How To Slim Your Shirts With (Simple) Darts | DIY Tailor Series

I asked Louis to come show me a few different DIY fixes for clothing. This one we do a simple straight stitch by hand to repair a small tear in jeans, pants, or a shirt.
We will also be showing how to :
Repair a seam rip

Links to those videos will be added once published.

The Buttoned Up Podcast - Modest Man x The Kavalier

For reference, I am 6’4 usually 170lb. Typical sizes of clothing:
T-shirts: S
Long sleeve shirts/button downs: M
Dress Shirts: 15.5 x 35
Pants: 30 x 34
Dress Shoes: 12

[Mas_Tun]

A couple of extra tips:
Old bars of soap work well as chalk, so you can use that if you can't find any chalk locally nor want to wait for some to arrive in the mail (I just use the white, unscented ones).
Darts are the perfect opportunity to practice your hand stitching, so try it out if you don't have a machine. Just make sure you follow your markings, and that your stitches are short and even.

[davidalantroyer]

Guys, this video totally changed my wardrobe. I wear size small shirts, and my chest measurement is eleven inches greater than my waist, so that’s a pretty large chest to waist ration. Obviously virtually no shirt has ever fit me in a tailored way, until tonight. I showed my wife this video, and she did 3 of my “go to” flannels. WOW is all I can say. To have a shirt on that fits the shape of your body is game changing. Every single button up or button down shirt I own will have to have this treatment now. Thank you again for making this so simple for us.

[yolandadavila]

Thanks my grandson dresses formally for work and I’ve been thinking over how I can do it. Now you have given me the idea. Looks very neat. Thank again.

[dsbmac]

I tried this. IMO this alteration goes too high up the back. It alters the fit across the chest/shoulders which isn't usually where the excess fit is. I would only come up to around the bottom of the armhole. This takes the slop from the sides but leaves the shoulder fit as is.

[Blafard]

There is absolutely no chance I try do this myself but that was very instructive ...

[sheikhselim]

I had a hard time grasping the math of the tailoring the first time around watching the video. But the second time made more sense. This is an inspirational video for young men like me with a strict budget to learn how to dress sharp. Thank you for sharing this information.

[toddalbert]

Timely and perfectly the instructive/visual guidance I needed to dart up several summer shirts!! The Kavalier is a mind reader! Just finished cuff hemming 23 pars of trouser legs. It was a grand adventure. I would like to DIY jacket sleeves next.

[ampecsu]

0:35 ....he did not like you saying THAT LOL

[zaniac]

Thanks for the helpful video. At 50 I thought of altering my own clothes watched a few instruction videos like this one, then decided to buy a sewing machine. (I actually bought the same machine seen in this video - something I only realised after I bought it. It was on sale at half price.) Anyway for my first alterations on an actual item of clothing I followed these instructions and tapered an old business shirt that I never wear, then did business shirt that is relegated to weekend wear only now. I made a mistake on the first one but the second went fine. Thanks for good clear instructions.

[Peter]

I've been doing this to my dress/ work shirts for years. At first I always did the side seam like you showed at first. I tried darts but they were a little harder. This is a great tutorial. I'll try that from now on.

[mmarszalek]

This is what I was looking some time ago and I couldn't find anything useful. Great idea for a new series. Can't wait for further videos!

[kfok]

What about the arm area if it’s too big as well?

[auntigingy]

Would be helpful if you told us how and why the 3.5 inches is different for other people and how you determine the measurement differences and why!

[lchpmn]

Thank you, thank you! I need to take in XL work shirts for my SIL who is really tall, but thin as can be. The XL gives him the length he needs, but the XL is way too much material around. I followed these instructions once before and it worked perfectly. I have another batch of 5 shirts to take in for him and just went looking for your video again!!

[shanejones]

This literally made me want to get up and try this. Great video guys

[DB-ckbj]

I've not seen this explained in such an easy-to-understand manner before. Thanks!

[stuartwakefield]

I just took in a shirt using this method, although I didn't star the dart until it was five inches from the yoke, and it worked perfectly. Thank you for sharing this knowledge!

[savvylifestrategies]

Excellent "how to, " Jon. I like this new series.

[darrencruse]

Just watched your video then marked out my shirt got the mrs to sew it up fits like a glove. Thanks so much

[tracycollins]

Thank you so much for the helpful tutorial!! Easy to follow - Took me less than 30 minutes!