How to Shorten Straps on a Dress or Top.

by Margaret Powell

1 Material

$00

30 Minutes

Easy

i often have customers bring in a dress or top which has the need of shortening the straps.

This may help some of you that would like to learn how to do this alteration.

First you will need to pin the strap as snug as you want it while it is on. If you are needing it done for yourself and find it to difficult to pin it you can have someone help with this step. The picture shows a strap that needed about two inch taken up, therefore the pin is located at one inch from the seam.

Next you will need to dismember the two parts at the seam and also open up a couple inches of the strap on the back portion It is not necessary to open the front side seams. You need to be able to lay the lining of the back section of the strap out of the way, so the new seam can be easily sewn.

Next you will pin the two sides together while laying the lining ( back only) out of the way. I do not lay both sides of the lining back. I only lay the back of the strap lining out of the way. The front of the strap lining is going to be sewn at the same time as the other two parts of the strap. There is three layers of fabric you will be sewing.

You can see my marks where I am ready to sew. You can also see how the back lining is laid out of the stitching area.

How it looks after stitching the seam.

Next sew along the marked area.

trim excess fabric to allow 1/2 to 5/8 allowance.

The next step is to fold the remaining (back) lining under to line up with the seam. Pin and hand stitch. I prefer to use a pin prick stitch to limit how many of the stitches show.