Q: I have a garment that’s too small, can you make it bigger? — Mend Tailoring | Tailoring in Brooklyn, NY (2024)

FAQs

Can a tailor make small clothes bigger? ›

Increase a dress size

This will very much depend on the type of the dress – but if it is a simple-cut, summer dress, tailors can potentially give one or two sizes more, by adding a fringe of fabric on each side (of the desired width, according to how many centimetres you want to add).

In general, you can alter a dress 1 to 2 sizes.

It's usually easier to make a dress smaller than it is to make one larger, but both can be done. If you need your dress tailored more than a few sizes, it's probably best to bring it to a professional.

The basic process is to sew each seam with smaller seam allowances so you have more fabric let out at each stitching line. If possible, I prefer to stitch my new line and then unpick the stitches from the old seam. That way the original stitches hold everything in place and I don't have to pin.

Found a pair of vintage jeans that you love, but they don't fit quite right? Don't worry. A tailor can tweak almost every part of your jeans to make them look tailor-made for you. They can taper the legs, adjust the hems, and even shape the seat.

The first rule of suit alteration is that you can remove or reduce the amount of fabric, but you can't make something bigger. How much bigger would depend on how much extra material was allowed under the seams or hems of the garments.

The experts will tell you that you can increase the dress size by one or decrease it by two sizes without having to change out the dress entirely or recut it. Some slight alterations can change the size slightly so that it fits you better.

You can use pads to achieve 2 goals: to increase the volume of the mannequin and to model a non-standard figure. With one set, you can increase the parameters by one size. With pads, you can add volume to the chest, waist, hips, shoulders, and back.

In the world of fashion, these terms often get mixed up. But think of a tailor as someone who creates custom clothes from scratch, like a fashion artist. On the other hand, alterations are more like adjustments or fixes made to your existing clothes to make them fit better.

Shrink a shirt by soaking and washing it in hot water, as well as tumble-drying it on high heat. Tailor the seams and hems of the shirt to make it a little bit smaller. Adjust the fit of your shirt quickly by knotting the back of it, using a safety pin, or cutting off the lower half of the garment.

The first rule of suit alterations is that taking away or reducing the amount of fabric is doable, but you can't make something bigger, at least not by much. Exactly how much depends on what allowances of extra material were under the seams or hems of the garments.

How many sizes can a tailor take in? ›

You can generally alter trousers and shirts down by as much as two sizes. Suit jacket alterations are much more involved, making only one size down a realistic endeavor. Sometimes you're simply better off buying new.

How much does a dress alteration cost? On average, dress alterations can range from $50 to $200. However, prices may be higher for intricate modifications or designer dresses. It's advisable to consult with a skilled tailor and obtain a personalized quote for accurate pricing.

For example, both cotton shirts and denim jeans will shrink more in a warm or hot wash, followed by a high heat drying cycle. Steam heat will effectively shrink wool clothes, and some fabrics will even shrink when soaked for long periods in warm water.