Clothing alterations also includes repairs like this one which is a repair crotch bodysuit.  Not all repairs are pretty, and whilst the photos show a torn crotch area, I can assure you the garment was very clean.  Never work on anything like this unless it is clean.  Hygiene is important with any clothing alteration.

I have a client who has an expensive body suit which has worn in the crotch area.  In fact she said the suit cost her around AUD$160, so it is worth repairing.

She brought a bra with her which she never uses, and asked if I could use the fabric and hooks from the bra to repair the crotch area of the body suit.

I unpicked the torn section which was zig zagged onto the body of the suit.  I then found a section in the bra which would give me the right width and length.  I would use the hooks from the bra at the end of the replaced section.

The top section will be the same, but the sides need to have a seam allowance added 0.9 cm (3/8 in) plus the same seam allowance at the bottom which will have the hooks attached.

Once the template had been cut, I stitched down the sides and trimmed away the excess seam allowance.  I then turned it inside out and overlocked the top edge only.

Because the garment was a little stretched, I decided to straight stitch it onto the body of the garment first.  I divided the new section into halves and pinned the two sides and middle.  Then stretch the in between sections.  I straight stitched it first sewing through the middle of the over locking.  Then I went back and zigzagged over the top of the straight stitching.

This repair means that she can use this garment for many years to come.  As I mentioned earlier, always ensure when working in any crotch area, that the garment has been washed and is clean.

Happy repairing,
Judith Turner