Mending and Alterations Made Simple

INTRODUCTION. What we need to get started. Hand sewing stitches. Needles and threads. The sewing machine. Sewing machine stitches. Cut and sew. Inserting a bias. Terms and tricks of the trade. BEFORE STARTING. REPAIRING TROUSERS AND JEANS. Shortening formal trousers. Shortening casual trousers. Shortening casual trousers with turn ups. Shortening jeans with the original hem. Simple darning of classic trousers. Darning jeans. Lengthening classic trousers. Tightening classic trousers at the waist. Tightening jeans at the waist. Tightening trousers without side pockets. Tightening trousers with side pockets. Tightening jeans along the sides. Widening classic trousers at the waist. Widening jeans at the waist. Changing the zip on classic trousers. Changing the zip on jeans. Inserting an elasticated waistband on casual trousers. REPAIRING SKIRTS. Shortening a skirt with a hand-stitched hem. Shortening a skirt with a machine-stitched hem. Tightening a skirt at the waist. Tightening a classic skirt along the sides. Widening a skirt at the waist. Widening a skirt along the sides. Lengthening a skirt. Changing an invisible zip. Changing the lining of a skirt. REPAIRING DRESSES. Shortening or lengthening a dress. Tightening an unlined dress along the sides without altering the armhole. Changing an invisible zip on a dress. Widening a sleeveless dress along the sides. Altering the neckline of a dress. Removing the sleeves from a dress. Repairing the sleeves on jackets, coats, dresses and shirts. Shortening simple sleeves on a dress or top. Lengthening the sleeves on a dress or top. Shortening the sleeves on jackets and coats. Lengthening the sleeves on jackets and coats. Shortening the sleeves of a shirt. REPAIRING TOPS, SHIRTS, JACKETS AND COATS. Widening a shirt. Shortening a classic shirt. Widening the neckline of a T-shirt. Tightening a top. Widening a top. Shortening a top. Lowering the armhole on a singlet without a placket. Tightening a jacket or coat. Widening a jacket or coat. Shortening a jacket or coat. Lengthening a jacket or coat. Mending an open seam on a jacket or short coat. Changing the zip on a jacket.