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How to Make Your Shirt Fit Without Shrinking It

If you want to make your shirt smaller to get a better fit, avoid using the dryer to shrink it. This method is unreliable because there is no way to control how much shrinking will occur. In addition, some fabrics will sustain significant damage in the dryer shrinking process. Fortunately there is another option available that will not damage your shirt. If you have basic sewing skills you can make some simple alterations to make your shirt fit properly.

Things You'll Need

Pushpins
Scissors
Seam ripper
Tape measure
Iron
Sewing machine

Instructions

- 1
  Turn the shirt inside out and try it on. Pin along side seams where you want the side seam lines to be so the shirt fits more tightly.
- 2
  Cut a slit down the top of the sleeve under the shoulder seam. Pin the shoulder seams up to tighten the sleeves.
- 3
  Open the shoulder seams with the seam ripper and take in the fabric as desired; pin it in place.
- 4
  Measure how far you want to take up the hemline around the bottom of the shirt.
- 5
  Divide the length measurement in half and fold the fabric over according to the quotient. Fold the fabric over the same length again and iron the fold line. Sew the hemline in place.
- 6
  Sew the new side seams and shoulder seams. Stitch down the sleeves where you have placed pins and trim off any excess fabric.

Sewing