Sweat shirts downsizing

Taking sweat shirts downsizing from a large to a medium or small is usually a lot of work.

However, a lot of the work can be cut down by cutting around existing seams.  The sweat shirt on the right however, has a sleeve all the way to the collar.  So in this instance taking in under the arm would be the best option.  But if the sweat shirt has a normal sleeve, it can be cut around the armhole, reshape the sleeve cap and reinserted.  That means DO NOT shorten the end of the sleeve, UNTIL the sleeve cap is done.

In fact you could save yourself some time, by working out how much the sleeve needs to be shortened by, and taking this amount from the shoulder AND  the sleeve cap.  Allow for seam allowance........

The sides will need to come in from under the arm down to the hem.  I would also be taking in from the underarm down the arm to the end of the sleeve because it will probably be too wide.  That may mean UNPICKING the ribbing at the end of the sleeve, taking it in, then reattaching.  Or to short cut it just sew straight through (something  would not do).

Before you shorten the length from the bottom which would include taking the band off, cutting the excess off and replacing the band, you should fold the sleeve up on the shoulder to see if it needs to be raised.  Usually a sweat shirt will have a dropped shoulder, but it might be too low for a medium or small.  If you are going to take the sleeve out and raise it do this BEFORE you shorten the length.  In fact if the sleeve is too long, you may be able to just recut the sleeve head and re attach without having to undo the bottom of the band.

If the sweat shirt is too long, you may have to shorten the length.  It's always good to have the body in the sweat shirt and pin to the persons body, rather than guessing, although a sweat shirt is not a fitting garment, so you can get away with altering down a few sizes by just taking in as discussed above.

HINT - If you do opt for raising at the sleeve cap, don't take the side of the sleeve in until you have re pinned the cut sleeve head onto the garment.  You should take in the side seam from the underarm to the hem BEFORE you pin the sleeve back on.  the reason for this is that the sleeve gets narrower the closer it gets to the end of the sleeve, so it will automatically become narrower.

Happy altering
Judith Turner