I just watched this video here in Ireland. You are super articulate at explaining the whole concept of downsizing . The pace of the video is perfect- your voice is perfect and you enable the observer to follow your instructions very easily and with confidence..I can't wait to apply your methods . Thank you from Katie.
@@barbarasizemore7964 Katie, I'd love to hear your life story in Ireland. Not trying to pry. We can benefit from each other's experiences, esp. here in the 21st century. First sentence or 2 is the meat of the post, then some folks can skip our life stories, I betcha. I'm a great-grandma. My maternal great-grandma Birdie & her mother Samantha had a seamstress & millinery shop in a small town in Illinois in the 1890's (the U.S.'s Midwest).
@@ahicks414 If you reply back to Katie, think she might respond. Seems like a lovely woman from her comment. No worries about responding to the wrong person! We’ve all done it, multiple times 🙂
This took me back to Home Economics in junior high! With your video, I could just feel the fabric and the vibration of the machine underneath my fingers! Very satisfying. I was never good at sewing because I didn't practice enough. It was the 60's and we had a couple of projects to do...going from a pillow case to a dress! 😧I did okay with the case, but my 'empire' style dress was a wreck! The empire part came almost up to my neck! 🤣I'll never forget asking my teacher if I could borrow the 'thread picker'. She had to laugh and told me when I could say the proper name, she would give it to me. I thought a moment and said 'seam ripper!' Believe you me, I used that little tool a lot! My dear maternal Grandmother was an exceptional seamstress. She made all of the clothes for her large family of 9 kids! In later years, she also made dresses my aunts, cousin and myself for school. It is a wonderul art and YOU are very talented!
Hi Catherine. I am an expert YT armchair Sewer! LOL I know it's sad, but I watch how to change this and that, but have always chickened out of altering my own clothes. No more of that! You are the first one to show how to change the neckline and keep the original rib band. That was so cool!!! Thanks for the tip on serging the sleeves. My serger is a beast that still growls at me!
This is SO helpful. I am very petite and hate big unflattering tee-shirts, so I can’t wait to try this out. So much better than just hacking at them, which is my usual approach. That looked ok when I was younger but I need something a bit more “finished” now I am in my mid50s prime!
This tutorial is so helpful! Easy enough for a beginner. I'd never altered a piece of clothing in my life and was able to take a size XL shirt to a medium and the fit is perfect!
I just completed my first tshirt makeover! Came out so well. I have another 7 shirts that I’m going to makeover. These shirts were from volunteering or road races, so they are very meaningful and now I feel so cute in the one I just finished!
This could have been me writing this. I have lots of overlarge T-shirts, each with meaning. I am half way through altering my first, and least favourite one ( in case it goes wrong!). So far so good. If all is well, I shall embark on the rest!
This is a game changer! 💥 My daughter and I shop thrift ALL the time, but we generally have to “make do” with any ill-fitting garments-t-shirts being one of the many that may not have the fit we’d like. We DON’T own a serger, but I am going to attempt this alteration with our sewing machine. Thanks for providing me with the inspiration and the knowledge to know how to do it right! 😊🙌🏾
@@jeanclare7011 A serger is also known as an overlocker. It's used for sewing neat seams. If you look at the seams on the inside of most of your clothes, they've been finished with an industrial serger. You can generally manage to sew your own seams with just a sewing machine but if you get serious about sewing, you might want to invest in one. A serger / overlocker can have 3-5 threads, although 4 is normal. As well as the top and bottom stitches (which you have in a sewing machine) you have left and right looper threads, which prevent the seam from unraveling.
@@jeanclare7011 I've watched a couple of CatherineSews UA-cam videos and she encourages using a sewing machine to straight stitch it and a zigzag stitch for instead of a Serger. I have a very old Bernette with straight stitching and several overlocking zigzag stitches. It all feels very "l lot" to me. But I did it on this refitting and she was right, it worked really well.
Oh my goodness! This is a life changer!!! Thank you so much!!! This video is so well done. I appreciate that it is done without a lot of filler yet slow enough that I don’t need to rewind spots. You have a gift and I thank you for sharing!
Just great! I have altered so many T-shirts, rather than ditch them. I even now sometimes buy T-shirts in a larger size and customize them, rather than buying smaller. Thank you for the super instruction!
Finally! A tutorial that retains the neckband and provides a finished look. I will try on an old shirt for practice before moving on to a favorite shirt. Thank you!!!
Thank you so much! My daughter's field trip is tomorrow and I couldn't find her class shirt... but I could find my shirt that matches... I'm a 3x. She is a medium in kids... it took me a little less than an hour to resize her shirt. I was a little stressed during the sleeve cutting part, but it turned out great, and she has a class shirt to wear tomorrow!!
Best way to avoid the thread problems at the beginning of a serged edge I have ever seen! I have been sewing off and on since 1986. I have a t shirt I have been wanting to adjust this way and now I can do it well. Thank you!
Hi from Gerringong NSW Australia. Cathy Ive solved the problem of threading a machine needle. Using a white paint ( I used my Wipeout) and painted the area facing the needle on the machine foot I am using. I used to use white paper to do this. I love you programme and I am an always looking to restyle secondhand clothing for friends.
Just discovered your Channel. I love your videos, the demonstrations, and tips and tricks. I'm a newbie to sewing, but I found all of your posts so easy to follow, which is super comforting for someone who is a bit of a perfectionist and afraid of "making mistakes." Thank you for sharing your knowledge, skills, and projects with the world!
This was a wonderful demonstration of how to resize a TShirt. My husband has lost a lot of weight and all his TShirts are too big on him. This will help me to fix them so he will be able to wear them. Funny … we were just talking about this today. Great job 👏🏻
Another option for tracing is a dry soap sliver. It is a way reuse the remainder of the soap bar when it is too small to bathe with. Dry soap is washable and antimicrobial so no nasty germs on your clothes. I learned this when I learned how to sew in home ec in 6th grade.
Just remade five old t-shirts I had in my closet using this technique and wow! So much more comfortable and I can finally wear them outside the house. Just saved me so much money ❤️ Fantastic video.
This is the first of your videos I’ve seen, and it was so inspiring! When I was little, my dear, creative grandmother taught me some basic sewing techniques, but it has been a long time and I really don’t know much. You did such a wonderful job demonstrating how to resize a tee shirt that I think (with some practice) I might be able to eventually learn how to do it myself. You are a great teacher! The only recommendation I would suggest is improving your lighting a bit. As a true beginner, I want to see every detail as well as possible. There are parts of your video that are a little dark, and I had trouble making out exactly what you were demonstrating. I was viewing your video on my iPhone so that could be the problem. I’ll watch again on my iPad or laptop and likely be able to see everything trouble free. I love creative pursuits but limit myself for fear of failure or lack of instruction. Thank you so very much for showing me how to do a resizing in a way that I believe I can actually replicate. I most certainly will “follow” you and look forward to learning more. Thanks!
I’m sixty seven and can hand sew . I’m learning how to sew to do leather work. I’d love to learn more on sewing. I appreciate your videos. Very helpful. ❤
10:00 GENIOUS!!! I've been sewing for years. This hint will up my sewing game for certain. Thank you. I like to use a double needle to topstitch my hems. It looks similar to coverstitch.
Thanks so much! That's great to hear. And yes to the double needle hem! It's a great choice for T-shirts because it has a bit of stretch. I love it and used it in this video: ua-cam.com/video/N2P_CU-zT6I/v-deo.html
You have just made my day! Picked up a second hand designer t-shirt only yesterday, knowing it was too big for me and could hardly sleep last night because my head was trying to figure out how to down-size it. And then I stroke gold coming across your very well explained tutorial Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!
@@CatherineSews , it went absolutely perfect, despite being my first ever sleeve sowing job! Took the effort to un-do and re-do the hem at the bottom and the sleeves, to avoid bulging, looks shop-bought now! Your advice on not to cut off sleeves first turned out to be spot on, just crossed the seam by a few milllimeters. Thank you, again! Slowly building up confidence to take on the down-sizing of a vintage men's blazer hanging in my wardrobe...! :)
Thank you so much. This is brilliant. This is exactly what I've been looking for for years. All my pull-over, knit tops are too big because I have to buy them way too wide in order to get the length that I need. I'll be sewing all weekend, I think, & hopefully, start the next week with a closet full of tops I can look & feel feminine wearing--finally, & now I know it's a fairly simple process. I suspect people will ask me if I've lost weight once I have tops that fit well & flatter my curves rather than hanging from me like rags. Thank you again.
To think what I could have learned from you AND probably enjoyed seeing if you had been my Home Economics teacher in Jr high school!! This is my first of many videos of yours that I have watched! I'm 56 yrs old, and I don't think it is too late to learn to sew - thanks to you!! ♥️ You exude patience!
Thank you Catherine , I purchased a customised printed tshirt which was far to big and unable to return and with your video I was able to adjust it. I love it!
Whenever I have to look to see how to do a certain sewing technique I always check here first. Thanks for showing me how to lower a t-shirt neckline and alter sleeves. ❤
That makes my day! Thanks so much for supporting my channel and I'm SO glad you find it useful. If there are any sewing techniques you want me to add, just let me know!
Excellent! I came for the alteration tips, but the serger flip is choice in every knit project ever. I caught another great serger tip in your pleated pants video - sew one leg top to bottom and the other bottom to top, to help get both seams get laid down right side up on the hem. I’m sure a video focussing real-life serger tips would be amazing and earn you more happy subscribers.
Thank you very much for such a well made video! I have never seen a T-shirt collar reworked like that & I worked at an alteration shop for years. Cheers!
I’m so grateful for this tutorial. I’ve done two Ts so far, and have several more to do. Like others have written, concert and event Ts don’t often come in women’s sizes, and if they do, they are often not shaped like me :) It’s wonderful to carelessly buy a mens L, XL or larger knowing I have the skills to tailor it to my exact size. Thank you so much for sharing! You’re an excellent teacher!
09-18-2022: Just finished my first resizing of a large t-shirt. It turned out way better than I thought it would! It feels a bit snug across the top of the back, but I can still wear it. I guess I’ll get better with each one…😉.. thanks again Catherine..❤️
I have to thank you for your videos. I never learned to sew so I decided now is the time and bought a sewing machine. I was so intimated. But I took some shirts I bought but never wore because they didn't fit and thought I will give this a try. If I ruin them well I wasn't wearing them anyways. And I actually did it!!! You honestly made it so approachable. I hope you continue to make videos like these. Thanks again.
Wonderful to hear! That makes me so happy! You might also like my recent video on upcycling sweaters where I use the same technique, among others! ua-cam.com/video/yUkXS_3xDoM/v-deo.html
I had to write to thank you for the tip of starting upside down on the sleeves and flipping it over. I've been overlocking / serging for nearly 30 years and never heard of that one. I can't wait to have a go. I only wish I needed to downsize clothes! Great video, well made. Liked and subscribed.
Brilliant video, Catherine. Very helpful. I'm kicking off my sewing journey at 50 because I can never find clothes that fit me properly. I was nervous about giving it a go, but your videos are super informative, and I'm ready to give it a crack. The spidy t-shirt 2.0 looks very good on you.
I just resized my 2nd t-shirt using your video. I was so nervous because it's my Wicked shirt that I bought when we went to the play in London (we're from Utah). All my shirt needed was changing the shoulder width & sleeve shape. Now it's PERFECT! Thanks Catherine!!
I just used your tutorial to fix some shirts I loved but hated the way they fit. It worked beautifully . Now, I will feel comfortable wearing the shirts any time. Yeah! Thank you.
Thank you Catherine for your video. I have been sewing for many years and you showed me a new trick with not having a tail at the beginning of surging. Love it!
Catherine, I am so excited to find your channel! I have a number of shirts that look horrible on me. But now, I feel I can make some significant changes so that my wardrobe can increase and the tops will actually be flattering! Thanks so much for your calm, step by step tutorial. You’re the best! ….Brenda
This was SO useful! I hate chokey necks and usually just cut them off, but I can't wait to try this! I also loved the serged edge technique with folding over the sleeve. I had no idea you could do that!
This is an amazing way to help begi bers (such as myself) to learn how to tailor fit a family members t-shirt for free and it has really helped me to bond more with my family. 🤗
I watched your video a couple of weeks ago and easily altered 2 medium t-shirts down to extra small. Your instructions were perfect and the shirts look and fit like I purchased them in my size! 😃
So happy to have discovered you and your channel. I love that I now have a simple way of downsizing a t-shirt. Your teaching skills are superlative! Thanks so much.
I will be going into the world of sewing as I'd like to resize my t-shirts on my own. And I will certainly be referencing back to this... 😀 And like everybody says.... you've made a very helpful how-to without the fillers. And a lovely voice if I might add...
I have never felt the urge to Subscribe to anyone so quick into the video. Truly appreciate how well you explain everything, your pro tips and you humor. A very satisfying video 😊
Thank you so much for clearly laying out exactly what I needed. I started trimming and realized I wasn't sure about the sleeve part, and luckily I found your video that made perfect sense. Now I can keep the event and hobby shirts that never fit right. Perfect!
Thanks so much! I did a couple of downsizing t-shirts. It went not too bad but was a little tight under my arms. I'm going to try this again your way. My two first t-shirts were given to me when my grandfather died and I didn't want them to just stay in my closet. I wanted to use them. The 2 other t-shirts are from my aunt that died and I want to use them too. I love having them close to me.
Yes, I absolutely agree that wearing special items of clothing like that are a wonderful way to feel the embrace of a loved one. I'll be very pleased of my video helps you do that!
Hi Catherine! I was given a large shirt to reno to fit our 4 yo grandson! Judi suggested I look up your vid on making a t shirt smaller! So....here I am and so many great tips etc! I will let you know how it turns out, I am ever so hopeful! Thank you! What a great help.
Thanks so much for this! I just ordered a serger and I was planning a t-shirt re-size as my first project. You explained it so well and ended up with a great fit unlike so many of the other tutorials out there.
How refreshing to be watching your video! Very efficient technique without too many distractions. Straightforward and friendly too. Well done! Subscribed.
I'm so glad I came across your channel as I've recently lost 56 pounds and none of my clothes fit me. I'm enjoying buying a new wardrobe but I have some clothes in my old size which are favourites. Now I know what to do with them. Thank you so much! 😊
Your voice is really soothing! Thank you so much for explaining everything so nicely. You basically included everything i might wanna do while resizing tshirts. I always wind up buying large t shirts or men's sizes because I love their prints!
You're so welcome! Thanks for leaving a lovely comment. I have a ton of fun thrifting men's T-shirts and cutting them down. The graphics are so cool! You might also like the video where I make a raglan T-shirt out of two big T-shirts: ua-cam.com/video/N2P_CU-zT6I/v-deo.html
I randomly came across your video in such a random crazy way but I'm so happy I did! I was on the Sally's website looking up nail polish to buy and I saw a video on the Sally's website showing step by step video on OPI nail lacquer and how to paint and after that video played on the website, it showed your video next and I just had to watch it. Now I'm not even searching for nail polish and I'm going through your videos. I don't owe a sewing machine, I have no idea how to sew but I've always wanted to learn. I'm beyond happy your video popped up! ❤️
I did it!!! Oh wow! You made it so easy to do! The shirt was so big and down to almost my knees. Now it looks like yours. I love it! Thank you so so much!!! Can’t wait so learn more. I subscribed of course :-)
I love this and it’s exactly what I needed to know. I’ve got a bunch of T shirts that I love but are too big since I lost 25KGs since July last year. Thank you! And cheers to the UA-cam algorithm for suggesting this to me 👍🏻
Thank you! Thank you! I lost weight several years ago and I kept my favorite T-shirts. I wanted to resize them but didn't know how. I am excited to try this. Thanks for showing your method. With your instructions I feel confident I can do this.
I know you posted this years ago but I’m just now finding it. Im short yet bigger and I hate the way men’s shirts look on me. I have a bunch from concerts and volunteering and even one for my favorite baseball team. We are going to a game in a few days and will try altering my Dodgers shirt so I feel better in it, I’ll practice first on another one. Thank you so much!
This is perfect! I lost a bunch of weight over the last year and my nice short sleeve tops are all big now. I have a serger & sewing machine, so no excuse not to resize my existing nice tops. Your method looks easy, and I'm looking forward to trying this. Thanks for making the video.
Great tutorial! The pace was good and the instructions were clear. I really appreciated it. It's going to help me remodel a lot of my thrifted tops. Just found your channel a few weeks ago, but I'm loving it.
I love Bowie to the point that I cut my hair like him when I was in high school for a girl that was like everybody was dropping their jaw Thank you for your wisdom
Love this. Daughter has asked me to resize just under the armholes, but leave the rest alone. I will try with your help, and the overlocker tips, which are awesome!
I am SO happy to have found this video. I lost 20 lbs and all my tees/tunics are too big and long and I didn't want to have to buy new ones. I was dreading the arm scye problem but your method is brilliant! The only issue I have is that not all knits stretch the same so make sure your foundation tee stretches in both directions the same as the tee you're altering. The serge and flip technique is great too! I always sew my seams and then serge but I'll try this method next time. I assume you're using a 3-thread serger? Thanks again! I'm going to watch more of your videos!
Great feedback, thank you! Congrats on the weight loss, and you're absolutely right about the stretch having to be similar in both Tees. My serger is a 4 thread. With a 3 thread, you might still want to sew first. Thanks for watching! You might also like my wrapped sweater video!
OMG, that serger sleeve tip is invaluable!!! I will be using my serger to adjust all of my tees! And I love the tip on how to change the neckline, too!
You're such an incredible teacher that I decided to subscribe to your channel. The three videos are watched were each like a meditation session, relaxing and inspiring. Thank you!
Wow, what an amazing comment! I'm currently grinding out the next video and having my usual load of technical difficulties, so your comment is well timed to keep me going! Thanks so much!
This is great. Needed to resize a special logo t-shirt for a memorial of a dear friend. But the shirt was so boxy I felt a slob to wear it. With your tutorial, it is now cute and looks more like a top than a t-shirt. Luckily, I had not thrown out an old t-shirt that I liked the fit of, just because I thought I might want to copy it since I draft my own patterns. It worked beautifully. I needed quite a lot of that little triangle under the armpit, not something I ever would have thought of. You’re a genius! Thank you, Catherine!
Thank you so much for this. I have lost a lot of weight and have had to downsize just about every item I own. I also do alterations for my friends and this is just what I needed.
Super tutorial and easy to follow. I took a deep breath, cut, and found I hadn't smoothed enough underneath. A bit of trimming and remeasuring did the trick. Fits like a charm, wish I had taken a before and after! Thank you for helping me save my KSU game day shirt!
I have watched several of these types of videos, and they all have been a little too vague about certain steps or didn't get the camera close enough to show exactly what they were doing on the machine. Yours is perfect! I think I'm ready to tackle this project now.
I did this yesterday because I had to wear a big unisex T-shirt for volunteering today. I kind of rushed it so the sleeves are not exactly the same but you can't tell when it's on. 100% more flattering! My zig zag doesn't have the same stretch a serger would give. Next time I would leave a little extra room but I'll only wear this a handful of times. Maybe it will stretch a little with wear. Thanks so much, Very good video!
So glad this video came into my feed. I’ve been want to resize a few tees that have gotten so out of shape. I look forward to watching more of your instructional sewing videos. Very helpful!
Love this video. Especially dropping the neck, t-shirts always feel like I'm being choked. It would be awesome if you could do a video showing how to do this with the zig-zag stitch for those of us without a serger. Thanks
Thanks! So glad you found it helpful. And yes, I love to drop the neckline just a bit for that extra breathing room. Without a serger, I'd just sew the band on first with a straight stitch, stretching as you go. Then zigzag your edges like normal. 👍
Oh, I'm so sorry for the loss of your dad. When my dad died (more than 30 years ago!) I still remember how hard it was to clean out his closet. Clothes carry such a strong connection to the person who wore them. Resizing some of your dad's T-shirts is a great way to keep the feeling of having him near you.❤️
Just tried this out today and worked like a charm!! Sewed it on a regular sewing machine with no issues- but I like the 'finished' look of the serger. Maybe i need to add a serger to my collection? 😉
Thanks, Pam! In my latest video, I do that same trick, but also another one for the beginning of the seam, which I don't think was included in the Spiderman video. Check out this one ua-cam.com/video/2oTfngA4Wcg/v-deo.html at 19:00 for the serger trick.
I just watched this video here in Ireland. You are super articulate at explaining the whole concept of downsizing . The pace of the video is perfect- your voice is perfect and you enable the observer to follow your instructions very easily and with confidence..I can't wait to apply your methods . Thank you from Katie.
Wow, that is such a lovely comment. I'm very grateful. Katie, I'm so happy you found my channel!
Yes, and without feeling a need to include her entire Life Story!
@@barbarasizemore7964 Katie, I'd love to hear your life story in Ireland. Not trying to pry. We can benefit from each other's experiences, esp. here in the 21st century. First sentence or 2 is the meat of the post, then some folks can skip our life stories, I betcha. I'm a great-grandma. My maternal great-grandma Birdie & her mother Samantha had a seamstress & millinery shop in a small town in Illinois in the 1890's (the U.S.'s Midwest).
@@ahicks414 If you reply back to Katie, think she might respond. Seems like a lovely woman from her comment. No worries about responding to the wrong person! We’ve all done it, multiple times 🙂
@@ImaLeshLushnIcantgetmyPhil Thanks. She answered me already. 🙂
This took me back to Home Economics in junior high! With your video, I could just feel the fabric and the vibration of the machine underneath my fingers! Very satisfying. I was never good at sewing because I didn't practice enough. It was the 60's and we had a couple of projects to do...going from a pillow case to a dress! 😧I did okay with the case, but my 'empire' style dress was a wreck! The empire part came almost up to my neck! 🤣I'll never forget asking my teacher if I could borrow the 'thread picker'. She had to laugh and told me when I could say the proper name, she would give it to me. I thought a moment and said 'seam ripper!' Believe you me, I used that little tool a lot!
My dear maternal Grandmother was an exceptional seamstress. She made all of the clothes for her large family of 9 kids! In later years, she also made dresses my aunts, cousin and myself for school. It is a wonderul art and YOU are very talented!
Hi Catherine. I am an expert YT armchair Sewer! LOL I know it's sad, but I watch how to change this and that, but have always chickened out of altering my own clothes.
No more of that! You are the first one to show how to change the neckline and keep the original rib band.
That was so cool!!!
Thanks for the tip on serging the sleeves. My serger is a beast that still growls at me!
Great! So glad you liked that neckline technique. I use that all the time, just to make T-shirts more comfortable. So glad you found my channel!
I'm an experienced sewer and I love learning new tricks. Thanks. You're a great teacher.
Thanks so much, Cindy! That's really nice to hear!
This is SO helpful. I am very petite and hate big unflattering tee-shirts, so I can’t wait to try this out. So much better than just hacking at them, which is my usual approach. That looked ok when I was younger but I need something a bit more “finished” now I am in my mid50s prime!
This tutorial is so helpful! Easy enough for a beginner. I'd never altered a piece of clothing in my life and was able to take a size XL shirt to a medium and the fit is perfect!
That's great to hear!
I just completed my first tshirt makeover! Came out so well. I have another 7 shirts that I’m going to makeover. These shirts were from volunteering or road races, so they are very meaningful and now I feel so cute in the one I just finished!
Sharon, I'm so happy to hear this! Happy sewing!
This could have been me writing this. I have lots of overlarge T-shirts, each with meaning. I am half way through altering my first, and least favourite one ( in case it goes wrong!). So far so good. If all is well, I shall embark on the rest!
This vid will never age...useful for anyone who's frugal, creative or no waste conscious. Thank you 💗
Such a nice comment! Thank you!
This is a game changer! 💥 My daughter and I shop thrift ALL the time, but we generally have to “make do” with any ill-fitting garments-t-shirts being one of the many that may not have the fit we’d like. We DON’T own a serger, but I am going to attempt this alteration with our sewing machine. Thanks for providing me with the inspiration and the knowledge to know how to do it right! 😊🙌🏾
What is a server? Can anyone tell me, please
I am sorry I meant server not server.
I will try again, serger, phew.
@@jeanclare7011 A serger is also known as an overlocker. It's used for sewing neat seams. If you look at the seams on the inside of most of your clothes, they've been finished with an industrial serger. You can generally manage to sew your own seams with just a sewing machine but if you get serious about sewing, you might want to invest in one.
A serger / overlocker can have 3-5 threads, although 4 is normal. As well as the top and bottom stitches (which you have in a sewing machine) you have left and right looper threads, which prevent the seam from unraveling.
@@jeanclare7011 I've watched a couple of CatherineSews UA-cam videos and she encourages using a sewing machine to straight stitch it and a zigzag stitch for instead of a Serger. I have a very old Bernette with straight stitching and several overlocking zigzag stitches. It all feels very "l lot" to me. But I did it on this refitting and she was right, it worked really well.
Oh my goodness! This is a life changer!!! Thank you so much!!! This video is so well done. I appreciate that it is done without a lot of filler yet slow enough that I don’t need to rewind spots. You have a gift and I thank you for sharing!
Wow, thank you so much for the BEST comment ever! So glad to have you on board!
Just great! I have altered so many T-shirts, rather than ditch them. I even now sometimes buy T-shirts in a larger size and customize them, rather than buying smaller. Thank you for the super instruction!
Finally! A tutorial that retains the neckband and provides a finished look. I will try on an old shirt for practice before moving on to a favorite shirt. Thank you!!!
So glad you like the technique. I hope it works out great for you!
Thank you so much! My daughter's field trip is tomorrow and I couldn't find her class shirt... but I could find my shirt that matches... I'm a 3x. She is a medium in kids... it took me a little less than an hour to resize her shirt. I was a little stressed during the sleeve cutting part, but it turned out great, and she has a class shirt to wear tomorrow!!
Best way to avoid the thread problems at the beginning of a serged edge I have ever seen! I have been sewing off and on since 1986. I have a t shirt I have been wanting to adjust this way and now I can do it well. Thank you!
Yay! Thanks so much, Kathy!
Hi from Gerringong NSW Australia. Cathy Ive solved the problem of threading a machine needle. Using a white paint ( I used my Wipeout) and painted the area facing the needle on the machine foot I am using. I used to use white paper to do this. I love you programme and I am an always looking to restyle secondhand clothing for friends.
I’ve been sewing for 70 plus years and I am in love with your serger tips. That’s a whole new and awesome way to finish seams…..Thank You!!!!
Wow, I'm so honoured that someone with your years of experience enjoyed my video! That makes my day. Thanks, Bobbie!
Just discovered your Channel. I love your videos, the demonstrations, and tips and tricks. I'm a newbie to sewing, but I found all of your posts so easy to follow, which is super comforting for someone who is a bit of a perfectionist and afraid of "making mistakes." Thank you for sharing your knowledge, skills, and projects with the world!
I have sewed for over 60 years and I learned something new today. Thank You.
Awwww, that's so amazing to hear! Thank you!
This was a wonderful demonstration of how to resize a TShirt. My husband has lost a lot of weight and all his TShirts are too big on him. This will help me to fix them so he will be able to wear them. Funny … we were just talking about this today. Great job 👏🏻
Don't you love it when the right video comes along at the right time!? Glad you stopped by!
Another option for tracing is a dry soap sliver. It is a way reuse the remainder of the soap bar when it is too small to bathe with. Dry soap is washable and antimicrobial so no nasty germs on your clothes. I learned this when I learned how to sew in home ec in 6th grade.
Such a great tip, Jennifer. Thanks!
Just remade five old t-shirts I had in my closet using this technique and wow! So much more comfortable and I can finally wear them outside the house. Just saved me so much money ❤️ Fantastic video.
This is the first of your videos I’ve seen, and it was so inspiring! When I was little, my dear, creative grandmother taught me some basic sewing techniques, but it has been a long time and I really don’t know much. You did such a wonderful job demonstrating how to resize a tee shirt that I think (with some practice) I might be able to eventually learn how to do it myself.
You are a great teacher! The only recommendation I would suggest is improving your lighting a bit. As a true beginner, I want to see every detail as well as possible. There are parts of your video that are a little dark, and I had trouble making out exactly what you were demonstrating. I was viewing your video on my iPhone so that could be the problem. I’ll watch again on my iPad or laptop and likely be able to see everything trouble free.
I love creative pursuits but limit myself for fear of failure or lack of instruction. Thank you so very much for showing me how to do a resizing in a way that I believe I can actually replicate. I most certainly will “follow” you and look forward to learning more. Thanks!
Thanks for that lovely comment, Victoria. And I appreciate your feedback about the lighting. Great to know.
I’m sixty seven and can hand sew . I’m learning how to sew to do leather work. I’d love to learn more on sewing. I appreciate your videos. Very helpful. ❤
10:00 GENIOUS!!! I've been sewing for years. This hint will up my sewing game for certain. Thank you.
I like to use a double needle to topstitch my hems. It looks similar to coverstitch.
Thanks so much! That's great to hear. And yes to the double needle hem! It's a great choice for T-shirts because it has a bit of stretch. I love it and used it in this video: ua-cam.com/video/N2P_CU-zT6I/v-deo.html
You have just made my day! Picked up a second hand designer t-shirt only yesterday, knowing it was too big for me and could hardly sleep last night because my head was trying to figure out how to down-size it. And then I stroke gold coming across your very well explained tutorial Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!
Well, your comment makes my day! Let me know how it goes with your new t-shirt!
@@CatherineSews , it went absolutely perfect, despite being my first ever sleeve sowing job! Took the effort to un-do and re-do the hem at the bottom and the sleeves, to avoid bulging, looks shop-bought now! Your advice on not to cut off sleeves first turned out to be spot on, just crossed the seam by a few milllimeters. Thank you, again! Slowly building up confidence to take on the down-sizing of a vintage men's blazer hanging in my wardrobe...! :)
Thank you so much. This is brilliant. This is exactly what I've been looking for for years. All my pull-over, knit tops are too big because I have to buy them way too wide in order to get the length that I need. I'll be sewing all weekend, I think, & hopefully, start the next week with a closet full of tops I can look & feel feminine wearing--finally, & now I know it's a fairly simple process. I suspect people will ask me if I've lost weight once I have tops that fit well & flatter my curves rather than hanging from me like rags. Thank you again.
That is so great to hear, Nebraska! And you're right, clothes that fit nicely are so much more flattering!
To think what I could have learned from you AND probably enjoyed seeing if you had been my Home Economics teacher in Jr high school!! This is my first of many videos of yours that I have watched! I'm 56 yrs old, and I don't think it is too late to learn to sew - thanks to you!! ♥️ You exude patience!
Such a lovely comment. Thanks so much for making my day 💕
Thank you Catherine , I purchased a customised printed tshirt which was far to big and unable to return and with your video I was able to adjust it. I love it!
Whenever I have to look to see how to do a certain sewing technique I always check here first. Thanks for showing me how to lower a t-shirt neckline and alter sleeves. ❤
That makes my day! Thanks so much for supporting my channel and I'm SO glad you find it useful. If there are any sewing techniques you want me to add, just let me know!
Excellent! I came for the alteration tips, but the serger flip is choice in every knit project ever. I caught another great serger tip in your pleated pants video - sew one leg top to bottom and the other bottom to top, to help get both seams get laid down right side up on the hem. I’m sure a video focussing real-life serger tips would be amazing and earn you more happy subscribers.
Thanks so much, Djuna! A video on serger tips is a great idea. I'll add that to my To Do list!
Just what I was looking for. Thank you. It's unreal how many videos I had to watch that didn't allow for that underarm piece.
Thank you very much for such a well made video! I have never seen a T-shirt collar reworked like that & I worked at an alteration shop for years. Cheers!
Wonderful to hear! Thanks!
I’m so grateful for this tutorial. I’ve done two Ts so far, and have several more to do. Like others have written, concert and event Ts don’t often come in women’s sizes, and if they do, they are often not shaped like me :)
It’s wonderful to carelessly buy a mens L, XL or larger knowing I have the skills to tailor it to my exact size. Thank you so much for sharing! You’re an excellent teacher!
09-18-2022: Just finished my first resizing of a large t-shirt. It turned out way better than I thought it would! It feels a bit snug across the top of the back, but I can still wear it. I guess I’ll get better with each one…😉.. thanks again Catherine..❤️
I have to thank you for your videos. I never learned to sew so I decided now is the time and bought a sewing machine. I was so intimated. But I took some shirts I bought but never wore because they didn't fit and thought I will give this a try. If I ruin them well I wasn't wearing them anyways. And I actually did it!!! You honestly made it so approachable. I hope you continue to make videos like these. Thanks again.
Wonderful to hear! That makes me so happy! You might also like my recent video on upcycling sweaters where I use the same technique, among others! ua-cam.com/video/yUkXS_3xDoM/v-deo.html
I had to write to thank you for the tip of starting upside down on the sleeves and flipping it over. I've been overlocking / serging for nearly 30 years and never heard of that one. I can't wait to have a go. I only wish I needed to downsize clothes! Great video, well made. Liked and subscribed.
What a lovely comment! Thanks so much. It's great to have you on board!
Brilliant video, Catherine. Very helpful. I'm kicking off my sewing journey at 50 because I can never find clothes that fit me properly. I was nervous about giving it a go, but your videos are super informative, and I'm ready to give it a crack. The spidy t-shirt 2.0 looks very good on you.
wow, I've been sewing for over 40 years - really loving your explanations, your instruction - everything is perfect! thanks for sharing this.
Thanks, Peggy! Great to hear!
I just resized my 2nd t-shirt using your video. I was so nervous because it's my Wicked shirt that I bought when we went to the play in London (we're from Utah). All my shirt needed was changing the shoulder width & sleeve shape. Now it's PERFECT! Thanks Catherine!!
I just used your tutorial to fix some shirts I loved but hated the way they fit. It worked beautifully . Now, I will feel comfortable wearing the shirts any time. Yeah! Thank you.
My dad gave me one of his old shirts. This tutorial helped me fit it to my size, and was super easy to follow! Thank you!
Thank you Catherine for your video. I have been sewing for many years and you showed me a new trick with not having a tail at the beginning of surging. Love it!
Wonderful! That's my favourite kind of comment. I've also been sewing for years but I still love learning new tricks!
Catherine, I am so excited to find your channel! I have a number of shirts that look horrible on me. But now, I feel I can make some significant changes so that my wardrobe can increase and the tops will actually be flattering! Thanks so much for your calm, step by step tutorial. You’re the best! ….Brenda
No, you're the best! Thanks so much for such a sweet and enthusiastic comment. I'm so happy to have you on board!
This was SO useful! I hate chokey necks and usually just cut them off, but I can't wait to try this! I also loved the serged edge technique with folding over the sleeve. I had no idea you could do that!
This is an amazing way to help begi bers (such as myself) to learn how to tailor fit a family members t-shirt for free and it has really helped me to bond more with my family. 🤗
I watched your video a couple of weeks ago and easily altered 2 medium t-shirts down to extra small. Your instructions were perfect and the shirts look and fit like I purchased them in my size! 😃
That makes me so happy!
So simple and efficient! I like to buy my clothes second hand as well, and now I feel like a whole new world has opened up to me!
This is one of the few sewing tutorials I have watched that is clear and useful.
Thanks great to hear, Donna. Thank you!
So happy to have discovered you and your channel. I love that I now have a simple way of downsizing a t-shirt. Your teaching skills are superlative! Thanks so much.
I will be going into the world of sewing as I'd like to resize my t-shirts on my own. And I will certainly be referencing back to this... 😀
And like everybody says.... you've made a very helpful how-to without the fillers. And a lovely voice if I might add...
I have never felt the urge to Subscribe to anyone so quick into the video.
Truly appreciate how well you explain everything, your pro tips and you humor.
A very satisfying video 😊
Awwww, thanks Laura! What a sweet comment. You made my day!
Thank you so much for clearly laying out exactly what I needed. I started trimming and realized I wasn't sure about the sleeve part, and luckily I found your video that made perfect sense. Now I can keep the event and hobby shirts that never fit right. Perfect!
Thanks so much! I did a couple of downsizing t-shirts. It went not too bad but was a little tight under my arms. I'm going to try this again your way. My two first t-shirts were given to me when my grandfather died and I didn't want them to just stay in my closet. I wanted to use them. The 2 other t-shirts are from my aunt that died and I want to use them too. I love having them close to me.
Yes, I absolutely agree that wearing special items of clothing like that are a wonderful way to feel the embrace of a loved one. I'll be very pleased of my video helps you do that!
Great tutorial. Finally, one that includes dropping the neckline a bit. Too many t-shirts have too high of a neckline.
Right!? I really can't stand that choking feeling from a high-neck T-shirt!
Hi Catherine! I was given a large shirt to reno to fit our 4 yo grandson! Judi suggested I look up your vid on making a t shirt smaller! So....here I am and so many great tips etc! I will let you know how it turns out, I am ever so hopeful! Thank you! What a great help.
Hi Terri! Judi was the catalyst for this video! I hope your grandson's tshirt turns out great!
Thanks so much for this! I just ordered a serger and I was planning a t-shirt re-size as my first project. You explained it so well and ended up with a great fit unlike so many of the other tutorials out there.
This is awesome! I just received a TS t-shirt to my house and it's way to big and boxy. I'm about to transform it. Thank you so much!
How refreshing to be watching your video! Very efficient technique without too many distractions. Straightforward and friendly too. Well done! Subscribed.
You are a wonderful teacher. You gave simple clear instructions and reaffirmed our ability along the way. I’m excited to learn more from you.
I'm so glad I came across your channel as I've recently lost 56 pounds and none of my clothes fit me. I'm enjoying buying a new wardrobe but I have some clothes in my old size which are favourites. Now I know what to do with them. Thank you so much! 😊
Your voice is really soothing! Thank you so much for explaining everything so nicely. You basically included everything i might wanna do while resizing tshirts. I always wind up buying large t shirts or men's sizes because I love their prints!
You're so welcome! Thanks for leaving a lovely comment. I have a ton of fun thrifting men's T-shirts and cutting them down. The graphics are so cool! You might also like the video where I make a raglan T-shirt out of two big T-shirts: ua-cam.com/video/N2P_CU-zT6I/v-deo.html
The quality of the men’s shirts are usually better.
@@sunshine3914 for sure! Women's clothes are also priced higher even with cheaper quality for some reason.
Oh Catherine, your so lovely and calm! Thanks for sharing your knowledge and joy with us!! 💕
What a lovely comment. Thanks so much, Luciana!
@@CatherineSews 😍😍
Surging the sleeves and preventing the loop, pure genius! I always have that issue! Thank you!
Isn't' that a neat trick? Thanks so much for watching and commenting. Glad to have you on board!
I randomly came across your video in such a random crazy way but I'm so happy I did! I was on the Sally's website looking up nail polish to buy and I saw a video on the Sally's website showing step by step video on OPI nail lacquer and how to paint and after that video played on the website, it showed your video next and I just had to watch it. Now I'm not even searching for nail polish and I'm going through your videos. I don't owe a sewing machine, I have no idea how to sew but I've always wanted to learn. I'm beyond happy your video popped up! ❤️
That is the CUTEST comment EVER! Thanks so much for making my day.🥰
I did it!!! Oh wow! You made it so easy to do! The shirt was so big and down to almost my knees. Now it looks like yours. I love it! Thank you so so much!!! Can’t wait so learn more. I subscribed of course :-)
Wonderful to hear! I'm so glad you found my channel and jumped on board. Great to have you here!
I love this and it’s exactly what I needed to know. I’ve got a bunch of T shirts that I love but are too big since I lost 25KGs since July last year. Thank you! And cheers to the UA-cam algorithm for suggesting this to me 👍🏻
I just used your technique for lowering the neckband and it worked fantastic. Thank you for your great tutorial!
Blesss you! I cannot stand necklines that touch the front of my neck! Thanks to you, my tops are going to fit and feel WAY better!
Yay, Becky, you got this!
Perfect! Just used your technique and it worked like a charm…even without a serger! Thanks for sharing!
So glad I found this video. I have to buy men’s shirts to fit me and the shoulders are always to wide. This is perfect!
Thank you! Thank you! I lost weight several years ago and I kept my favorite T-shirts. I wanted to resize them but didn't know how. I am excited to try this. Thanks for showing your method. With your instructions I feel confident I can do this.
Yes! You can totally do this! Let me know how it goes.
You have a really pleasant manner for teaching. Thanks for sharing this. I'll be looking at more of your videos.
I know you posted this years ago but I’m just now finding it. Im short yet bigger and I hate the way men’s shirts look on me. I have a bunch from concerts and volunteering and even one for my favorite baseball team. We are going to a game in a few days and will try altering my Dodgers shirt so I feel better in it, I’ll practice first on another one. Thank you so much!
This is perfect! I lost a bunch of weight over the last year and my nice short sleeve tops are all big now. I have a serger & sewing machine, so no excuse not to resize my existing nice tops. Your method looks easy, and I'm looking forward to trying this. Thanks for making the video.
Great tutorial! The pace was good and the instructions were clear. I really appreciated it. It's going to help me remodel a lot of my thrifted tops. Just found your channel a few weeks ago, but I'm loving it.
I love Bowie to the point that I cut my hair like him when I was in high school for a girl that was like everybody was dropping their jaw
Thank you for your wisdom
Love this. Daughter has asked me to resize just under the armholes, but leave the rest alone. I will try with your help, and the overlocker tips, which are awesome!
I am SO happy to have found this video. I lost 20 lbs and all my tees/tunics are too big and long and I didn't want to have to buy new ones. I was dreading the arm scye problem but your method is brilliant! The only issue I have is that not all knits stretch the same so make sure your foundation tee stretches in both directions the same as the tee you're altering. The serge and flip technique is great too! I always sew my seams and then serge but I'll try this method next time. I assume you're using a 3-thread serger? Thanks again! I'm going to watch more of your videos!
Great feedback, thank you! Congrats on the weight loss, and you're absolutely right about the stretch having to be similar in both Tees. My serger is a 4 thread. With a 3 thread, you might still want to sew first. Thanks for watching! You might also like my wrapped sweater video!
Your voice is so sweet and your instructions are very clear. Thanks for sharing.
Awww, thanks for the kind comment, Melanie!
OMG, that serger sleeve tip is invaluable!!! I will be using my serger to adjust all of my tees! And I love the tip on how to change the neckline, too!
You're such an incredible teacher that I decided to subscribe to your channel. The three videos are watched were each like a meditation session, relaxing and inspiring. Thank you!
Wow, what an amazing comment! I'm currently grinding out the next video and having my usual load of technical difficulties, so your comment is well timed to keep me going! Thanks so much!
This is great. Needed to resize a special logo t-shirt for a memorial of a dear friend. But the shirt was so boxy I felt a slob to wear it. With your tutorial, it is now cute and looks more like a top than a t-shirt. Luckily, I had not thrown out an old t-shirt that I liked the fit of, just because I thought I might want to copy it since I draft my own patterns. It worked beautifully. I needed quite a lot of that little triangle under the armpit, not something I ever would have thought of. You’re a genius! Thank you, Catherine!
Thanks so much, Maryellen! Glad to have you on board!
Just perfect! I had a T-shirt I loved, but did not love the fit. Fixed! And just with my standard Brother machine! Thank you, Catherine!
I liked the results so much, I made a paper pattern from the right-size T to use on several more shirts.
Thank you so much for this. I have lost a lot of weight and have had to downsize just about every item I own. I also do alterations for my friends and this is just what I needed.
This is honestly one of the most helpful videos I’ve ever seen - thank you so much! Love from Australia ❤
Super tutorial and easy to follow. I took a deep breath, cut, and found I hadn't smoothed enough underneath. A bit of trimming and remeasuring did the trick. Fits like a charm, wish I had taken a before and after! Thank you for helping me save my KSU game day shirt!
This is really helpful i just did 2 shirts today and it fitted perfectly after alteration
Thank you so much for this! Using your instructions, I've resized two t-shirts in the last week, and look forward to doing more!
Thanks for the tutorial. You are a wonderful teacher!
I have watched several of these types of videos, and they all have been a little too vague about certain steps or didn't get the camera close enough to show exactly what they were doing on the machine. Yours is perfect! I think I'm ready to tackle this project now.
Great to hear, Patty. Good luck with it!
I did this yesterday because I had to wear a big unisex T-shirt for volunteering today. I kind of rushed it so the sleeves are not exactly the same but you can't tell when it's on. 100% more flattering! My zig zag doesn't have the same stretch a serger would give. Next time I would leave a little extra room but I'll only wear this a handful of times. Maybe it will stretch a little with wear. Thanks so much, Very good video!
THANK YOU!!! I've got narrow shoulders and this opens up way more possibilities! You explained it all so well❣️ 🙏🙏🙏
It's so great to hear that you found this video useful! Thanks for checking out my channel!
So glad this video came into my feed. I’ve been want to resize a few tees that have gotten so out of shape. I look forward to watching more of your instructional sewing videos. Very helpful!
Love this video. Especially dropping the neck, t-shirts always feel like I'm being choked. It would be awesome if you could do a video showing how to do this with the zig-zag stitch for those of us without a serger. Thanks
Thanks! So glad you found it helpful. And yes, I love to drop the neckline just a bit for that extra breathing room. Without a serger, I'd just sew the band on first with a straight stitch, stretching as you go. Then zigzag your edges like normal. 👍
I have done this on my non-serger, I used a straight stitch and made a V-neck. Came out great.
Thank you for this tutorial. I am resizing my first t-shirt (my dad's who I recently lost♥) and I will use your techniques to do it--thanks!
Oh, I'm so sorry for the loss of your dad. When my dad died (more than 30 years ago!) I still remember how hard it was to clean out his closet. Clothes carry such a strong connection to the person who wore them. Resizing some of your dad's T-shirts is a great way to keep the feeling of having him near you.❤️
@@CatherineSews Thank you❤ I look forward to wearing them.
I know this is an older video, it has quickly became on of my favorites!! I am resizing all. Y T-shirt’s!! Thank you
The best video ever to modify a tshirt! I will def take these tips and raid the hubby’s closet 🥰
Haha, yes! Go for it! I hope hubby doesn't get too mad at me, lol!
This is a fantastic video & thank you for posting! Two drawers full of shirts are now going to get a new life!
Just tried this out today and worked like a charm!! Sewed it on a regular sewing machine with no issues- but I like the 'finished' look of the serger. Maybe i need to add a serger to my collection? 😉
Loved the trick of doubling back on the serger, wished I’d known that years ago! Looking forward to more of your videos!
Thanks, Pam! In my latest video, I do that same trick, but also another one for the beginning of the seam, which I don't think was included in the Spiderman video. Check out this one ua-cam.com/video/2oTfngA4Wcg/v-deo.html at 19:00 for the serger trick.