Has anyone successfully converted reg jeans to maternity jeans?

[~Cricket~]

I have some American Eagle jeans that I love. They're comfy and fit well, aside from not being able to button up, of course.
I have about 8 pairs of different maternity jeans that I hate. They are bulky around the hips and pockets (apparently the makers of maternity jeans think you'll be carrying your baby in your pockets...?), make my butt look droopy, and fall off constantly.
I've been wearing my AE jeans with a belly band, but would like something a little more secure/permanent.
Have you ever converted regular jeans to maternity jeans SUCCESSFULLY? I'm afraid to cut apart my jeans and just end up with nothing, but I'd love to have a pair of maternity pants that fit like the jeans I love. And I want them to have a full belly panel. How did you do it? What tips or suggestions can you offer? Any help would be much appreciated!

[solobluedancer]

I wouldn't try it, only because it pains me to cut into jeans I love (remember, there is always post partum)

Could you fix the pants you hate?

Sorry I wasn't too helpful

[ofthemoonsglow]

There are a lot of differemt types of maternity pants. Have you tried the kind that have the stretchy part that goes all the way over your belly? Those always stayed up for me

[~Cricket~]

Yep, I've tried them all, and while the full panel ones are best, they're still bad. In one pregnancy, I ended up pinning them to my bra to keep them up... I think I'm just an odd build, or something.
I did a quick google search for tutorials on converting pants and found a few that looked really helpful. I have a pair of jeans that are getting worn out and will need to be replaced soon anyways, so I might give it a shot. If I try it, I'll let you know how it goes.

[ofthemoonsglow]

Id be scared to try. Lol let us know how it turns out!

[jeebee]

Two words. Yoga Pants.

[~Cricket~]

Ha ha! I wear my yoga pants in the morning until I have a shower, but I'm just not really a yoga pants kind of person. I don't feel dressed until I have "real" pants on.

[mgmsrk]

If your goal is to wear them after the baby then you should leave them alone. If you just want them as maternity jeans then I would;

Cut them at the center back and each side. Make a V with a matching 4 way stretch fabric.

Make a maternity panel tube of the same 4 way stretch fabric to the size that will work for you. I would make it shorter in the back.

Stitch the panel to the pants, I would do it just below the belt loops and waist band seam.

You could put in button elastic at the waistband at the V points to make it more adjustable as you get bigger.

[Hellga]

I converted a brand new pair of jeans to a full-belly style, and I would say I was 95% successful. I bought ultra-low-rise jeans, used a seam ripper to remove the waistband, and pinned on a BeBand from Target in my size. One long straight-stitched row later, tada! Maternity! The one and only thing I don't like is that the front is not quite low rise enough, so there is a bit of weird fit under my belly. I could easily fix them but I'm too busy/worn out/lazy to do so... :/

Sent from my iPhone using DS Forum

[~Cricket~]

I was planning to get a belly band from target too. Getting the panel right is going to be key in making these work, I think, so I figured it was worth it. And I've got a 2" wide elastic that I'm going to put around the waist after I cut it low, so that it (hopefully!) stays snug without being too tight, and stays up.