Taking in and letting out clothes in Tomball, TX

What this alteration involves

These adjustments change the fit through the waist, seat, hips or sides. Dress trousers are often built for this: many have a center back seam with extra fabric so the waist and seat can be taken in or let out. Skirts and dresses are usually adjusted at the side seams or darts. Taking in is generally easier, because it only removes room. Letting out needs fabric that is already there, folded inside the seam. Jeans and most casual pants have narrow, finished seams with little to spare. Belt loops, pockets, zippers and waistbands all sit across these seams, and they affect how much can change and how clean the result looks. Changing the waist a lot without changing the seat or hips can throw off how the whole garment hangs.

How to get the best fit

• Wear the garment to the fitting so the change can be pinned on you, not guessed from a measurement.
• Wear the shoes and undergarments you normally wear with it.
• Say how you like it to fit: close, relaxed, or with room to sit comfortably.
• If your weight is still changing, mention it. A small change now may be better than a big one you later need to undo.

What can and cannot be done

Letting out is limited by the seam allowance, which is often narrow and sometimes almost nothing. The old stitch line, and a faded or shiny line where the fold sat, can show after letting out, especially on dark wool, denim and fabrics with a sheen. Taking in a lot can distort pockets and the shape of the seat. At the counter we can check the seams on your garment and say what it allows.