Updated 2024

Nothing beats the feeling of wearing tailored clothes. The way it boosts your confidence is unlike anything else in the world. And the best part is your wearing the same clothes from Target, Old Navy or Kohl's like a lot of people wear. But those same clothes look fantastic on you.

Learning how to tailor your own clothes is actually INCREDIBLY easy, and it's something you can learn how to do in a weekend. You think I'm kidding too.

How To Use A Sewing Machine (seriously, it's stupid easy) - https://youtu.be/SNLLz1xuL1M

These are the basic settings you need to learn in orderDIY tailor, and it takes llke 5 minutes to learn. Sewing machines can do A TON of things, but when you just wanna look better in your clothes you can ignore about 90% of the settings. You only need to know a few, and any machine made in the last 100 years will get the job done. The only difference between a sewing machine you can pick up on Amazon and one that they used back during WWII is...well..nothing at all actually. I tell people all the time to go check an estate sale or a garage sale before they pick one up a new one, because you can most likely find one for $50 or less. I use one that was my mom's, and to be honest I probably always will.

The Straight Stitch (1 of 2 Stitches to Learn) - https://youtu.be/B83kOfSmXng

This is one of two stitches that you need to learn, and it's easy. Remember, a sewing machine can do a lot of different things, but for tailoring our own clothes all we care about are two stitches. The straight stitch is what's going to create a new seam on our garment, and yes, it's going to be just as strong as the original. What I will usually do is sew in a hour glass shape so that it's more athletic fitting.

The Zig Zag Stitch (2 of 2 Stitches to Learn) - https://youtu.be/2kwKfiTCs20

This is the second stitch that you need to learn, and it's just as easy as the first. What the zigzag stitch does it locks in our new seam and prevents it from fraying in the washing machine. You can skip this step on some garments like technical fibers, but cotton ones are a no no. Definitely do this stitch so that it doesn't leave little fibers all over on the inside of your washing machine.

Dress Shirt Tutorials

Slimming a Baggy Dress Shirt - https://youtu.be/nvEYUIhUQcQ

I got this dress shirt from Goodwill for $9 and it looked like straight crap. But after 30 minutes of pinning and measuring and then spending 40 seconds sewing on each side it became one of my favorite dress shirts. I only bought it to make this tutorial and now I honestly plan on working it into my normal rotation of shirts. The method I use is easily the best way to use too. It's the same as t-shirts, spend some time finding the right fit and then write your measurements down! Now you don't have to measure ever again!

Adding Darts to a Dress Shirt - https://youtu.be/9KwLB43glr0

Darts are a straight game changer for your dress shirt fit, and they're way easier than you think they are as well. We added darts to the dress shirt in the previous video, but I also made a separate video for just darts so you can focus on those if you want. You can take in the side seams of your dress shirt and be happy, you don't have to add darts. But they do complete the look and are honestly amazing looking. I add darts to all of my dress shirts every single time I alter them now.

Shortening a Dress Shirt Body - https://youtu.be/xpWOkXyK3L8

Long dress shirts are not a problem for you anymore. Well, the bigger problem is shortening it AND being able to wear it untucked. Problem solved with this tutorial.

Shortening The Sleeves On Your Dress Shirt - https://youtu.be/lFcchjxUWCU

I bought a new dress shirt for a wedding not too long ago and it was great. Except for the fact that the sleeves were insanely long. Wore a suit jacket over it and I felt so stupidly self-conscious the whole time. Unfortunately I didn't have time to shorten them, and now you won't have that same problem.

T-Shirt Tutorials

Slimming Baggy T-Shirt - https://youtu.be/CYG4IHMAix0

I honestly hate baggy unfitted t-shirts with a passion. A lot of places sell slim fit or athletic fit shirts but they still look like crap. Here's how you can tailor any t-shirt to fit you perfectly. I got this shirt from Target for $8 and it fits better than most $50 t-shirts. I love this method that I use as well because while it takes a little bit more time to experiment with the fit, once you get it just write those measurements down. Now you can go out and buy the same or similar sized t-shirt in a different color and just plug these measurements into it. No measuring needed!

Tighten Your T-Shirt Sleeves - https://youtu.be/HRUWtFN1fYU

Baggy t-shirt sleeves are annoying. Nothing ruins the look of a shirt to me like big ole floppy sleeves. Luckily they're super easy to make tighter around your arm and will complete the look of your tailored t-shirt.

Shorten a Long T-shirt - https://youtu.be/wJFBvZvScrk

This one is for my shorter guys who might have a hard time finding t-shirts that aren't insanely long. I even come across a few that are so stupid long that are otherwise fantastic. You can make them shorter, and you can also keep the factory hem. You want to keep it anyway so you can keep that elasticity that it has. Plus it looks way better than just cutting and sewing a new stitch on it.

Shorten Your T-Shirt Sleeves - https://youtu.be/_Z972fglOQY

Same problem as having them being too baggy. If they're too long they look stupid. You can shorten these just like you can a t-shirt and also keep the factory hem.

Pants Tutorials

Taper Your Jeans Exactly Like The Pros - https://youtu.be/dxHedIOsf7g

I don't want my jeans to be straight fit or boot cut or any of that. I want them to have a nice taper to them. If you're anything like me then this video is for you.

Blind Hemming Dress Pants - https://youtu.be/2Dfx4wixGzQ

This one is done by hand, but most sewing machines can do this as well. In fact now that I think about it I recommend you use a sewing machine just because it's SO much easier. That being said its not hard at all to blind hem by hand. My hand did kinda cramp up though...

Hemming Jeans - https://youtu.be/6IkTAum3LxQ

This method does use a sewing machine, and it also once again keeps the factory hem in place. Shorter guys rejoice! Then again I bought some jeans from Amazon that were too long that I had to shorten, and I'm 6' so I have the same problem as well.

Making Shorts Fit Better - https://youtu.be/ENwCy_tPBRs

I got these shorts at Old Navy and I LOVE them. Only problem is they were super flaired at the bottoms. Ended up taking them in by about .5 inches and they came out fantastic. This method works for all sorts of shorts too, basketball, workout, casual etc.

EDIT - THANK YOU FOR THE GOLD! I'm glad that this was helpful for you guys! Seriously, my friends make fun of me for making these videos so it feels good to know they help people! I never thought in a million years that I would know how to sew, let alone teaching others how to! I'm a big black dude, I'm supposed to be working out and drinking beer. I do, but in my downtime I put on some music and tailor because nothing fits me properly! Now go get some gems from the Target clearance rack for a few bucks and make them look AWESOME on you! And if you lost a bunch of weight now you can tailor your old clothes instead of getting a whole new wardrobe.

I have to warn you though, DIY tailoring is addicting, and you can't unsee it. You won't be able to unsee the number of guys wearing ill-fitting boxy clothes that look like garbage bags. Or guys wearing jeans that look like MC Hammer pants. It's so frustrating.