36 Sewing and Alterations You Can Do Yourself
This post may contain affiliate links.
Learn all these sewing and alterations you can do yourself to make your wardrobe fit well and last longer. Don’t pay for these alterations!
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 sew and 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 for sewing and alterations to change 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 since I usually alter for myself, 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.
Should I prewash the item?
If you have not washed the item yet, and it doesn’t fit the way you want, then I recommend washing and drying the item the way you will treat it when you wash and wear it. You want the fabric to shirnk or settle into the way it’ll be permanently. Then any changes you make will be accurate.
Do you like reworking clothing? Check out these lists of tutorials!
Sewing and Alterations You Can Do Yourself
How to Hem Jeans with the Original Hem
If your jeans are too long, then you don't want to lose the unique details on the hem. Learn how to hem jeans with the original hem.
How to Hem Jeans
Learn how to hem jeans by measuring the desired length, cutting off the excess fabric, and sewing a new hem. It's a beginner sewing project!
How to Make a Shirt Bigger
Learn how to make a shirt bigger by sewing fabric panels into each side seam. This is a great fix for shirts that are just a little too tight, and it makes the circumference of the body and of the sleeves larger.
How to Shorten Sweater Sleeves
Learn how to shorten sweater sleeves that are too with just a sewing machine. Make sleeves the right length and keep the nice ribbed cuff.
How to Replace a Zipper on a Jacket
Learn how to replace a zipper on a jacket to keep using it. This is the perfect fix for unlined jackets with a broken zipper.
How to Sew on a Patch
Learn how to sew on a patch three different ways! See examples of sewing a patch onto a backpack, jeans, and a pouch.
How to Add a Back Pocket to Leggings
Learn how to add a pocket to leggings to hold your phone or keys. It’s annoying not having pockets, and this is a simple way to add a center back waistband pocket.
How to Crop a Sweatshirt: 3 Ways
Learn how to crop a sweatshirt that is too long. Shorten a sweater three different ways by cropping, hemming, and resewing the waistband.
How to Alter Shoulders on a Blouse
If a blouse fits in the bust or hips, but it's too large in the shoulders use this the alteration. Learn to alter shoulders on a blouse for a custom fit.
How to Lengthen Pants
Learn how to lengthen pants by letting out the hem and rehemming with a hidden bias hem tape. This technique works well on dress pants.
How to Cinch a Waist with Elastic
Learn how to cinch a waist of a dress or a shirt with elastic. It's the quickest and easiest way to bring in the waist and make it more flattering.
How to Take in Waist of Pants
Learn how to take in the waist of pants for a better fit. This works best when the pants fit you everywhere except for the waist.
How to Crop Jeans
Learn how to crop jeans to the right length to get the popular raw edge look. This is an easy project and doesn’t require a sewing machine.
How to Turn a Men’s Shirt to a Women’s Shirt
Learn how to refashion a men’s shirt to a women’s shirt by changing some of the details, changing the shape, and adding ruffles.
How to Lengthen a Dress with a Ruffle
If you have a dress that's just a little too short then you can lengthen a dress with a ruffle! It's an easy and quick fix, and you can use pretty fabric.
How to Fix a Zipper on Jeans
If your jean zipper has broken on your favorite pair, then learn how to fix a zipper on jeans by replacing it with a new zipper.
How to Shorten Sleeves of a Button Up Shirt
Everyone has individual measurements which means we all need alterations to make our clothes fit. Shorten the sleeves of a button up shirt for an easy sewing alteration!
How to Take in the Waist of Jeans with Elastic
Learn how to take in the waist of jeans with elastic for a quick and simple fix. This alteration is great for getting the waistband of jeans to fit!
How to Cut Pants into Shorts
Learn how to cut pants into shorts for the summer heat. This easy sewing alteration is a great way to give pants or jeans new life!
How to Shorten a Sweater
With this simple sewing tutorial you can make a sweater the right length! You can shorten the hem of a sweater, the hem of a cardigan, or you can shorten the sleeves of a sweater.
How to Add Sleeves to a Strapless Dress
Learn how to add sleeves to a strapless dress by sewing on thick straps and flutter sleeves. This is a quick alteration to make a dress more wearable!
How to Make a One Piece Into a Tankini
Learn how to make a one piece into a tankini. This refashion project is great for a one piece swimsuit that is too short or long in the torso.
How to Fix a Hole in Jeans
Learn how to fix a hole in jeans. It's common for jeans to get holes in the knees, so this is a strong way to close the hole and it's almost invisible.
How to Fix a Zipper: Replace Zipper Pull and Replace Zipper Stops
Learn how to fix a zipper. Learn to replace the zipper pull on a jacket or jeans, and then replace the zipper stops to keep the pull on.
How to Refashion a T-Shirt That is Too Small
Learn how to refashion a t-shirt that is too small by removing your favorite graphic and putting it onto a larger t-shirt or shirt.
How to Raise a Neckline
Learn how to raise a neckline of a dress with this simple sewing tutorial. Fix a low cut neckline of a prom dress or any formal dress.
Shorten a Sweater from the Bottom with Hem Tape
Learn how to shorten a sweater from the bottom with hem tape. This sewing technique removes the ribbing, but it's an easy sewing alteration.
How to Line a Lace Dress
Learn how to line a dress for modesty and coverage you are comfortable with. Line the bodice of a lace dress or the sleeves of a lace dress.
How to Sew Back Darts
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.
How to Make a Dress Longer
Make your dress that is too short fit better with one of these two great sewing tutorials. Learn how to make a dress longer with lace or with fabric.
How to Add Sleeves to a Dress
Learn how to add sleeves to a dress. This sewing tutorial works well with any sleeveless dress or a dress with straps.
How to Add Back Darts to a Dress
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.
How to Lengthen Sleeves of a Jacket
Learn how to lengthen sleeves of a jacket using a sweater or socks. This is a great upcycle for gettings sleeves to be long enough!
How to Fix a Hole in a Sweater
Instead of throwing away a sweater that has a hole in it, you can easily mend it! It's an easy fix to give a new life to any sweater!
How to Hem Shorts with a Cuff
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.
How To Sew A Cuff on Dress Pants
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.
If you make something using this sewing project, I’d love to see! Please share it on social media with the hashtag #heatherhandmade and tag me!
I believe small sewing moments can create great joy. Find your own “right” way to sew. -Heather
I am thrilled with all these alteration techniques. Can’t wait to use some of them.👍
I need to widen a raglan sleeve. Do I follow you instructions as per your enlarging project
Yes, a raglan sleeve would work the same when widening the sides and sleeves.
I need to take in a nurse scrub top. The sides have stretchy panels that are oval shaped.? My daughter lost a lot of weight in stomach.
It’s hard to say without seeing a picture. You have to either sew through the stretchy panels or create seams just outside of each oval panel.
Hi I am a total newbie to sewing and i have a round necked stretchy top that id like to lower as i am large up top and gravity has taken its toll on this grandmas body and a slightly lower top seems to suit me better ,how do i do this please help .
try this: https://seamwhisperer.com/lower-shirt-neckline/
Heather, you sent me a message which somehow I managed to lose on Pinterest! I think it would be a great linkup for us as I’m very aware of how few women can actually sew these days. Making clothes fit properly is a vital element of looking your best! Be pleased to hear from you.
Heather, a few months ago you had a tutorial on shortening sweaters. I have several that I’d like to shorten. Where can I see that tutorial again>
I have these two posts: https://www.heatherhandmade.com/shorten-a-sweater-from-the-bottom/
https://www.heatherhandmade.com/shorten-sweater/
Love your site, you are so talented and knowlegable
Thank you for visiting!
What a helpful thing you have printed for all of us who enjoy creating clothes that fit! My most favorite part of sewing is upcycling; so satisfying!