Custom Tailoring and Alterations Checklist

What a good one includes

• Detailed fabric preparation protocols, including specific preshrinking, grain-alignment, and interfacing stabilization steps for your chosen textiles.
• A comprehensive measurement capture log that details target ease and specific anatomical reference points unique to the garment's silhouette.
• An exact assembly and sewing sequence that prioritizes flat-construction techniques before closing structural seams.
• Defined fitting milestones, specifying when to conduct basted mock-ups and how to mark adjustments directly on the drape.
• Professional pressing and shaping instructions mapped to each construction phase, using specific heat and moisture settings for the fabric type.
• Clear finishing criteria for hems, linings, closures, and hand-stitched details that elevate the interior of the garment to match its exterior quality.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Skipping the fabric prep or preshrinking phase, which often results in puckered seams or shrinkage during the first professional dry cleaning.
• Conducting fittings on a finished garment instead of using a basted muslin mock-up, risking irreversible damage to expensive fashion fabric.
• Neglecting to press as you go, which permanently bakes in bulk and prevents seams from laying perfectly flat and crisp.
• Over-fitting the client by removing too much ease, resulting in a garment that looks great standing still but restricts comfortable movement.

Frequently asked questions