Fitting a T-shirt

[eldritch_panda]

Hey everyone!

I am a total noob. In fact, I will soon touch a sewing machine for the first time in my life. So I apologize ahead of time for any blunders I make. Hopefully it won't be too bad.

I am planning on refitting some t-shirts this weekend using this YouTube video tutorial. However, I also need to bring in the shoulders. The seam hits about an inch or so below my shoulders, which makes the sleeves too long. I could just take up the sleeves, yet I worry that it'll cause the shirt to look awkward. Does anyone have any tutorials/advice on taking up the shoulders of a shirt?

Also, if anyone has any easy beginner tutorials they'd like to share I'd love to hear them.

Thank you for your time and attention.

Comments

Basic tips from a basic sewing!

[lilacsigil]

My tip for t-shirt fabric: if it's got any stretch, make sure you hold it firmly and slightly stretched when you stitch it.

My tip for any area with more than one seam or lots of fabric: before you start sewing, make *really* sure the other bits of fabric are out of the way. More than once, I've sewn a lovely shoulder seam only to find I've sewn a bit of the sleeve into it!

[snippy]

One thing you could do to take in the shoulders would be to gather them along the shoulder seam. You can do this by hand-sewing just inside the shoulder seam edge (in the shirt, not in the seam), taking stitches about a half-inch long, and then pulling up the thread to gather the fabric--be sure to knot the thread well once you've pulled it shorter. Or you could take a piece of elastic shorter than the seam is now, stitch just the end of it to the seam, and then stretch out the elastic while you sew it to the rest of the shoulder seam.

Another thing you might do is add darts at the shoulders: turn the shirt inside out and pinch some of the fabric at the shoulder seam, to make it as short as you want. Sew through that pinch of fabric and try it on; cut off the excess if you like how it looks.

[stlscape]

If you're a newbie to sewing, you might do better to use a pattern. I'm NOT trying to be offensive to your newbie-ness AT ALL, but adjusting sleeves and taking in armholes AND making the end result look nice is nowhere as easy as it sounds (spoken from having sewn/adjusted clothes for 43 years.)

I've seen this pattern http://www.pamelaspatterns.com/Store_ProductDetail.aspx?pid=49EFB43A6CBE2F24 highly, highly recommended, although I don't personally know anyone who's used it.

If you don't want to use a pattern, then you might consider making a seam down the front and back of the shirt from the middle of the shoulder seam, passing over your nipple, and then going straight down to the hem (this is a form of princess seam).

Re: Basic tips from a basic sewing!

[eldritch_panda]

Thanks for the great tips! Knowing me, I would totally sew the sleeve to the shoulder. lol

[eldritch_panda]

I understand and you're probably right re: it not being as easy as it sounds. Thanks for offering advice. :)

I looked at the pattern and I'm not sure if it would be helpful since I have G sized breasts and often wear a size 30. The pattern says the high bust goes to 45", which sounds too small for me and I don't have any experience with patterns or trying to size them up. Do you think it would be easier to size up a pattern than to try the process myself (with the understanding that neither of these are necessarily easy).

[lilacsigil]

I have very big hips compared to the rest of my body, and I haven't found sizing up difficult as long as it's no more than 25cm or so and I'm careful with matching up pieces.

[eldritch_panda]

Excellent. Thanks so much. I'll look into the pattern then.

[stlscape]

If you're using a pattern, get one where the neck and shoulders fit you. Changing the sizing of everything else is much easier.

I'd also suggest that you look up "full bust adjustment". Most commercial patterns are made for a "B" cup. The full bust adjustment looks complicated, but if you take it step by step, it's really quite easy.