Learn How to Take in a Dress and Make it Smaller with this step-by-step tutorial. “Taking in” a dress means making it smaller, and it’s a simple alteration anyone can do, even if you’re new to sewing. This quick project can be completed in less than an hour, guiding you through the entire process from start to finish.
Still striving for that perfect fit? Check out these tutorials for other dress alterations. They cover shortening the dress, repairing a broken zipper, adding a slit to the skirt, fixing a torn seam, or mending a torn lining.
How to Take in a Dress and Make It Smaller in 10 Easy Steps
Let’s start to learn!
01- Materials You Need
First, gather a few items before you start taking in your dress. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Dress
- Measuring Tape
- Erasable or washable marking tool
- Sewing Pins
- Scissors
- Matching thread
- Sewing Machine
- Iron
2- Measure Yourself
To begin, use your measuring tape to take several measurements of yourself to determine how much you need to take in the dress. Here’s what you’ll need to measure:
– Hips
– Waist
– Bust
If you’re unsure how to measure yourself, refer to a guide for measuring your bust, waist, and hips. While it’s easier with a partner, you can still do it alone. Take each measurement a few times to ensure accuracy, and be sure to write them down as you’ll need them for the next step.
Note: If you have someone available to help you take your measurements, it’s beneficial to utilize their assistance. It’s easier to obtain accurate measurements when someone can ensure the measuring tape is lying straight.
3- Measure the Dress
Now that you’ve taken your measurements, it’s important to measure the dress itself. Similar to how you measured your body, you’ll want to measure the hips, waist, and bust of the dress. Write down these measurements so you can compare them to your actual measurements.
If you’re unsure where these areas are on the dress, try it on and mark where you need to measure. Then, take the dress off and proceed with making the measurements.
4-Calculate How Much to Take In
Calculate the difference between your body measurements and the dress measurements by subtracting them. This will indicate how many inches you need to take in the dress at the hips, waist, and bust. Then, divide each of these numbers by 2. This will determine the amount you’ll need to take in on each side of the dress.
5- Mark the New Seam
Turn the dress inside out to access the seams. Use a tape measure to determine how much you need to take in at the bust, hips, and waist. Then, mark this measurement on each side of the dress using a marking tool or sewing pins. This marking will guide your sewing and ensure that you take in the correct amount on each side for a balanced fit. Repeat this process for each measurement to ensure accuracy and symmetry in your alterations.
Note: If adjustments aren’t needed for a specific area of the dress (such as the bust), there’s no need to create new seam markings for that part of the dress. Focus on marking and altering only the areas that require adjustments, ensuring your alterations are precise and targeted to achieve the desired fit.
6- Draw the New Seam Line
Begin by drawing a new seam line based on the adjusted bust measurement, aligning it with your body measurements. Extend this line downwards to the hips and waist, adjusting the curve gradually between the lines to match the natural flow of the dress and ensure a balanced fit. This process ensures that the dress is tailored to your specific measurements, resulting in a flattering and comfortable fit.
7- Pin the Seam Line
Using sewing pins, align the front and back of the dress along the new markings, ensuring each side seam is marked. These markings indicate where you’ll sew the dress back together, following your body measurements for a customized fit. Pinning the fabric in place helps maintain alignment during the sewing process, ensuring accuracy and a professional finish to your alterations.
8- Sew the New Seam
Use your sewing machine to stitch along the marked line that you pinned, creating the new seam for the dress. Repeat this process on the other side to ensure both sides are evenly tailored. Sewing along the marked line helps secure the fabric in place and ensures that the alterations match your body measurements, resulting in a well-fitted dress.
9- Cut Your Seam Allowance
After sewing the new seam lines, try on the dress to ensure the fit meets your satisfaction. If adjustments are needed, carefully re-sew the seams, paying close attention to your measurements. To reduce the size, sew a new line closer to the interior of the dress. Conversely, to increase the size, sew a line further out and unpick the previous seam. Once satisfied with the fit, trim the excess fabric from the seam allowance, leaving a 1/4″ to 1/2″ allowance to maintain durability. Be cautious not to cut through the stitching to avoid resewing.
Learn More: How to Sew a Drawstring Bag
10- complete Your Dress
Turn the dress right side out and carefully press the entire garment with an iron to flatten the new seam allowances and give the dress a polished look. Congratulations, you’ve successfully taken in your dress!
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