a skirt that is too big. There are two main methods for making a long skirt waist smaller: taking in the side seams or adding darts to the back of the skirt.
Taking in the side seams is the easiest method, but it can only be done if the skirt has enough excess fabric in the side seams. To take in the side seams, simply sew a new seam along the side of the skirt, starting at the waistband and ending at the hem. The new seam should be about 1/2 inch to 1 inch narrower than the original seam.Adding darts to the back of the skirt is a more complicated method, but it can be used to make the waist smaller even if the skirt does not have enough excess fabric in the side seams. To add darts to the back of the skirt, first mark the center of the back of the skirt at the waistline. Then, measure out 2 inches to either side of the center mark and mark these points. Draw a line from each side mark to the center mark, creating a V-shape. Sew along the lines you have drawn, starting at the waistband and ending at the point where the two lines meet. Press the darts flat and topstitch them in place.
