Have you ever spent far too long in a fitting room only to be discouraged by the unflattering fit of clothing items? We know exactly how you feel. The shopping experience can sometimes feel like it has to be either an exciting splurge or a frustrating outing, but this doesn’t need to be the case.
Learning how to tailor your own clothes is both practical and a way to express your creativity. Though many see this skill as one that’s unnecessary to practice at home, we truly believe that it has the ability to change the way you view your wardrobe. Here at Love Your Tailor, we know that everything should fit like a glove. Now, we want to teach others how they can make this a reality.
We’ve summed up the most important steps for tailoring a basic clothing item. While the steps seem straightforward, it can be a tricky skill to pick up right away. We suggest watching a few tutorial videos as well so you have a moving guideline to follow.
Why Should I Learn To Tailor?
Here are a few reasons why you should learn to tailor:
- It’s a creative way to try something new
- It will save you money
- It can come in handy
- It’s environmentally friendly. Rather than tossing out an item that doesn’t fit you, you can tailor it by sourcing out new fabrics
- You can connect with others. Believe it or not, tailoring and sewing is a social activity. Get together with a few people and sew a quilt together
Pick An Old Item
If this is your first time attempting to tailor, please don’t pick your irreplaceable band tee to practice on! Instead, grab an old shirt that you don’t wear as much. Remember, tailoring takes practice and we don’t want to see your favourite clothing items go to waste. If you don’t have any old clothes laying around, visit your nearest Michaels or an inexpensive clothing store to buy a plain shirt.
Measure the Item
If you don’t own a measuring tape, it’s time to get one and never let it go. Measuring the clothing item you choose is one of the most crucial steps in tailoring. If you want the item to fit you flawlessly, it’s necessary to invest time into ensuring that you have the numbers right. It’s easy to accidentally misread a number, especially when they’re printed in small text on a tape. Once you’ve measured the shirt and measured yourself, make markings along the shirt as a guideline that you can follow.
Pinch And Pin
Ever see your grandparents stick pins into a ball and wonder what it’s used for? We’ll let you in on their secret – It’s called a pincushion and it’s a tailor’s best friend. Having a place to hold all your pins comes in handy for this step. Rather than digging through a box and risking getting poked, a fabric ball will take good care of your pins without making it difficult to grab them.
Have a friend or family member assist you in this process if you’re tailoring the item for yourself. Find as many pins as you can for this step, you’re going to need them. Put the item on and have a friend pin any excess fabric that you want to get rid of. Ensure that the item fits exactly how you want it to. We recommend measuring the areas of your body that the item will be worn on – not once, not twice, but at least three times. Try not to rush this step as it could take a few tries to get right.
Sew the Item
Once you’re confident that you’ve pinned your item to perfection, use thread and a sewing machine to create seams along the pins. We must admit that this step is usually the hardest part. If you’ve never used a sewing machine before, ask someone that has. Using the machine on your own could leave you with cuts along your fingers or holes in your favourite shirt. If you’re uncomfortable using a machine or don’t have access to one, hand sewing is a second option.
Cut Excess Fabric
After you’ve sewed your clothing item to the size of your choice, you’ll notice that there will be excess fabric all around. Get a pair of sturdy scissors and cut the extra material out. If the edges look rough after they’ve been cut, you can try running the piece under a sewing machine again. Or, if you want a professional fix, leave it to us!
Not a Fan of Tailoring?
Unfortunately, tailoring clothes isn’t a task that can be picked up overnight. It takes practice, a few pins in the thumb, and precision. While it can be easy to buy clothes off the rack and ignore the fact that they aren’t the perfect fit, we want you to know that you don’t have to settle!
As Ontario’s largest tailoring facility, we are proud to have over 30 years of experience under our belts. Our tailoring services come at an affordable price, but we never compromise on quality. We are dedicated to ensuring all of our client’s items are tailored to excellence.
Thankfully, you don’t have to take on the challenge of tailoring at home. You can trust us to use an exceptional amount of care when handling your clothes. Our outstanding customer service and high-level industry skills are what set us apart.
At Love Your Tailor, we specialize in a wide variety of tailoring services that will help your clothes look and feel exactly the way you want them to. To learn more about our money back guarantee, contact us today or visit our website to get an online quote.