Do you have a shirt that fits…but not at the hips? This tutorial will help you to make a shirt larger at the hips. Don’t throw it away, fix it!
We’ll show you how to fix a shirt that’s already finished, or one that you’re currently sewing. You know, for those times you try it on mid-project and find you cut out the wrong size at the hips.
Make a Shirt Larger Step 1:
Begin by picking apart the side seams about 3 inches up from the hem on both sides of the shirt. Note that our shirt doesn’t have a hem, and yours might. Leave the hem in place if it’s there.
Make a Shirt Larger Step 2:
Cut a piece of fabric 4 inches by 2.5 wide. Finish the top of this piece of fabric. If your shirt is hemmed, hem the bottom of this scrap of fabric now.
Make a Shirt Larger Step 3:
Turn the shirt to have the wrong side facing up toward you. Place the fabric rectangle with the right side down. Pin the fabric rectangle 1/4″ above the top of the opening in the side seam. Line up the bottom of the rectangle and the shirt. (If your shirt is hemmed, you want this to be exact. If it’s a raw edge, this is not as important.
Make a Shirt Larger Step 4:
Flip the shirt to the right side and smooth out the fabric rectangle in place underneath. Open the bottom of the side seam up 1/2 of the amount you want to add to the shirt at the hips. (Remember there are 2 side seams, so you’ll be repeating all this on the other side seam later.) Pin the shirt in place to the fabric rectangle underneath.
Make a Shirt Larger Step 5:
Beginning at the bottom on one the right side of the shirt, sew up one side of the opening. Sew close to the edge of the fold in the side seam.
Make a Shirt Larger Step 6:
When you reach the top, put your needle down right in the side seam. Lift up your presser foot and pivot the shirt underneath. Feel underneath to make sure you rectangle of fabric isn’t folded under. Continue sewing down the other side and back to the bottom of the shirt.
There! Doesn’t that look nice? Now let’s make the inside look as good as the outside.
Make a Shirt Larger Step 7:
Turn the shirt so the wrong side is facing you. Trim off the sides of the rectangle leaving a 1/2″ seam allowance. (The above photo does not show the trimmed seam allowance yet, but keep scrolling…)
Now the right side is trimmed off. You can see the original seam allowance underneath.
Make a Shirt Larger Step 8:
Now finish just the new and old seam allowanced together. You can use a serger or a zigzag stitch. (If the shirt you’re mending is knit fabric, you can leave the edges raw. If your shirt is hemmed, you’re done!
Make a Shirt Larger Step 9:
If your shirt wasn’t hemmed, hem it now! And tadah! Your shirt is wearable again!
Pattern used in this tutorial: Amherst Shirt from Hey June Patterns.
Fabric used in this tutorial: gorgeous copper tencel twill from Blackbird Fabrics
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Skirt Fixation 