Actually Upsizing a Vintage Blouse - Thrifty Sewing Hack (CC) 

Share your sewing hacks for making clothes fit in the comments!

I love things like this which show how we can keep clothes going instead of throwing them away. Thank you!

I added a gusset in the side of a blouse once. The blouse had a cat design and the gusset fabric was fish bones. I did appreciate your great ideas!

I've only ever upsized one shirt - it was a button up that did button, but was tight and couldn't wrap my arms around myself, for example, because arm movement was limited. I added a diamond shaped gusset to the armpit, and it totally fixed the problem. And because it was just in the armpit, it was ok that it didn't really match - it was just "close enough."

Stealing the button placket is a stroke of genius. I've only upsized a couple of graphic t-shirts, but my favourite method is to piece together side panels from the sleeves (or hem) and make new sleeves from a fabric that matches a colour from the print. I also cut the neckline and bind it with the same fabric as the sleeves to make sure everything looks deliberate.

Your wonderful sewing machine has its own sound, like an ancient trolley bus. It’s a delightfully familiar part of your RU-vid offerings. You combine sewing excellence with humour and all the usual visual loveliness of your home. A treat as always. Thank you Juul. 😘

I found you thanks to someone’s secret Santa playlist, and I love the calm you create by just working on your task or project without talking. I even set my knitting down so I could pay you proper attention. Thank you x

I love when people change the clothes to fit them, not try to change their body to fit the clothes :)

I had a blouse that was too tight at the chest - upper arms, but otherwise it was perfect.. So after coincidentally binging a bunch of historic shift making tutorials I tried adding in a square gusset at the armpit of 10x10 cm. AND IT WORKED!!

Size shift is real. This was great! I'll have to go back to the "love it, but doesn't fit any more" section of the closet with new eyes!

Oh hurrah! :-) I am really, really looking forward to this. I have envied the people who find an XL cashmere sweater and "upcycle" it __down__ to something for a petite or extra small frame. I feel "good for them!" but, also, "it doesn't work that way for so many of us." I bet some wonderful hints will come from you and from your community.

My eldest, also of the ample endowment set, had a favorite silk blouse that was struggling. It had several pin tucks across the chest and some very loooong ties. ALL the pin tucks came out, and the ties donated material for the side seams. I have also found that the inside of button plackets can be replaced with other fabric, should larger donations be required.

The whole reason I started sewing was the thought that, someday, I too would be able to wear a button-up shirt - without gaping. Beautiful job on the shirt. - Cathy (&, accidently, Steve), Ottawa/Bytown

Also a Busty person with this exact problem so I’m anticipating with pleasure. 🥰🥰

This is such a useful video! Thank you. That snap hack is perfect for replacing difficult safety pins. When you had the shirt in pieces, I thought that might be a great opportunity to make pattern pieces in case you wanted to replicate the shirt.

if the original maker didn't cut them off, you could also loosen up those darts, or at least lower the tops of them, which would give you a little more room in the bust. looks pretty good though, for where the shirt started! :D

Thank you so much for this Juul, as I love your videos. I too am blest with ample bosom and I have had to do this a number of times, but you make it look so easy. I think the last one I did took me over 4 days, as I got so cross with it I had to put it away for a few hours. lol. Thank you for taking the snobbish out of sewing, (which a number of RU-vid people seem to have) You are such a blessing to so many people, especially at this time. Stay safe. x

Огромное удовольствие от просмотра вашего видео!!! Вы не только отличная портниха но и талантливый режисер!!!👍❤ from Russia

Clever idea to add snaps to prevent gaps, I have always used safety pins but I think the idea of snaps is better ((sigh) all my shirts gap at the bust). Thanks for sharing !

THANK YOU! You may have just helped me save a favorite dress! It's really hard to buy ready to wear clothing that fits so I usually start larger and take in where needed. I have finally decided to just make my own clothing from the start and cut out the extra work.

You did a splendid job. Almost invisible👍🏻😍 I have done a few of those, being a busty lady myself. I enjoy refitting vintage clothing. It is very satisfying and educational. For white blouses I sometimes use insertion-lace. Making a long sleeve shorter is also a way to harvest material to insert. To tackle the “gaping” issue, I have been known to ad an extra button. iEnjoy wearing your “new” blouse 😁🙋🏻‍♀️😘

That was really interesting. I have enlarged a couple of blouses and found that taking out back darts also helps and lowering the front ones. Good job, well done.

I'm gonna admit, my main hack has been to not wear button-ups...

No long nonsensical intro, no music, no talking, no commercials. Thank you so much for 13 mins of silence. You have no idea how much I enjoyed watching this video tutorial. The blouse looks amazing in the end and you look very beautiful with your milkmaid plaid hair.

I'm looking forward to this too. Favorite short & wide person hack: Cut off excess hem Separate front & back Cut each ☝️into almost triangles, lengthwise Cut so the pairs of triangles will match one from front, one from back, along outer edges. (Top toward bottom on one, bottom toward top on the other) Sew straight edges of triangles together to make two new triangles out of the 4 right angle triangles. Sew into side seams of garment to widen hips & flare hem.

Goodness gracious this is EXACTLY what I need !!!

Какое терпение надо иметь, молодец, браво 👏👏👏

I have a dress that was too small in the torso (both waist and bust), but it had a matching belt, so I used that for inserts in the side seams and for the sleeves. The belt is still usable, just a bit shorter. I was going to take some fabric from the pleated skirt, but the direction of the stripes made it more suitable to take from the belt. I have also uppsized a dress I got from a friend when she grew out of it, but it was also too small for me. I made it into a sleevless dress so I could have fabric for underarm gussets to make it fit over the bust and an extra gore in the back of the dress for my hips. Lastly I adjusted my grandmothers grandmothers skirt. I couln't bare to cut in it because of it's age, but clothes are made to be worn and it was just a tiny, tiny bit too small (I fit in my grandmothers mothers underdress, though). So I lengthened the waistband with a kind of matching stash fabric (a couple of centimeters) and regathered the gathers in the back to fit the new length. And oh, I did that with another thrifted skirt also, but then I dared snip a bit of fabric from the gathers to lengthen the waistband. And I have a dress that was too long in the torso for me, but too narrow, so I took some fabric from the waistline and put it back in the side seams instead. (When I started to write this I thought I had only done one thing, but then I started to remember all the other things.)

Fun video! Thank you! If the yoke has two layers, one could be removed and gussets put under the arm in a "V" shape to make the bust area larger. You are very creative!

I was very pleased to know that this is not just my problem. Suddenly my clothes are too small and I have to make these adjustments frequently. Thank you for sharing how you do it, knowing that it is also how I do it most of the time. I loved this channel. Hugs from a fan from Brazil 😊

С каким стилем и вкусом сделано видео. Умница!

I took sleeves off a jacket that was too restrictive in the shoulders and created a vest, definitely more hacking than sewing. I havent done anything much more ambitious.

Most of the folks of eclectic apparel wearing pastimes are not their pre-panini size. This will definitely help us out and lift up a mood. No one likes having to part with something they love and altering it to be useful and love their wearer back again is always useful knowledge to share. Thank you for this!

“#combatthegap “ I love it!!! I have the same issue. Buying jackets, coats and blazers was such a disappointing experience that I started sewing and now I’m taking Tayloring classes. I love it. No more gaps!!!

Thank you so much for showing a way to upsize clothing. It's fine to cut things down, but upsizing is something very necessary at times. I would like to see more ways to harvest fabric and recycle 'too tight' into comfortable. Thank you again!

Миленько получилось, но очень затратно по времени. На спинку и на каждую полочку по длине дать ажурную готовою ленту.пару минут и готово.

I love long skirts that swoosh, but it's only once in a blue moon I find a skirt that is actually long enough since I've longer than average legs. So the trick I've used on a couple of skirts now is to add a decorative piece (lace/pretty fabric/etc.) to the hem of the skirt to make it long enough while giving it a bit of extra prettyness. It's simple but effective :D.

Dear Juul, One of the other subscribers wanted help understanding my hack, so I made my first video. I'm very pleased with myself. Thank you for the inspiration and space in which to communicate with others, and hopefully help them. 😊

Handy hint for you Julie. When running the seam ripper along a seam, turn it over so that the little red ball is underneath. Then there is no chance of it catching the garment and ripping in the wrong place.

I love this stuff, I’ve been altering clothes forever to make them fit. It’s amazing how necessity can make you use what you were born with to actually think with instead of wasting it doing something stupid because you’re bored. What a concept, yes?

Just love the blouse, wow, you did a great job. Keep these hacks coming, they are so good to watch and later try out

My stomach/top of hips are often not vintage top friendly. For blouses that don't need tucking I create side splits by opening side seams- if slit goes too far above my waist band I just wear a matching/complimentary camisole.

Wow. I learned something today. Good job. Never thought of adding snaps, which is genius. Also liked you resetting the sleeves in order to get a bit more size out of them by changing the actual "puff" of the sleeves. Just so clever all around. Thank you.

Hi I found you recently as I'm learning more about garment sewing and vintage clothes. I have watched one of your other videos and noticed you have CI. I'm hearing impaired and my son is too. One of the things I liked was you did closed captions which is why a blessing for me. I realised now that you totally get it! Thank you as its a nightmare that not everyone uses cc. It's so hard if you can't see lips and no cc. Sam x

This was wonderful. Very informative. No crazy loud music, no endless gabbing and gabbing. Gets right to the point. And great tips.

That came out really well! The alterations blend in unnoticeably.

In addition to the very helpful information, I enjoyed your calm approach and your beautiful vintage surroundings. I was captivated by it all.

Ahhh finally a “size up” video!! Loved the “shoulder Shrug” at the end of the video!!! 😂😂

Don’t you just love when you can find the end of the surge and just pull it out!?!?!? Oh my goodness, your vintage sewing machine!!!!! This was delightful!!!

I legit carry a small container of safety pins with me everywhere to help combat the gaping problem, but then I also never think of adding snaps, least of all when I actually have time to do so. Must remember that!

I have a huge bag of clothes which I label as KIV for alterations It's such a feeling of joy and ultimate satisfaction when a garment had been successfully altered to fit perfect...😊 Thanks for sharing this video..💝💐

We are very similarly shaped and making a blouse fit is truly a feat. If I take anything away from this, it's likely the considered spacing of snaps. I'm trying to get my small, sloped shoulders, small neck line, proportionately small waist (larger size but not compared to the even larger breasts, hips, bum and belly) all to fit into a blouse without that tightness in the breast area and sleeves without bagging elsewhere. Likely to re watch this. I appreciate the calmness, creativity, and representation of a curvy person with fine bone structure. We are a normal shape, but with fast fashion, carelessly manufactured clothing, it's rare to see adjustment for people who are half larger and half smaller like this. Thank you! You do suit blouses. I'm interested in trying again with fitting thanks to you. I was searching for how to take a jean jacket 2 sizes too large in, because of the same situation of proportions not being recognized.

For a simple Alpine or straight skirt. Knit, top to bottom, two rectangles of matching or slightly darker yarn and insert in the the two side seams. Extend the waist band. Virginia

Big boobs on a petite frame is so frustrating as a crafter. I am looking forward to this video! To be frank, all your videos have been ASMR bliss. Thank you for them!

I bought this rather long men’s shirt that had pin tucks running down the front for only $5. I used the hem to add panels into the sides, and I was able to undo the interfacing from the cuffs to narrow them a bit, and replaced it with my own interfacing (I’m not at all a fan of the super stiff cardboard-like interfacing used in men’s office shirts). I also took the top part of the collar off, so I now have a short standing collar, that I just pin together with a brooch. A little effort, sure. But far less than making my own pin tucked blouse, and given the low price, it was definitely worth the work. That being said, it is only a stop gap, as it is a polyester fabric, which I hate. So once I’ve made my own out of linen, I’ll be passing my thrifted and shifted shirt on.

I love your house, your sewing machine. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

Yesterday I made such a huge blunder on the dress I'm working on, that I found myself wishing you were my next door neighbor so I could run over and knock on your door and beg you for help.

That was so cool! I have a dress I bought that is small in the waist and I am determined to fix it! You gave me loads of ideas and hope! Thank you!

Complete unintentional ASMR, I was so relaxed watching this but also so happy to see how I could resize my tight across the bust dress! Thank you x

Loved this! I've added panels from original cabbage or excess length but never thought about the button plackets. Genius!

I feel so happy to know I am not the only one doing this. Saves me so much money and restore some quality garments. BTW, love your video and the clear instructions. Looking forward to more from you.

It’s a great pleasure to watch your work!

I got here reandomly by the search engine, and gods YOU SAVED ME FROM THE CAGE OF 10 YEARS LONG BOOB-STRUGGLE, THANK YOU 🖤🖤🖤 The best thing (beside adding pockets, or pockes slaches) addig a small, square gusset into the armpit of dresses/blouses/ or anything available - learnt from reenactment, and it's so much comfier and easy to move in - especially for boobage warriors like me, who is able to rip entire coats by lifting her arms 😂🤣

Yay! I am looking forward to this video! I enjoy all of your videos, thank you for sharing.

I liked your video. The way I solutioned this is by adding to the side panels, 4 inch ribbon fabric that matched one of the colors of the fabric. Now the blouse fits perfectly .

Nice alterations Juul! I would have serged that hemline again so you have no raw edges inside but that's just me. But hats of to you madame! You did a great job! 💗 Love this 💗

As a fellow busty girl, I thank you. I have several blouses that arent decent anymore, but with a few adjustments could be again :D I've never tried snaps before, I usually just cave and sew the whole thing shut. Buttons are just decoration, right?🤐

I love the quiet way of working. Very peaceful. Yo can even hear de sound of the scissor cutting the material.

I laughed at the commentary when you used Fray Check because I did go “what is she doing?” but you’ve actually shown this professional sewing person something new and useful!! Though I do wish you had serged the raw edges in the hem, this is great DIY advice!

Great job, Juul! Thanks for sharing!

The blouse is beautiful on you. You did a fantastic job of resizing it also.

I just LOVE your synger machine... I teach myself how to saw in my grandmama's machine and it was exactly like your. And I very much like your work. And your chair. Thank you for sharing

The struggle is real. Thanks for sharing great hacks!

I’m looking forward to this!

Well done. Finding fabric for the insert panel was brilliant!

Absolutely loved this video! This is how I have been making shirts, blouses etc bigger for decades. (yes, I also have the busty problems) If you have a good quality shirt, upsizing tends to be easier and neater. Love your hair like that AND your sewing machine! I learnt to sew by my grandmother on a machine like yours 😁

AWESOME!!! Thank you so much

I love watching your work, patiently and carefully taking apart all the seams 👍👍👍👍

Wow! The result is just amazing!!

I love this blouse and how you have adjusted it. Wish I could do alterations like this. It's a beautiful blouse. Thank you. 👍🙂

Taking from the button placket is brilliant!

Exactly the video I need right now! We must have learned many of the sewing techniques in this video in the same time period,

Thank you, Juul, you made a beautiful job of your blouse and your genius has helped me so much! My daughter has a new blouse that is too tight across the tummy and I feel more confident about tackling it now (the blouse, not the tummy! 😅).

Smashing idea - can't wait!

A terrific video! I loved watching this process and the finished product looks great.

Oh my word, that is so clever! I'm not into dressmaking at all but love to watch the skill, imagination and ingenuity of others. Well done on making a smart, wearable and much more comfortable looking shirt. That style really suits you and looked amazing at the end. 😊

Wonderful. I love to sew and. I think its wonderful to learn how to improve different clothes

Очень круто получилось, настоящая рукодельница.

I loved this so much. Definitely the cozy vibes I needed today.

Yes! This is not only good for my old clothes but thrifted stuff too. Quality plus size thrifted clothes is so rare in my area. & Those available only come in basic colors or are in ugly patterns. Upsizing a few smaller blouses is my goal before sweater weather is gone (which is about March in my area🥵).

That looks amazing thank you Sandy

Hello Juul! To me it doesn't matter what you're working on. I just like to watch your enjoyment with each project, from your planning to the skillful way you handle needle and thread. I enjoy myself vicariously through you.

This definitely gives me some great ideas for this striped shirt I bought that ended up lost in a pile of clothes for years and now doesn't fit. I will take out the sleeves and use that fabric to add side panels so it will fit. It will be sleeveless, but that's ok. I have trouble finding shirts with the width I need in sleeves anyway, so... (bc bat-wings lol) But at least then I can wear it, instead of it being unused/unworn. I can't afford to buy, so this helps me upcycling what I have already. Thanks for the tips. 💖

Wowsers you are so clever. Watching that has made me realise anything is possible. Thank you 😊💓

Another helpful great video, blouse looks lovely. Fitting garments is the single most difficult part of sewing, and least fun. IAbout ten years ago I bought a professional dress form and it does help and save time. Thanks again for sharing.

Wonderful video! Would love more hacks for making alterations to purchased clothing. My bust is always the main issue.

I’ve inserted fabric into sides of T-shirts to make them bigger. I love wearing them again when they fit well after alterations.

I upsized a 50's style halter neck dress I got from the thrift store, it's now my prized possession. I couldn't try it on in the store and when I got home I realized that my boobs were much bigger than the dress could fit even though it looked like it would. I took out the seam allowance next to the zipper and the placket that covered it. Now the regular zipper is exposed but it fits perfectly so I don't care, I can't wait until it's warm enough to wear it somewhere.

Really nice! Beautiful blouse!

Amazing!! This is a perfect work!!