Most Common Garment Alterations

Most Common Garment Alterations

What type of alterations do you consistently make to your wardrobe?  That’s the question I posed earlier this month, via this blog,  Facebook, and Pinterest.  It was no surprise to learn that many alterations involve a hemline, whether it be on shorts, pants, dresses, or skirts. Many other fantastic alterations ideas are helping readers look their best.

Enjoy the selected responses below, plus a spotlight on one featured reader.

*Featured image above is from my Solving The Pattern Fitting Puzzle on Sewing With Nancy. Catch Parts One and Two online today!

Here’s what you are saying:

Alter it All!

“I like to shorten sleeves from 3/4 to just above the elbow. Necklines: I have even bought two shirts and taken them apart and remade them because I like the print. I put two way zippers into jackets, I alter a lot of my wardrobe.”—Nancy Krueger, Smyrna, TN

Surgically Altered

“I just learned (at age 78) that one shoulder is higher than the other so I’ll be making adjustments for that on all future garments. It’s going to be interesting. Before I had a double mastectomy, I had to adjust every garment for a larger than size B bust. Now, I’m happily flat chested.”—Penny Hammack

Sleeves and Bustlines

“I am always adjusting sleeves (or adding them)! Everything is sleeveless and I am not a sleeveless fan. I also spend time adjusting the bodice/bustine. (I am a breast cancer survivor—with downsized breasts. I wonder if I am the only one learning to ‘fix’ my clothes…so thankful to have this great issue.) I am still a beginner so I look at darting my tops in the right places.”—Melissa Feuer, Covington, GA

Weight Loss Alterations

“Lately it has been taking in at the hips/thighs, taper legs, shortening the hems. A few of them I’ve had to shorten the seat depth. All of these are due to weight loss and recycling my wardrobe.”—Helene Hanada, Los Angeles, CA

Yokes and Pockets

“When I buy pants, they are consistently too low on my waist and accentuate my muffin top. Tearing them apart and adding a yoke or making a taller yoke is in order as well as making darts in the waistband of those that already sit on my waist. I also consistently end up with slacks and capris that have no pockets so I have to either insert them in a side seam or make patch pockets.”—Patricia  Rick, Foley, AL

Sleeves!

“I always have to shorten sleeves and length of pants and jeans. I am just under 5′ tall, so it has become my mantra, shorten, shorten, shorten. Even petite size ready to wear has to be shortened. Once I had to shorten a suit jacket sleeve with a placket and buttons. I used the cut off section to recreate the vent placket and no one could tell I had shortened the sleeves!”—Brenda Foreman, Pittsboro, IN

Shortening Jeans

“I shorten jeans for me and my family, using your method from “Quick Stitch to Wear Again.”—Brenda McGhee, Texico, IL

Polo Shirt Vents

“I open the side seams about three inches or so from the bottom on polo shirts, to make for a looser fit over my wide hips.”—Sheila Dahm, Essexville, MI

Tunics

“My favorite alteration to do is to make tunics out of dresses. I have done all kinds of fabrics and they turned out very nicely. My best friend in this operation is my duct tape mannequin along with a chalk air tube marker. I also have a large rectangular old bathroom mirror tacked up over a base board to see if everything is even. ”—Mary Young, Center Tuftonboro, NH

No More V-Necks

“I find I am always putting in back darts at the neckline or taking the shoulder seams in a little on tops with too low necklines or that are wider across shoulders. I have even added matching material across the V-neck to make it look like another shirt underneath.”—Judy Mackey, Beverly Hills, FL

T-shirts to Quilted Dresses

“I add fabric squares, about 12″ long, to the front of T-shirts to make them longer (about knee length) and make them into house dresses/night shirts for summertime use. It’s similar to adding a large appliqué to the T-shirts, like the store bought ones that you find four of on a yard of fabric. Sometimes I outline the fabric squares with rick-rack. I have also used some of the 12.5″ quilt blocks that I have made on some of the T-shirts, to give them a completely different look. I usually put a white backing on the fabric square quilt blocks before sewing them onto the T-shirts, so there are no raw edges to show up on the fabric squares/quilt blocks. ”—Peggy Cox, Whiting, NJ

Complete Alterations

“I usually have to lengthen sleeves and pant legs as I have long limbs, in addition to being taller than what is considered commercially average for women. Why can’t women’s shirts and pants come in different lengths like men’s do? Because I have developed a bit of a tummy (Age and surgery aren’t really very kind to women’s bodies!), the back waist has to be narrowed once I have a garment that fits in the front. Shoulder width, along with armhole placement and depth are another problem area that I usually need to address. Fortunately, moving sleeve caps inward isn’t usually too difficult. My skeleton frame didn’t change as I got a bit rounder. It’s too bad manufacturers and pattern makers don’t think of that when they grade for larger figures. On patterns, I have to lower the bust point in addition to making a full bust adjustment for a C-cup. I’ve been thrilled to find the newer patterns with pattern pieces for multiple cup sizes already included. I look for patterns with extra seams, like princess seams, that allow for more personalized fitting options and adjustments.”—Linda G, Philadelphia, PA

This Month’s Reader Spotlight:

Karen’s Answer

“I always have to let the hem out in pants I buy. I add seam lace to the bottom of the leg that becomes the hem. I use white vinegar with water to help release the permanent crease. I always do this when brand new before the hem edge begins to wear.”—Karen Knorr, Longview, WA

Next Month’s Question: Do you create/sew more gifts than you purchase?

 Submit your answer by Nov 10, 2017, using the form below, to be considered for our next month’s Reader Spotlight.

With hems clocking in as easily the most-common alteration, I thought I’d share with you my Absolute Easiest Ways to Hem blog post. Nearly everything you sew has a hem—skirts, pants, sleeves, and home décor items such as curtains and table linens. By using a few simple hints, you can turn this time-consuming chore into a simple sewing task.

Bye for now,

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