Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 2: Customize a blouse
• Method 2 of 2: Adjust a T-shirt to a smaller size
• Tips
• Necessities

A shirt that is too wide is not very flattering. If you have a blouse or T-shirt that doesn't fit properly, follow these instructions to adjust your shirt to a smaller size. With the help of a sewing machine and some basic knowledge you can achieve a professional looking result.

To step

Method 1 of 2: Customize a blouse

1. Take a blouse that is too loose. The best is a blouse that fits well around the shoulders, but the sleeves and body are too wide. Shoulders are a lot harder to adjust for a better fit.
2. Put on the blouse inside out. Close all buttons to the top. This will be difficult if the blouse is already inside out, so if it is large enough to tie over your head, it is best to button it up first.
   • If you usually wear a T-shirt under your blouses, you should wear one now.
3. Get some pins and ask a friend to help you with the next steps.
4. Gather the fabric together on the side of the blouse, starting just below the armhole. Pin the fabric together where the front and back pieces meet by tucking the pins down vertically.
5. Ask your girlfriend to pin the entire side like this. Then measure the width that you have pinned. In general, it is best not to exceed 1.5 inches (3.8 cm) to prevent breast pockets from moving too far to the side.
   • With shirts for men you should not take it around the waist, but with women's blouses you can peg an extra 1.27 cm to create a better fit.
6. Repeat this process on the other side. When you've played the first piece, measure both sides to make sure you're taking the same amount. Adjust it until both sides are equal.
7. Pin the top arm of the sleeve from the armhole to the forearm, where it begins to taper. If the arm width is correct, you can skip this step. Measure both sides again to make sure you are taking roughly the same amount on both arms.
   • Pin here horizontally, with the point facing the sleeve seam.
   • Walk around, sit down, move your arms in all directions to make sure your blouse fits properly.
8. Untie the buttons and take off the blouse.
9. Get your sewing machine ready. Make sure the thread matches the blouse material.
10. Sew the pinned piece from armhole to the hem, following the trail of the pins. When hemming a women's blouse, make sure that the seam runs inward at the waist.
    • Use a zigzag stitch for the finish, making sure to backstitch at both the beginning and the end.
11. Repeat this on the other side and on the sleeves.
12. Turn the blouse back on. Adjust it to make sure it fits properly. Make sure to also sit down and move your arms up and down.
13. Trim the excess fabric to about 1/2 inch from the seam. Use sharp fabric scissors for this.

Method 2 of 2: Adjust a T-shirt to a smaller size

1. Choose a large, loose-fitting T-shirt.
2. Choose a well-fitting T-shirt. You will use this as an example. Turn this shirt inside out.
3. Also turn your baggy shirt inside out. Spread it out on a work table.
4. Place your well-fitting shirt on top of the wide shirt. Align the cuffs of both shirts. Make sure the smaller shirt is properly centered.
5. Draw a line around the outline of the smaller shirt with a fabric marker. If it is a tight shirt, your lines may be slightly wider than the shirt.
   • If the wide shirt is dark, you will need to use a white textile pencil.
6. Pin both sides of the wide shirt together in various places along the lines you just drew.
7. Get your sewing machine ready. Use thread that matches the material of your baggy shirt.
8. Sew with zigzag stitches along the pencil lines on your wide shirt. Make sure to follow the lines, sew straight and stitch back. You will be left with a lot of excess fabric on both sides.
9. Adjust the T-shirt while it is still inside out. It should now fit properly. If not, remove the stitches you just made with a seam ripper and repeat the process for a better fit.
10. Trim the unnecessary fabric to about 1/2 inch from your new seam.
11. Turn your shirt back on and put it on.
12. If the sleeves are too long, you can choose to shorten them as well. To do this, turn the shirt inside out again. Measure the sleeves, making sure that the diameter is the same. Hem them with a fold of 1.3 cm.

Tips

• If your T-shirt or blouse is too small, you can try removing the seams in the sides and sewing a contrasting or matching strip of fabric in between. This creates more space in the body. Use an iron to fold the edges of the shirt about 1/2-inch. Take a rectangular piece of fabric about an inch to three inches wide. Do the same with this. Pin and sew where the folded edges meet. Repeat on the other side.
• To see if the sleeves and sides are taken equally, you can fold the shirt in half vertically. Both sides should be the same at every step of the process.

Necessities

• Seam ripper
• Straight pins
• Textile marker / textile pencil
• Textile scissors
• Yarn
• Sewing machine
• Iron