I would like to welcome to Do It Yourself Alterations, Quick & Easy at Home.

I have been a costume designer for over 25 years. Growing up I took all kinds of sewing classes in school and college, and before that my mom and grandmother taught me to sew. I grew up with 7 brothers and sisters and I got nominated to sew buttons on when they fell off. After that, I started making doll clothes, then moved on to clothes for myself and friends. I went to college in Boston for fashion design and construction. I know that some of my sewing teachers roll in their graves with some of the things I do, but the important part is that in the end you get the same result with a lot less work.

When I moved to LA my first job was making clothes for the singer Peggy Lee, what an adventure…

I then got a job at ABC studios in Hollywood sewing in the workroom, learning a lot, especially how to keep working 80 –100 hour weeks, the show must go on and they usually prefer it with the cast in clothes! Soon after that, I started working on stage as a set costumer – someone who makes sure the actors clothes are pressed and in their rooms at the right time and making sure they look good on camera. I did many live shows, including award shows and holiday specials, and when something breaks, mostly zippers or hooks coming off, you better be able to think and repair fast. I now work on shows that are mostly on location, no seamstress shop to turn to, and some of the actors show up only an hour or two before they are on camera. So I fit them before they go to makeup or rehearsals and I do some really quick altering, the producers and crew do not like to be kept waiting, as the cost per minute can be staggering. I eventually started designing shows and still do, I usually work on comedies and films. Through all this I have learned lots of tricks and short cuts working with clothes. Some people like to make a big deal out of altering or hemming clothes, but because I know how to do it, I think it easy – just some projects take longer than others. Some of my friends are amazed at how quickly I do alterations for them. So I thought other people would like to learn some of my sewing techniques and start to do their own alterations. I asked one of my friends to be a guinea pig and test a few of the lessons. I was thrilled when she was able to understand everything and now she comes over to borrow my sewing machine and now does her own altering instead of having me do it.

In this series of video lessons I will show how to do alterations simply and easily. Don’t let a sewing machine intimidate you, they are not that hard to use after you have practiced a bit. You may want to practice with a few garments bought cheap from a thrift store, or on a piece of scrap fabric. When you read through the list of basic supplies remember that they are not necessities just handy to have if you are going to a lot of alterations.

When I travel for work I do not always have all my tools with me, so I make do with what is available, nail clippers for scissors to cut thread, file folder for straight edge, lip pencil to mark alteration, I do not recommend any of these but I think you get message. Also unless you are going to be doing alterations every day for the next 20 years, buying the top of line is not necessary, just follow what it says in supply list and keep your equipment in good working shape. And don’t be afraid of a sewing machine, it won’t bite you but it will sew thru your finger, and believe me that hurts!!!!!!!!!!!!, so keep your fingers away from the needle when your foot is on the peddle. If you are insecure about using a machine, set it up, fold a paper towel in half and just practice sewing some straight lines. Start slowly and have fun, be sure you are threading properly and know how to adjust your tension, your manual comes in real handy for that.

Last, be patient and remember that practice makes perfect and in no time at all you will think of alterations as easy too!