Altering clothes allows you to tailor garments to your body, ensuring a perfect fit and extending the life of your wardrobe. This guide covers the essential techniques for hemming, taking in, and letting out clothes, empowering you to make adjustments with confidence.

How to Alter Clothes: Hemming, Taking In, and Letting Out

How to Alter Clothes: Hemming, Taking In, and Letting Out

Hemming Clothes

Hemming is the process of shortening the length of a garment. Whether it’s pants, skirts, or dresses, a well-executed hem can dramatically improve the fit and appearance of your clothing.

Measuring and Marking

  1. Try on the Garment: Wear the clothing item to determine how much needs to be shortened. Use a mirror to help visualize the desired length.
  2. Mark the New Hem Line: Use tailor’s chalk or a fabric marker to mark the new hemline. Ensure the mark is even all around by measuring from a fixed point, such as the floor or waistband.

Cutting and Folding

  1. Cut the Excess Fabric: Once you have marked the new hemline, carefully cut away the excess fabric. Leave an extra 1-2 inches for the hem allowance.
  2. Fold and Press: Fold the raw edge of the fabric up to the new hemline. Press with an iron to create a crisp fold. Fold the edge again to encase the raw edge, pressing as you go.

Sewing the Hem

  1. Choose the Stitch Type: Use a sewing machine with a straight or blind stitch for a clean finish. For hand sewing, a slip stitch or blind hem stitch works well.
  2. Sew the Hem: Sew along the folded edge, ensuring the stitching is even and secure. Remove any basting stitches or fabric markers after sewing.

Taking In Clothes

Taking in clothes involves adjusting the fit by reducing the garment’s size. This technique is useful for items that are too large or need a more tailored appearance.

Assessing the Fit

  1. Try on the Garment: Identify areas where the garment is too loose. Common areas for taking in include the sides, back, or waist.
  2. Pin the Excess Fabric: Pin along the areas where you want to take in the garment. Try on the garment again to ensure the fit is improved.

Sewing the Adjustments

  1. Mark and Cut: Mark the new seam lines with tailor’s chalk. Carefully cut away the excess fabric, leaving seam allowances.
  2. Sew New Seams: Sew along the new seam lines, using a straight or zigzag stitch. Press the seams flat once sewn to ensure a smooth fit.

Final Adjustments

  1. Check the Fit: Try on the garment after making the adjustments to ensure it fits correctly. Make any additional tweaks if necessary.
  2. Finish the Seams: Overlock or zigzag stitch the raw edges of the seams to prevent fraying.

Letting Out Clothes

Letting out clothes involves increasing the size of a garment to accommodate a larger fit. This is typically done by adjusting existing seams or adding fabric.

Finding the Adjustment Points

  1. Examine the Garment: Identify areas where additional space is needed. Check if there are existing seam allowances or extra fabric in the garment.
  2. Mark the New Seam Lines: Use tailor’s chalk to mark where you will be letting out the garment. Ensure the marks are evenly spaced and aligned.

Making the Adjustments

  1. Unpick the Seams: Carefully remove the stitching from the areas you will be letting out. Be cautious not to damage the fabric.
  2. Add Fabric if Needed: If the seam allowances are insufficient, you may need to add fabric to the garment. Use matching fabric or a fabric that complements the garment.

Re-Sewing the Garment

  1. Sew the New Seams: Sew along the new seam lines, ensuring the fabric is evenly distributed. Press the seams flat to ensure a smooth appearance.
  2. Adjust the Fit: Try on the garment to ensure it fits correctly. Make any additional adjustments as necessary.

Conclusion

Altering clothes is a valuable skill that allows you to customize your wardrobe to fit perfectly. By mastering techniques like hemming, taking in, and letting out, you can ensure that your garments not only fit well but also look professionally tailored. With practice, these alterations will become second nature, enabling you to make the most out of your clothing and create a wardrobe that truly suits your style and needs. Happy sewing!