My daughter bought a pretty blouse, but it was too big on the sides of the blouse. How do I alter the sides with a sewing machine to make it form fitting? I am a beginner on sewing so if you can make it easy to understand that would be helpful. Also if you have step by step pictures of how to do that would be very helpful. I have looked on line, but I don't see anything to help me.
By Sandra K. from Mobile, AL
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I am 75 years old and have been sewing since I was 10. When I have to alter clothes, I do it the easy way, nobody would ever pay for it to be done the way I do it, but I don't care. I figure it's my business. What I do is figure out how much a garment has to be taken in and pin the sides then I use the sewing machine to take it in.
I would also recommend that before sewing you try the garment on. I also realize that for people that are perfectionists or have OCD to have a garment that is altered in that method.
Another way to alter a garment is to put it on inside out and hand baste (yes, with a needle and thread - be sure to leave a little 'wiggle room for wearing ease, and don't stab your daughter:).
Pay attention to the underarm area, and the sleeves - any alterations you make to the sides will require you to 'ease' those areas (arms and sleeves) to ensure it looks right after the alteration is made.
I could break it down into bullet points but the above makes it pretty clear. After the garment is hand basted, have your daughter take it off, turn it right side out, and try it on - this will tell you how it will look and fit after you carefully machine sew over your basting stitches.
It is sometimes easier to create a new seam up the front over the shoulder and down the back (on both sides) - if the blouse style will look right, it's a very simple way to alter a blouse or dress with sleeves that fit perfectly but is too wide otherwise. Again, to do this, the easiest way to do so is to have your daughter wear the blouse inside out so you can 'fit' it and hand baste the new seams.
I teach 'total newbs' here in Scotland - after 50+years in the USA where I also taught sewing. We do a lot of charity shop buying (Salvation Army, Red Cross, Heart Foundation, other charities with thrift shops) and I teach my students how to alter many items using this method - it works a treat!
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