Sweatshirt Sewing

I have a nice, new sweatshirt that is too long. I want to shorten both the body and the sleeves. It has a pouch pocket and a ribbed bottom. I was thinking of removing/discarding the ribbed band and sewing the hem straight across, maybe with short side slits, like a tunic. I am willing to shorten the sleeves, then add narrow elastic in a casing. I am also willing to shorten sleeves and return the rib band. What I need to know is how to do all this with out stretching out the hem lines. Should I add some flexible hem tape, or interfacing, or what? I do have a serger and while I am not skilled with that, I am willing (eager) to learn. Thanks for any advice! PAT in Virginia

Reply to
Pat in Virginia
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Hi Pat,

There are so may fun things you can do with sweathshirts! If you have access to a library, or inter-library loan, see if you can borrow one or more of the following: Sweatshirts with Style, More Sweatshirts with Style (both by Mary Mulari), or Kwik-Sew's Sweatshirts Unlimited.

The best way to keep the edges from stretching out of shape is to stay-stitch about 1/4 to 1/2 inch away from the seam on the body of the shirt before you cut off the ribbing. Leave the bulk of the seam on the ribbing instead of on the shirt body.

You can just turn up the hem and sew it down, or add a decorative band with bias tape or similar, or add tunic-like extensions at the lower edge, or use another fabric as a facing. The "Style" books I mentioned explain how.

You can use a serger to finish the edges or re-attach the cuffs, but a regular sewing machine will do the job nearly as well. Just might not look quite as neat inside, but not a big deal.

I love alter> I have a nice, new sweatshirt that is too long. I want to shorten both

Reply to
Donna Gennick

Mary Mulari and Nancy Zieman published a book & DVD on changing sweatshirts. It was a Christmas gift, but I know it's for sale in Nancy's catalog. I've had fun trying out some of the techniques on some of my older shirts before getting any new ones. Here in Houston, I wear sweats only a few times annually. What I've done before, is stitch a seam about 1-2 inches above where it is to cut, as Donna suggested. Then after pinning up the hem, I use a double needle and wooly nylon thread in the bobbin, I hem it from the top. It gives a double seam on top, and the wooly nylon zig-zags on the wrong side. Emily

Reply to
CypSew

Reply to
Pat in Virginia

Reply to
Pat in Virginia

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