When it comes to altering and mending clothes, we admit we could use a little practice. We’re not seamstresses yet, but that certainly doesn’t mean we’re not trying! We find that being able to plug holes, repair zippers and seams, and do simple alterations, helps clothes last much longer and saves us from buying new things unnecessarily. That’s why we always have our eyes on fantastic tutorials that will help us learn how to do it all even better!
Just in case you’re as interested as we are, if not more, in learning how to mend and alter your own clothes , here are 15 of the very best tutorials and guides we’ve come across in our quest for inspiration so far.
1. How to sew a basic seam by hand
Even if you have already mastered threading and working on a sewing machine to some degree, hand sewing is still a skill you will always need.
That’s why we thought this tutorial, which starts straight from the ground up and teaches you the simple basics of sewing, was so good to remember! Learn more about how to do this if you too are a beginner at Wonder How To.
2. How to Hem Dress Pants
Depending on your body proportions, finding the perfect fit in stores is sometimes almost impossible. That’s why it’s so important to learn how to do simple alterations like a hem!
This way you can keep your pants from dragging on the floor under your heels, even if you were slightly too tall for one size and slightly too small for the next size up. Get all the details from Summers Acres.
3. How to Hem Jeans, But Keep the Original Hem
Dress pants aren’t the only things you can learn to hem! It can be hard to find the perfect length in jeans too, but not everyone likes the way their pants look when the classic quirky hem you always see in denim pants disappears and the we can say that it has been hemmed.
That’s why LW Vogue is here to give you full advice on how to hem your pants while keeping that hem so no one can tell!
4. How to shorten cuffed sleeves
Maybe your trouser length is correct, but it’s your shirt sleeves that you find a bit too long in the size that fits everywhere else?
Well, luckily for all of us, there is a way to shorten cuffed sleeves very subtly indeed too! Threading My Way takes you step-by-step through the process of doing just that, but in a way that hardly anyone will ever notice.
5. How to modify a bra band
Like pants or a shirt that can fit in some places but not others, no matter what combination of sizes you try, the same goes for bras!
Instead of settling for something that doesn’t feel right to you , buy the closest, most comfortable fit you can find in cup size, then take a look at how Walking With Dancers modified the band of the bra to sit much more comfortably.
6. How to tuck in a pencil skirt
Sometimes the most difficult items to find the right fit are those that hug your curves in different places. After all, not everyone’s curves have the same shape!
That’s why we were thrilled to stumble upon this tutorial from It’s Always Autumn which teaches you how to take a pencil skirt in just the right amount so that it hugs you a little better to a place where maybe, it wasn’t when you originally bought it.
7. How to patch and lengthen children’s pants
In our house, we find that the clothes in the stores are quite suitable for children at first, but they grow up so fast that we have a hard time keeping up!
Until they really need new clothes, we’ve started making the ones they have last a little longer than usual using this tutorial to add shiny, found patches to damaged knees and lengthen them. wrists after growth spurts.
8. How to make DIY maternity pants
Sure, you might need pants with a full elastic waistband (or no jeans at all, if you’re like us) once you hit your final months or pregnancy but, in the meantime, there are makes several very simple modifications that you can make to pants you already have and are not afraid to transform to accommodate your new belly! Get all the details for adding side stretch panels on Whats Up Moms.
9. How to make a fitted maxi skirt from pants
We really caught your eye when we started talking about fitted skirts, but you’re just not one for cropped hemlines and much prefer a longer style?
Well, we know that these are only sold in stores during certain seasons, so we were quite happy indeed to stumble upon this tutorial from Cotton & Curls which shows you all the steps to make a fitted maxi skirt from pants!
10. How to revamp a cardigan sweater
Ever owned a sweater that you absolutely loved the color and pattern, but something about the way it fit in the front just never worked for you?
In that case, we think you’ll get a real kick out of how Shannon Sews turned her sweater into a cardigan instead! This frees up a bit of space and loosens things up without being too hard to do.
11. How to quickly sew by hand without using a machine
You enjoyed the basic hand sewing tutorial we showed you earlier, but you feel that despite the fact that you absolutely want to continue working on your hand sewing, your skills have gone a bit overboard. this stage and you would rather have some tips for speed and consistency now?
In that case, we think Wonder How To might have exactly what you’re looking for.
12. How to make a lace dress from a t-shirt top
Maybe instead of taking things apart to make what’s essentially a whole new piece of clothing, you’d rather put pieces together to make something pretty out of basic, easy things?
If that’s where your mind wanders while scrolling, then we’re sure this tutorial from All Day Chic showing you how to make a cute dress out of lace and a simple shirt will be right up your alley.
13. How to size jeans
Do you actually have the opposite problem we were talking about earlier and need to tuck your jeans in a bit rather than add panels to let them out?
Well, we’re happy to report that this process is actually a lot simpler than it looks! Get all the details in one set of crisp, clear instructions from Sewing Rabbit.
14. How to replace a broken jeans zipper
More than once we’ve felt like we had to give up jeans because the zipper broke before they were worn out or we were ready to stop wearing them.
Thanks to this fantastic tutorial from The Spruce Crafts, however, we can simply replace the zipper and repair the jeans next time instead of parting with our favorite pair and spending the money on a replacement!
15. How to fix broken seams
Aside from the zippers, probably the most recurring issue we’ve had with the pants is the seams that have come loose. Once again, we’re glad to have found a tutorial that will help us fix this so we can get rid of less clothes before their time is really up!
This guide from Love Your Tailor walks you through every step of repairing the seam quite – no pun intended – seamless indeed.
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