topic Re: DIY Clothing Alterations in Community Spirit

DIY Clothing Alterations

k0llectable5 — Tue, 15 Jul 2014 00:34:15 GMT

I'm after some advice.

I bought two pairs of action back overalls for the OH. They are a tiny bit too small and I need to lengthen the straps by about 2 or 3 inches somehow. I'm not the greatest on a sewing maching but I have a go lol

Does anyone have any idea of the best way I could lenghten the straps. I'm gunna go into spotlight today and ask there but I just thought maybe someone here may have some pointers, or if there is a product out there that can be fitted somehow to extend the straps.

Re: DIY Clothing Alterations

lloydslights — Tue, 15 Jul 2014 00:50:07 GMT

After unpicking the straps at the back of them, perhaps some suitably finished fabric strips from old overalls could be added.

Or some wide elastic could be added to the length of the unpicked straps.

Stitching would have to be suitably reinforced.

A special needle for the machine for thick fabrics would be required.

Spotlight may come up with something else.

DEB

Re: DIY Clothing Alterations

k0llectable5 — Tue, 15 Jul 2014 00:50:17 GMT

And any advice for taking up pants would also be much appreciated 🙂

Re: DIY Clothing Alterations

azureline** — Tue, 15 Jul 2014 00:51:13 GMT

You can buy a wide tape and extend the strap but I would buy drill fabric and cut straps to suit, stitch them on to existing straps, alternatively, you could unpick the front pieces that hold the ?buckle? and put a new piece on there.

Re: DIY Clothing Alterations

lurker172602 — Tue, 15 Jul 2014 00:52:39 GMT

Take them to the dressmaker shw, that's what I'm doing in about half an hour 🙂

Re: DIY Clothing Alterations

k0llectable5 — Tue, 15 Jul 2014 00:57:11 GMT

Thankyou so much lloydslights 🙂 I really ap[preciate your advice.

Thats kinda what I had in mind. I'm not sure if just lenghtening the elastic will do the job. I'm thinking they would probably be kinda baggy at the back. I'm thinking to maybe use the fabric strips idea as well as lengthening the elastic straps slightly.

Do you think I should sew extra length onto the elastic straps or buy whole new pieces of elastic to fit?

Re: DIY Clothing Alterations

k0llectable5 — Tue, 15 Jul 2014 01:01:08 GMT

Thanks Az, that may also work.

And Lurker, I bought them for a bit of a bargain price and was hoping not to have to spend too much more on them. How much do you reckon a dressmaker would charge?

Re: DIY Clothing Alterations

lloydslights — Tue, 15 Jul 2014 01:14:20 GMT

I should be doing the same right now

After the vacuuming.

What I do is have his old proper length pants and measure the inside leg length.

Measure the same seam and mark the new pants.

Now, on the new pants, measure from the old hem to the new mark all around that leg. That marking is the finished length.

Allow for the hem before cutting. Sew up a hem. Again the thickness of the seams may be a challenge for a needle. I just start and finish before/after.

Just thinking......do you think the overalls may shrink after washing

In regards to the strap, that area will have a lot of stress put on it, I would go for a new longer piece of elastic. Again suitably reinforced stitching.

Hint: sew one line of stitching and have your model try it on. Then double/triple the stitching. (Much easier for unpicking if only one row of stitches. )

And don't rip the fabric when unstitching with an "unpicker"

Maybe the girls at Spotlight might know someone who can help with your project. Not just do it. But assist you in completing the job for future reference. A test run on a store machine??????

Deb.

Re: DIY Clothing Alterations

k0llectable5 — Tue, 15 Jul 2014 01:26:38 GMT

Just thinking......do you think the overalls may shrink after washing

I'm certain they will. So really I have to allow for that as well dont I? But they do stretch out again slightly after a few wears.

In regards to the strap, that area will have a lot of stress put on it, I would go for a new longer piece of elastic. Again suitably reinforced stitching. Hint: sew one line of stitching and have your model try it on. Then double/triple the stitching. (Much easier for unpicking if only one row of stitches. )

Fantastic advice, I knew there'd be a professional sewer on here somewhere lol

My machine is an old Elna, it seems to sew through most fabrics fairly easily. Although I spent 3 hours the other day taking up a pair of pants, I just couldn't get them right, had to unpick 2 attempts and I'm still not that happy with them.

Re: DIY Clothing Alterations

azureline** — Tue, 15 Jul 2014 01:32:36 GMT

wash them before you hem them.

Re: DIY Clothing Alterations

lloydslights — Tue, 15 Jul 2014 01:42:01 GMT

By no means professional. Just many years of practice (trial/error) and "having a go".

Got to do my chores, now.

Hope all goes well. (A final thought : Dressmaking adjustments : tax deductable for work equipment???)

DEB

Re: DIY Clothing Alterations

k0llectable5 — Tue, 15 Jul 2014 01:50:53 GMT

More excellent advice thankyou Az. But I dont think I will adjust the hem of the overalls. I think the leg length will be fine after I have adjusted the straps.

Well thanks so much for all of your advice Deb. You've actually helped me out heaps today.

And if anyone else wants to use this thread to chat about sewing and mending and what not (doesn't have to be in relation to overalls or the OP) please feel free to add your contributions 🙂

Re: DIY Clothing Alterations

lurker172602 — Tue, 15 Jul 2014 02:53:39 GMT

I'm embarrassed to say I didn't even ask how much it would be. I think last time she charged about $12-15.
I do some myself, but these were stretchy and have double stitching and I really just couldn't be bothered mucking around with them.

Re: DIY Clothing Alterations

katymatey* — Tue, 15 Jul 2014 02:55:34 GMT

Just another thought. Depending on how much you need to lengthen, you could add to the bit where the straps enter the back. I have unpicked the back bit and added some drill if only a small lengthen was required. If you need to add quite a lot, then extending each strap would be better.

When OH wears out a pair of overalls I salvage what I can. Sometimes the elastic bits are in good order, so I keep them to repair other pairs. Pockets in good order are handy, also larger undamaged sections of fabric are useful. I used to add an extra layer of drill to the knee areas too, as these always wore first. Thank goodness after 56 years in the workforce he is about to retire, and I can chuck all that out. 🙂

Re: DIY Clothing Alterations

annies_fancy_dress — Tue, 15 Jul 2014 04:12:34 GMT

If you can't sew then cut the straps about 7cm up from the back (where they join the strap to the garment) on a slight DIAGONAL, this will reduce fraying.Make an extra strap piece(s) from sturdy scrap fabric, like old jeans, cutting it in a rectangle about 10cm longer than the extra length you need. Make it 3 times as wide and fold it so you have a new strap(s) that are three layers thick.

Get a packet of jeans size press snaps and attach according to the directions so you have two "strap extenders" that are press snapped on.

THe snaps should fasten the extenders in the gap where you cut the straps.

Hope these instructions are clearer than mud..

Re: DIY Clothing Alterations

k0llectable5 — Tue, 15 Jul 2014 04:35:32 GMT

That sounds like a good idea actually Katy. I was looking over them earlier and thought that may be another option. I think I will need to add at the very least 2 inches, maybe 3. Do you think if I added a piece of drill about 3 inches in length and fashioned it to fit the back part where the straps enter that would be enough?

Re: DIY Clothing Alterations

katymatey* — Tue, 15 Jul 2014 06:56:14 GMT

Secondhand, it probably would be ok. Unpick the stitching and see how much you would need to add. If too much is added it would probably affect the way the straps sit. Good luck.

Re: DIY Clothing Alterations

2011.narelle — Tue, 15 Jul 2014 07:14:30 GMT

If you need to take the hems up get him to put them on inside out & pin them to the length you want.Take em off then tack them so you can take the pins out before hemming them on the machine.

I only do simple hems & buttons,no major sewing skills but that how my mum showed me how to hem pants.

Re: DIY Clothing Alterations

k0llectable5 — Tue, 15 Jul 2014 08:55:13 GMT

Yeah that is what I'm worried Katy about changing the way the straps sit, So I'll definately be double checking before I do any sewing.

Narelle, why have I never thought to do that (turn them inside out)? Your mums ingenious 🙂

Re: DIY Clothing Alterations

2011.narelle — Tue, 15 Jul 2014 09:26:52 GMT

Oh good,i was hoping i wasn't being too simplistic but i have 2 short legged friends in their 40's who didn't know how to hem up pants & used to pay to have them taken up.

I don't have a machine so i do a running hem stitch by hand.It doesn't take too long & 'cos i only catch a few threads,it ends up looking nearly invisible on the outside.Handy for soft fabric women's pants that you don't want to see a machined hem stitching line.