Crew Sew Along | Sew Waistband

BASTE STITCH THE BELT LOOPS

Pin the belt loops right sides together at the waistline. Line up the raw edge of the two loops with the center front pleats.

Front belt loops are shown pinned to the Crew Shorts sewing pattern

One belt loop will be at the center back and the last two will be 1″ (2.5 cm) from the side seam towards the center back. Stitch the belt loops in place at 1/4″ (0.6 cm).

Back belt loops are shown on the Crew shorts sewing pattern

SEW THE WEARER’S RIGHT SIDE OF THE WAISTBAND & FACING

With right sides together, sew the wearer’s right side of the waistband and the waistband facing at 3/4″ (2 cm). For reference, the waistband facings have 1/8″ (0.3 cm) trimmed from the top edge and notches on the bottom edge.

Press the seams open.

Seams of the Crew pattern waistband and facing are shown pressed open.

PRESS THE WAISTBAND BOTTOM EDGE

Press the bottom edge of the waistband under 3/8″ ( 1 cm), wrong sides together.

The waistband facing is shown pressed under 3/8".

SEW THE WAISTBAND TO THE WAISTBAND FACING

With the right sides together, pin the top edge of the waistband to the waistband facing, sew and clip the curved seam.

The waistband and facing pieces are shown sewn together.

Press the seam open.

The Crew waistband seam is shown pressed open

ATTACH THE WAISTBAND FACING TO THE WAISTLINE

Pin the right side of the bottom waistband facing to the wrong side of the to shorts/trousers at the waistline, matching the notches and side seams.

The waistband is shown pinned to the wrong side of the Crew pattern

Sew the seam and turn the shorts/ trousers inside out to make sure that the waistband meets on either side of the zipper and the same point. Adjust if needed and press the seam up.

The Crew Sewing pattern waistband is shown sewn and pressed toward waistband.

Trim the top of the zipper tape.

SEW THE SHORT ENDS OF THE WAISTBAND

Flip the waistband so the right side of the waistband and the waistband facing are touching with the seam allowance folded up. Pin the short ends of the waistband to line up the notches. The front will line up with the zipper edge and the back will line up with the zipper shield. If you omit the zipper shield there will be a 3/4″ (2 cm) extension. Sew at 3/4″ ( 2 cm).

Sewn short edges of the Crew sewing pattern are pinned and marked.

Trim the seam allowance and corner, then turn right side out and press.

The Crew Waistband is turned right side out.

TOPSTITCH THE WAISTBAND

Pin the waistband in place with the seam allowance turned under at the pressed line.

The Crew pattern waistband is pinned to front.

Topstitch the waistband at 1/8″ (0.3 cm). Start at the back extension, go around the bottom edge around to the front, then up the front short end. Continue back around the front top edge and back top edge, then back down the back extension. Make sure not to pull or twist while topstitching. Press.