Skip to content

SIGN UP FOR MY NEWSLETTER!

  • AboutExpand
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
    • Newsletter Signup!
  • Sewing Projects and TutorialsExpand
    • Sewing 101
    • Sewing TutorialsExpand
      • Baby Sewing Projects
      • Boy Sewing Projects
      • Girl Sewing Projects
      • Women Sewing Tutorials
      • Handmade Sewn Gift Ideas
    • Holiday Sewing ProjectsExpand
      • Valentine sewing projects
      • Summer sewing projects
      • 4th of July sewing projects
      • Back to School sewing projects
      • Fall sewing projects
      • Halloween sewing projects
      • Christmas sewing projects
    • DIY Costumes
    • Cricut Maker Projects
    • Refashion
    • Upcycling
  • Free Sewing Patterns
  • Shop
heather handmade logo
heather handmade logo

Alter Clothes

Clothing is made to fit an average body that doesn’t exist. It’s the average measurements of people done by doctors from more than fifty years ago. It’s really hard to get ready to wear clothing fit you perfectly right off the rack. It’s great to learn simple ways to alter clothes to get a beautiful, custom fit. A custom fit is the best way to make your clothing look well-made and expensive.

There are lots of ways to alter clothes like lengthening or shortening hems, taking in the sides or letting out the sides, adding darts or removing darts, lengthening or shortening sleeves, mending holes, etc.

There is no end to what you can do with clothing, and you can even do additionaly refashions like adding a skirt, chopping off sleeves, and adding pockets to make something you love.

A lot of these clothing alterations work well for women’s clothing, but the majority of these work for all: men, women, and children. You can always take excess fabric in, and you can often let clothing out by using the side seams or adding fabric.

The Basics of altering clothing:

  1. Put the garment on with the correct underwear and shoes on.
  2. Check to see if the seam lines are in the right place.
  3. What parts of the clothing need to be taken in or let out?
  4. Is there a seam where you can take in or let out?
  5. Satefy pin the excess to measure how much is needed.
  6. Do the alteration by seam ripping open all the sections adding or removing extra fabric.
How to Sew Back Darts
Alter Clothes | Refashion

How to Sew Back Darts

ByHeather Handmade October 20, 2018April 28, 2022

Learn how to sew back darts to get the best fit on your top or dress. It’s a simple way to pull in a waist for a flattering fit. I finished this woven tee in the middle of the summer and liked it except I realized after putting it on that the back was pooling….

Read More How to Sew Back DartsContinue

How to Fix a Torn Pocket on Suit Pants
Alter Clothes

How to Fix a Torn Pocket on Suit Pants

ByHeather Handmade July 30, 2018May 5, 2021

Learn how to fix a torn pocket on suit pants. Suit pants often rip at the base of the pocket opening due to stress and it’s easy to repair! One of the most common tears on a pair of men’s suit pants is when they rip right under the front pocket. The pockets always get…

Read More How to Fix a Torn Pocket on Suit PantsContinue

How To Sew A Cuff on Dress Pants
Alter Clothes

How To Sew A Cuff on Dress Pants

ByHeather Handmade June 27, 2018January 22, 2022

Learn how to sew a cuff on dress pants with just a sewing machine. This is an easy way to hem nice pants without sewing by hand. My husband’s cuff started coming undone so I thought I’d teach you how to sew a cuff while I was mending them. This is the quick “sew it…

Read More How To Sew A Cuff on Dress PantsContinue

How to Hem Shorts with a Cuff
Alter Clothes

How to Hem Shorts with a Cuff

ByHeather Handmade May 3, 2018April 22, 2022

Learn how to hem shorts with a cuff for a casual and fun look. This sewing tutorial requires minimal sewing and can be done by hand. I love wearing shorts in the summertime. I am always anticipating when it’ll be warm enough to wear shorts. In preparation for the upcoming heat I cut some pants…

Read More How to Hem Shorts with a CuffContinue

How-to Fit an Ill-Fitting Dress Tutorial
Alter Clothes

How-to Fit an Ill-Fitting Dress Tutorial

ByHeather Handmade May 25, 2012May 9, 2019

I love finding a fantastic dress with it’s own unique details. I was given this white and tan striped linen dress that was much too big for me. I learned this technique in a tailor shop, and it’s a technique that I use over and over again. Here’s a quick overview of how I fixed…

Read More How-to Fit an Ill-Fitting Dress TutorialContinue

Altering a Man’s Suit: Part 6 Revealed!
Alter Clothes

Altering a Man’s Suit: Part 6 Revealed!

ByHeather Handmade July 28, 2010May 8, 2019

New suit=$0 I want to first of all thank my husband for letting me take pictures of him in his awesome new suit. He’s not one for pictures, but he looks amazing! I’m really happy with how the suit turned out. Click through these to see how to do the alterations: Pinning and Marking (This one…

Read More Altering a Man’s Suit: Part 6 Revealed!Continue

Altering a Man’s Suit: Part 5 Suit Coat Sides In
Alter Clothes

Altering a Man’s Suit: Part 5 Suit Coat Sides In

ByHeather Handmade July 24, 2010June 30, 2020

Here’s the long awaited post. Sorry it took so long! I hope it makes sense! Unpick the flap on the bottom where the lining meets the jacket fabric. In the picture below it’s where the seam ripper is resting. (This can be unpicked and sewn back together with a machine, but since it’s on the…

Read More Altering a Man’s Suit: Part 5 Suit Coat Sides InContinue

Altering a Man’s Suit: Part 4 Hand-hemming Pants
Alter Clothes

Altering a Man’s Suit: Part 4 Hand-hemming Pants

ByHeather Handmade July 6, 2010May 8, 2019

After pinned, measure from hem to fold. In this picture, my measurement is 3 3/4″. That means that I need to hem up the pants 3 3/4″.  Next, unpick the hem. Mark the amount up from the hem-line. (If you look closely, you can see two white marks on either side of pants.) Use a…

Read More Altering a Man’s Suit: Part 4 Hand-hemming PantsContinue

Altering a Man’s Suit: Part 3 Stride
Alter Clothes

Altering a Man’s Suit: Part 3 Stride

ByHeather Handmade July 6, 2010May 8, 2019

The next part of altering a suit is to change the stride. Here is a better picture of pinning the excess out of the seat. These pants must be old with the style of low crotches because I pinched a HUGE amount out. To measure, measure both sides of the pinch. For example if one…

Read More Altering a Man’s Suit: Part 3 StrideContinue

Altering a Man’s Suit: Part 2 Waist and Seat
Alter Clothes

Altering a Man’s Suit: Part 2 Waist and Seat

ByHeather Handmade July 3, 2010May 8, 2019

Doing a waist/seat is one of my favorite alterations to do. It’s pretty quick, and I feel like I accomplish a lot. Measure the markings to see how much the pants need to go in. These pants need to go in 2 1/2″. Next, take off the belt loop. Unpick the inside of the waistband…

Read More Altering a Man’s Suit: Part 2 Waist and SeatContinue

Altering a Man’s Suit: Part 1 Pinning and Marking
Alter Clothes

Altering a Man’s Suit: Part 1 Pinning and Marking

ByHeather Handmade June 30, 2010May 8, 2019

Here I’m going to tell you how to pin/mark a suit so that it can be altered. WARNING: what I’m about to teach you can only be done to suit coats with one center back vent that doesn’t have an obvious print, like a stark contrasting pinstripe. There is just too much to teach for…

Read More Altering a Man’s Suit: Part 1 Pinning and MarkingContinue

Page navigation

Previous PagePrevious 1 2 3
Heather Handmade Sewing Blogger // Feathers Flights
HI, I’M HEATHER!

I love to sew and I love my family. I sew my own clothing, I teach others how to sew, and I’m a self-proclaimed fabric fondler. Learn more about my sewing journey.

Heather Handmade Newsletter

Do you love to sew? Learn about sewing clothes, perfect your sewing practice, and get free sewing patterns!

You have Successfully Subscribed!

Shop

Get 20% off when you purchase three or more patterns with code “BigThree”

Shop Online

Popular Posts

How to Make a Silk Scrunchie

How to Make a Silk Scrunchie

free diy scrunchie sewing pattern

Free Scrunchie Sewing Pattern

diy 4th of july pillow

DIY 4th of July Pillow: Eagle and Stripes

free baby bib sewing pattern

Free Baby Bib Pattern

how to hem knit fabric

How to Hem Knit Fabric: Three Different Ways

how to finish knit fabric edges

How to Finish Knit Fabric Edges

Facebook Instagram
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Heather Handmade
  • Contact
  • Newsletter Signup!

© 2022 Heather Handmade

Scroll to top
  • About
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
    • Newsletter Signup!
  • Sewing Projects and Tutorials
    • Sewing 101
    • Sewing Tutorials
      • Baby Sewing Projects
      • Boy Sewing Projects
      • Girl Sewing Projects
      • Women Sewing Tutorials
      • Handmade Sewn Gift Ideas
    • Holiday Sewing Projects
      • Valentine sewing projects
      • Summer sewing projects
      • 4th of July sewing projects
      • Back to School sewing projects
      • Fall sewing projects
      • Halloween sewing projects
      • Christmas sewing projects
    • DIY Costumes
    • Cricut Maker Projects
    • Refashion
    • Upcycling
  • Free Sewing Patterns
  • Shop
Search