• About Sewing Report
    • Editorials
    • Equipment List
  • Etsy Shop
  • Resources
    • Blogs
    • Events
    • Fabric Manufacturers
    • Free Tutorials
    • Online Shopping
    • Organizations
    • Patterns
    • Services
    • Sewing Machines
    • Sewlebrity List
    • Supplies
  • Work With Me

Sewing Report

Discover Your Love of Sewing, Crafts, DIY Projects

  • YouTube Videos
  • LIVE SHOWS
  • Blog
    • Original Reporting
    • VLOGS
    • Reviews
    • Haul Videos
    • Editorials
    • Quilting
    • Quiltonomics
    • QuiltCon
    • How To
    • Sewing
    • Sew Ya Know
    • Best of YouTube
    • Business
  • Etsy Shop
  • Resources
    • Blogs
    • Events
    • Fabric Manufacturers
    • Free Tutorials
    • Online Shopping
    • Organizations
    • Patterns
    • Services
    • Sewing Machines
    • Sewlebrity List
    • Supplies
  • About Sewing Report
You are here: Home / How To / How to Shorten Shoulder Straps on Dresses + Tops

How to Shorten Shoulder Straps on Dresses + Tops

March 5, 2019 by Jennifer Moore Leave a Comment

Have a dress or top with shoulder straps that are too long? The other night, I was getting out a dress to wear to an event and realized it had that issue, so I figured out how to alter the garment to fit me better.

SUBSCRIBE TO SEWING REPORT ON YOUTUBE TO GET THE LATEST VIDEOS + LIVE STREAMS! https://goo.gl/WxA2s4

It was a fairly simple fix and took about an hour from start to finish.

SUPPLIES:
Sewing machine – Janome 7700
Seam ripper
https://amzn.to/2Un4DFd
Pins (I like silk pins)
https://amzn.to/2SGvhHC
Small fabric scissors (Gingher)
https://amzn.to/2SJCVks
Panasonic Cordless 360 Freestyle Iron
https://amzn.to/2SKyN3R
Seam roll is helpful
https://amzn.to/2SK4iLs
Embroidery needles for hand sewing
https://amzn.to/2EPwuZt
Coordinating thread (should match your garment to blend in)

Here’s how I altered my shoulder strap, which had a facing:

1) Using a seam ripper, open up both sides of the shoulder seam – 6-8 inches

2) Turn the shoulder portion of the garment inside out, revealing the stitching and seam allowance (SA)

3) The seam allowance will likely be pressed open, press it closed and pin to keep fabric in place – there should be two sections – one for the exterior fabric, and another for the lining / facing.

4) Sew a new line of stitching the desired amount of length you want to reduce – don’t forget that the new seam allowance will equal half that (ie: 1/2 inch SA = 1 inch total reduction in shoulder length).

5) Cut off old SA stitching line, press new SA open gently with iron over seam roll if you have one

6) Turn shoulder right side out again and tuck raw edges in, then hand sew using a ladder / invisible stitch

WESTCHASE CHARITABLE FOUNDATION

Join in on Instagram with #sewingreportsquad! #sewcheap to share your best deals and budget tips! Be sure to tag me @sewingreport

WHAT I DO WHEN I’M NOT SEWING… JEN TALKS FOREVER CHANNEL
https://goo.gl/EkWQP2

BLUPRINT SUBSCRIPTION IS HERE: (formerly Craftsy Unlimited)
http://shrsl.com/perf
($14.99/month-to-month or $120/year annual plan)

CREATIVEBUG – 7 DAY FREE TRIAL
https://goo.gl/gNgL8q

*****

FABRIC WHOLESALE DIRECT REFERRAL CODE: https://goo.gl/PdcuNr

* SEWING & QUILTING PRODUCTS: https://kit.co/sewingreport

MY SEWING MACHINES:

EverSewn – Sparrow 25 -197 Stitch Computerized Sewing Machine
http://amzn.to/2gh8iDh

*****

Eversewn 6-pc Accessory Quilting Foot Kit Low Shank
http://amzn.to/2npBQ3n

Thank you to EverSewn for providing Sewing Report the Sparrow 25 used in our videos!

Janome CoverPro 1000CPX coverstitch machine
https://goo.gl/5xzmT6

Brother 1034D Serger – http://amzn.to/1FNpsxo

Janome MemoryCraft 7700 Sewing Machine – http://amzn.to/2uWS33L

NEED CUSTOM BUSINESS CARDS, STICKERS, PAPER PRODUCTS?
https://refer.moo.com/s/sewingreport
You’ll love MOO! They’ve got awesome print products and cool design finishes. Get 25% off your first order!

Join in on Instagram with #sewingreportsquad!

Talk to me: @sewingreport
Snapchat: sewingreport
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sewingreport
Instagram: http://instagram.com/sewingreport
Twitter: https://twitter.com/sewingreport
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/SewingReport/

ABOUT SEWING REPORT:
Helping you discover your love of sewing at sewingreport.com through videos, articles, and tutorials. I’m Jennifer Moore – obsessed with sewing, and want you to be if you’re not already. Come on in!

DISCLAIMER: This video and description contains affiliate links for several different programs. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)

Filed Under: How To, Sew With Me, Sewing Tagged With: alter clothing, alter straps, alter straps on dress, clothing alterations, dress straps too long, dressmaker, garment alteration, handmade style, how to shorten shoulder straps, jennifer moore, learn to alter clothes, learn to alter your own clothes, seamstress, sewing, sewing report, sewing vlogger, shorten shoulder seam, shorten shoulder straps on dress, shorten straps, shorten straps on dress, slow fashion, straps too long, straps too long on dress, tailor

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Editor-in-Chief

Helping you discover your love of sewing through videos, articles, and tutorials Read More…

Search Sewing Report

Sewing Report on YouTube

Navigate

Sewing Gear

Copyright © 2023 · News Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in