Quick alterations to extend the life of your child’s clothing

If the clothing you bought for your child this past winter still fits, but it’s getting too hot to wear them, try your hand at these simple alterations. Not only will the clothing last longer, but you’ll save some money along the way. You can also try this out with season clearance items that are just too good to pass up and clothing that still fits your child’s waist, but is too short in the arms or legs.

Turn long-sleeved shirts into short-sleeved shirts

Before tossing winter shirts into the donation pile, have your child try them on. If they still fit, but the sleeves are short, just mark the sleeve line where you want it and cut or use the following instructions to get a more finished look. If this is too much, just chop the sleeve off altogether and let your child go sleeveless.

1. Turn the long sleeved shirt inside out and lay it flat on a table so that it is smooth along the seams.
2. Lay an existing short sleeved shirt (that currently fits your child) on top of it, matching the shirts along the shoulder seam. Using the t-shirt as a guide for sleeve length, mark the long sleeve where the short sleeve ends. Cut the long sleeve ¾” inch below that mark.
3. Fold cut end up ¼” towards the wrong side of the shirt, and then fold again along the sleeve mark so that there is a 1/2″ hem.
4. Pin and sew around the sleeve with a straight stitch. Press if needed. Repeat for other sleeve.

Tip: If you don’t like hemming, you can also cover raw edges or uneven stitches with a piece of lace, ribbon, or trim. Just stitch it about a 1/4″ from the edge of the sleeve.

Make cut-offs from your child’s pants

Cut offs – in either short or capri length – are a great way to make long pants last throughout the summer heat. This works best with cotton play and school pants. Dress pants are often made from fabrics that unravel more easily and are not suited to play time; these are best kept as hand-me-downs or given as donations.

1. Have your child try the pants on inside out. Ask them to stand up while you mark the desired length with a pencil, pen, or chalk.
2. Remove pants and use a ruler to mark an even cut-line. NOTE: if you plan to hem the cut-offs, mark line one inch below the desired finished length.
3. Cut legs off.
4. Finish raw edges in one of the following ways.

• Hem – Fold edges under twice ending at desired length, pin in place, and sew with a straight stitch around each leg.
• Trim – Sew a piece of ribbon, lace, or trim near the raw edge. You do not need to fold the raw edge under, unless you want to, as the stitch that holds the trim in place will prevent the edge from fraying beyond that point.
• Leave raw – Denim pants are fine with raw edges. They will fray in the wash, but not unravel. If you are concerned they will fray too much, simply sew a line around the leg about ¼” to ½” from the frayed edge to lock the threads in place at that point.

I’d be interested in knowing if you’ve found other ways to modify clothing as the seasons change?