Shortening a Tee Shirt - Sew News Magazine

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Sewing Q&A
Marla Stefanelli
September 2003 Sewing Q&A Index
From Our September 2003 Issue

Could you please give me instructions on how to shorten a T-shirt?
Bobbie G.,
e-mail

Try on the T-shirt and pin-mark the desired new hem length.

Cut off the excess fabric 1" below the new hemline.

Zigzag or serge the cut edge without stretching it.

Press up the hem 1" and topstitch in place. Instead of a straight stitch, you can use a narrow zigzag stitch to topstitch. This has a little more elasticity and the threads won't break as easily when stretched.

Another option is to topstitch the hem with a twin needle. The zigzag underneath has some stretch and the hem will resemble those found on ready-to-wear T-shirts.

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