Tightening shirt sleeves and tapering the waist are common tailoring adjustments you can do yourself with some basic sewing skills to make your frame stand out more and give you more of a body halo in clothes.
Materials You’ll Need
How to Tighten Shirt Sleeves
Option 1: Taking in the Underarm Seam (Easiest Method)
- Turn the shirt inside out and put it on (or have someone pin it while you’re wearing it).
- Pinch excess fabric along the underarm seam and pin vertically from armpit to cuff to create a tapered fit.
- Mark the new seam with chalk, ensuring both sleeves are symmetrical.
- Sew along the chalk line, tapering gradually to avoid a tight cuff.
- Trim excess fabric and finish the raw edge with a zigzag stitch or serger.
- Press the seam flat with an iron.
Option 2: Adjusting the Sleeve Cap (Advanced)
How to Taper the Waist
- Turn the shirt inside out and put it on (or pin while worn).
- Pinch excess fabric at the side seams, tapering from the armpit to the hem.
- Mark the new seam with chalk, keeping the curve natural.
- Sew along the chalk line, backstitching at the start and end.
- Trim excess fabric and finish the edges.
- Press the seams open or to the back.