How to Tailor Men's Shirts

Tailored shirts add polish and help men maintain a professional look. Some people pay for this service, but you can tailor men's shirts on your own.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Fabric ruler
• Push pins
• Sewing machine

1. Have your shirt size measured at a department store.

2. Buy a shirt that fits reasonably well. Tailoring is much easier when there isn't much that needs to be altered. Read care instructions for the shirt and look at the fabric. Tailoring is simpler if the fabric is breathable and doesn't have too much stretch.

3. Stand with the shirt on in front of a mirror. Do the seams pucker? Does it pull across the chest? These questions are important. The way a shirt is made will affect how it fits after tailoring. The seams shouldn't pucker and a good shirt never pulls across the chest.

4. Measure the shirt to the exact number of inches or centimeters you want it altered. Do this by using a fabric ruler to measure what parts of the shirt stick too far out. Write the measurements down. Allow a centimeter extra for shrinkage in the wash--if it is cotton. Keep push pins handy if you are unable to keep the fabric taut while measuring. Push pins are also helpful if someone else is modeling the shirt for you to tailor.

5. Use your sewing machine to take in the seams per the measurements. There is no need to cut the fabric if less than two inches need to be let in or let out. Make certain the color of the thread you are using matches the color of the thread of the fabric. Your sewing machine should be clean and so should the needle, to prevent snagging or ruining the fabric.