Learn how to shorten a t-shirt without removing the factory hem so your shirt keeps its stretch, looks clean, and doesn’t end up looking obviously altered.

In this beginner-friendly DIY tailoring tutorial, I’m showing you how to take length off a long t-shirt while keeping the original hem intact. This is perfect if your shirt fits decent through the body but hangs too long and throws off the whole outfit.

Instead of cutting the hem off and trying to recreate it from scratch, we’re folding the shirt up, sewing right along the top edge of the factory hem, and using a narrow zigzag stitch so the bottom of the shirt still stretches like it’s supposed to.

For this shirt, I removed 3 inches, or 7.62 cm, from the total length. Since the shirt gets folded up before sewing, I measured 1 1/2 inches, or 3.8 cm, from the top of the factory hem all the way around the shirt.

👊 Sewing machine settings used:

Stitch: Narrow zigzag stitch
Stitch width: 2–3
Stitch length: 2.5
Tension: 3-4

You don’t need an expensive sewing machine for this. A basic beginner sewing machine, even a used one, can handle simple t-shirt alterations like this as long as it can sew a zigzag stitch.

This is a great beginner sewing project if you’re trying to make your clothes fit better without fully learning how to make clothes from scratch. You’re not building a shirt. You’re just fixing the part that makes it look too long, sloppy, or oversized.

After shortening the shirt, the outside still looks clean because the original hem stays in place. Good tailoring should look quiet. The goal is for people to notice the shirt fits better, not immediately notice that you altered it.

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⚠️Sewing machines seem intimidating I know but I can’t stress this enough. YOU CAN LEARN HOW TO DO THIS IN A WEEKEND. I’m not kidding. And it will completely change your life and how you feel about yourself just like it has for me. Here's some playlists to get you started.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLlIieQ1fBIprWmXpXVEpxKK2Yvl_-3Ay3
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLlIieQ1fBIpo802wHe6sDFB6N7aSz1J5G
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLlIieQ1fBIpqZxCm5J5dZAjB78PSNb7yx
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLlIieQ1fBIpqbRxvOdhBulUxld2BKd8P2
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLlIieQ1fBIpqEwjnby1kQOpBOrVaNjRhQ

If you need a recommendation on a solid sewing machine I have some picks below for new ones, but I suggest buying *USED* for like $60. Facebook Marketplace is a goldmine!

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🤨Questions? Message me on IG🤨

🔘Instagram: @stylishdtailors
🔘TikTok: @stylishdtailors
🔘Twitter/X: @stylishdtailors

🔘Business inquires ONLY: [email protected]
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❇️ Brother XM2701 Sewing Machine -
https://amzn.to/4dQcIfR

❇️ Singer M3300 Sewing Machine -
https://amzn.to/4nVJ3X6

❇️ Solid Pair of Scissors -
https://amzn.to/4wTbk4v

❇️ Pins For Clothes -
https://amzn.to/4dCngjS

❇️ Fabric Measuring Tape -
https://amzn.to/3Q8yN18

That’s… literally all you need…👊

DISCLAIMER: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
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