That you can save money by doing your own alterations is obvious, but you can also save time if the alternatives are going to a tailor or shopping until you find the right size. Sewing machines are less expensive and easier to use than ever before; if you haven’t sewn before, fabric stores sometimes offer free or low-cost lessons.
If you own a sewing machine and can do simple hems, you won’t miss out the next time you find a pair of jeans or a great skirt on clearance in your size but not in petite.
Special Tips for the Super-Petite: When “Petite” Sizes Are Too Big
Are you still waiting to break the five foot mark- and you’re twenty-nine? Do your feet dangle when you sit back in a chair? If so, you’ve already noticed that you are, to be blunt about it, shorter than regular short people. For you, even most petite clothing will be too long, especially in the legs or sleeves.
For the super-petite who can’t afford to keep a personal tailor on retainer, learning how to take a hem is not just a cute way to save money, it’s a matter of survival- unless you like the eighties look of rolled-up jeans. The good news is that once you’ve accepted that you will need to hem them anyway, there’s no need to spend time looking for petite-length pants or skirts; you can simply buy the regular length and cut off more fabric.