Easy Tutorial on How to Make a Shirt Smaller
I'm often asked about upsizing clothes, but knowing how to make a shirt smaller is also a useful skill. When I thrift clothes, given the choice I buy a size larger than I usually wear rather than a size smaller.
The top I'm working on here is a good example. The colors and material are beautiful, but even though it's labeled "medium", it's way too big on me.
Here's what to do with a shirt that is too big.
Tools and materials:
- Oversized shirt
- Well-fitting top as a template
- Tailor's chalk
- Pins
- Scissors
- Sewing machine
1. Cut off the sleeves
Turn the shirt inside out. Cut the sleeves off completely at the armhole.
I left the seam attached to the main shirt because the material is very stretchy and I didn't want it to go out of shape.
2. Mark new armhole
Place your well-fitting top over the too-large one, matching the neckline and shoulder seams as far as you can.
Mark the depth of the new armhole and the width of the top with a pin.
I chose to keep the drop shoulder design of my shirt, but you could reduce the width of the shoulders at this point.
Fold the shirt in half lengthways and place a matching pin on the other side.
3. Resew the side seam
Use chalk or pins to mark a curve from the bottom of the armhole to the new side seam.
Depending on how much you need to take in, either extend the new seam line to the bottom of the shirt or taper it into the existing side seam. Stitch the new seam and cut off the excess fabric.
4. Recut the sleeve
Try the top on inside out and wear the sleeve so the cuff ends at the correct length.
Place a pin on the sleeve where it will be attached to the shoulder seam, adding half an inch seam allowance.
Place the two sleeves on top of one another and cut off the excess fabric from the top of the sleeve, following the line of the original sleeve head.
5. Insert sleeve
Turn the sleeve right side out and tuck it inside the armhole, so the right sides are together.
Match the sleeve seam to the underarm seam and pin the sleeve into place.
If the sleeve head is too wide for the new armhole, make accordion pleats at the top of the sleeve or sew a row of gathering stitches.
The material of my shirt was too stretchy to be gathered, so I pleated it.
Sew the sleeve in place
6. Adjust length
Try the shirt on and check the length. If necessary, mark the new length, cut off the excess fabric and stitch a narrow hem on the lower edge.
How to make a shirt smaller
My shirt now fits perfectly on the body and sleeves. I still haven't decided whether to make it shorter or leave it as it is but I can wear it tucked in for now.
I'd love to know if seeing how to make a large shirt smaller was useful for you and if you'd like to see more "downsizing" tutorials.
Please leave me a comment below with your thoughts.
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I always wanted to know how to make my blouses smaller. My hips have always been two sizes more than my bust and shoulders. Also, l find pants that fit me decent but the front waist is too long and I end up with extra fabric between my legs. Any ideas for that?