How to Alter a Large Dress to Fit

Introduction

Online shopping is great, but sometimes we get things that don’t fit us the way we had hoped. Shipping can be a hassle and sometimes you can’t return what you bought. So, why feel like you wasted your money? In this guide, we will show you step by step how to alter your large dress so that it can fit you perfectly!

All you will need for this Fast Fix is a dress that is too big, a sewing machine, some clothespins, and a pencil to mark the dress. If you have a darker dress we recommend that you use white chalk.

What you need

Step 1 How to Alter a Large Dress to Fit

How to Alter a Large Dress to Fit, How to Alter a Large Dress to Fit: step 1, image 1 of 1

Put on your dress.
Pinching the waistline, grab your ruler and measure from your hip.
This number will tell you how much you need to take in to make your dress fit.

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Step 2

Turn your dress inside out and lay it on a smooth surface.

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Step 3

Using your measurements from Step 1, measure out evenly from the seam line how much you need to take in on each side.
As you measure how much you take in, use the clothespins as a marker.

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Step 4

Carefully put on your dress to make sure that it fits you in the right way.

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Step 5

Now that your dress fits how you would like, carefully take it off and lay it back on a flat surface.
Using chalk or a pen, make a line that connects all the pins.
This line will be a guide for when you use the sewing machine.

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Step 6

Thread your sewing machine.
If you need help on how to thread the sewing machine, here is a guide on how to.
Carefully push your dress through and begin sewing your new seam.

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Step 7

When you're done sewing your dress, flip it so that it is right side out and put it on.
If there is any excess fabric, you can cut it away, leaving 1/4 of an inch of the leftover fabric by the seam.

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Conclusion

This is an easy and low budget way to fix a dress that is too large. Check the tag on the dress to see how you should care for it after. It is best recommended that you let your dress air dry.

One other person completed this guide.