Tall Mens Fashion Advice

Can you Tailor a T-Shirt? Yes, Here’s Why

Are you wondering if you can tailor your t-shirt?

Can You Tailor a T-Shirt?

T-Shirt Alterations

Yes, you can tailor a t-shirt. You can either take it to a tailor or stay home and tailor it yourself. Going to a tailor will cost you 15-25$ USD. If you decide to do it yourself, it may cost you the entire shirt if you mess up. You will need a sewing machine, sewing tape, pins, and a flat table to tailor it yourself.

This is Can You Tailor a T-Shirt? Yes, Here’s Why.

Yes, you can tailor a t-shirt!

Getting your t-shirt tailored to fit your body better is one of the best ways you can spend a minimal amount of money to step up your clothing game. 

A big mistake you can make in putting together an outfit is to have a baggy t-shirt or a tee that sits too high on your waist. A simple way to never let this happen is to buy t-shirts that are a few sizes too big in length and width wise, then take them in accordingly

This guide for Tall Tee’s below will set you up for success, and it doesn’t matter if you consider yourself tall or not. 

Is it Worth it to Tailor a T-Shirt?

It is worth it to tailor your shirt. Actually, it is 100% worth it to tailor that one t-shirt or all the shirts you own. The small amount of money it costs, compared to the physical change it will make when wearing your shirt, it’s a no-brainer.

Keep in mind you will not be able to make a shirt bigger at the tailors, for that you will need to learn how to stretch a t-shirt.

Can You Tailor a T-Shirt?

If you bought a t-shirt that is a few sizes too big or have looked through your closet and realized none of your t’s fit exactly how you want, then tailoring your t-shirt is the right call.

There are two ways to tailor your t-shirt. 

The first is to take your shirt to your local tailor. By getting a professional tailor to address your sizing issues, your shirt will look like it was bought off the rack 99% of the time. Be sure to put on the shirt you want to be taken in, so the tailor can see how it fits and make accurate marks with their chalk and pins to get the perfect look.

You may find your dry cleaner has tailoring/altering options as well.

The second way to tailor your shirt is to do it yourself. If you have never used a sewing machine or altered any of your clothing, I suggest you practice on a shirt (or many) that you don’t mind using as grease rags in the near future.

To tailor your t-shirt at home you will need:

  • Sewing machine
  • Sewing tape
  • Pins
  • Sewing needle
  • Scissors
  • Chalk

Since you have all the instruments needed to alter your t-shirt out, learn from our other guides if you can tailor your other clothes properly.

How to Make a T-Shirt Smaller

You can also make a t-shirt smaller by shrinking it. Shrinking your t-shirt is a viable option if you do not have a tailor in town and don’t trust your skills with a sewing needle. 

There are multiple ways to shrink a t-shirt, but you must know that you have very little say in what areas and how much gets shrunk when you start shrinking. So shrink with caution.

Get right to facts and learn how to shrink a t-shirt in the wash.

Can a Tailor Make a Shirt Smaller?

Tailoring your shirt to make it smaller / tighter / a closer fit are the only reasons you should be looking to go to a tailor or do it yourself. 

The rule of thumb with altering any piece of clothing is that you can always take away, but you can rarely add. If you were to add length or size to a t-shirt, you would create extra seams and noticeable lines where the new pieces were put.

When altering your shirts weight will change, also it may change the feel of your shirt.

How Much does it Cost to Tailor a T-Shirt?

The cost of tailoring a t-shirt should cost you between $15-$25 USD.

Like anything else, costs vary depending on where you live and the quality of establishment you choose. With tailoring a t-shirt, there is not a lot of complexity, so I would suggest going lower-priced option if you have to choose.

You can also get your shirt tailored at your local dry cleaners. Dry cleaners often offer simple alterations like this, learn more with how much does dry cleaning cost.

Can you Tailor a T-Shirt FAQ

Yes you can shorten t-shirts. Any alteration to take away fabric is possible on a t-shirt, however if you want to lengthen a t-shirt this is not possible.

If your t-shirt is too long then you want to head to your tailor to get them to shorten it. This is a simple process for them and should only cost you between $15-$30 USD. You can also tighten your t-shirt at home.

Written and reviewed by
Tall Paul
Tall Paul
Paul Marlow, standing at an impressive 6'7 (201cm) and weighing 225lb (102kg), is a mental health speaker, fashion expert, and ex-athlete who excels at helping tall men find well-fitting clothing and teaching them how to style it effectively. As a model in the fashion and film industries, Paul shares his expertise in tall men's fashion, offering valuable advice on measurements, tailoring, and alterations. In addition, he founded Never Alone, an organization that provides mental health and therapy inspiration, and started the Mental Growth Newsletter to support those facing mental health challenges, drawing from his own experiences.

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