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I like to sew my own clothes so that I can get the perfect fit. I have a long torso and my hips and waist are the same measurements… That makes buying clothes a challenge. If you have similar fit issues, learning to alter clothes and make pattern adjustments is something that will enrich your life. I can attest to that!

I’ve been sewing since my teen years, and I learned most of my fitting skills from trial and error. It has taken a lot of time to learn what types of clothes look good on my body and how to make pattern adjustments so that they fit just right.

Gina Renee sent me a copy of her book, “The Fitting Book,” and I’ve been reading it at my leisure. I wish I would have had access to it when I was learning to sew! It would have saved me a lot of time and headache. I like how she gives step-by-step instructions on how to alter clothes for certain fit issues, and there are accompanying videos for visual learners.

About Gina Renee

Gina graduated from the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) in New York City and has worked for several brands in the high fashion and activewear industries. She became a freelance patternmaker after moving to Germany and created her own pattern line — Gina Renee Designs. Now she offers fit courses and loves teaching people how to make clothing alterations.

The Fitting Book

The Fitting Book covers everything about alterations — armhole adjustments, neckline adjustments, waist adjustments, sleeve adjustments, etc. You can use her book as a reference guide or read it from start to finish to improve your clothing alteration skills.

I love that Gina teaches you how to recognize draglines versus bubbles in clothing and how to use the slash and spread or slash and close method to achieve the perfect fit. It’s the most comprehensive guide to fitting clothes I have come across. I think it is a “must-read” for anyone who wants to step out of the beginner stage of sewing.

You can get a paperback copy of the book on Amazon or a digital copy on Etsy.

I think the Fitting Book is fantastic. She has nearly 500 positive reviews on Amazon that say the same thing 😊.

Gina said, “You deserve to have clothes that fit well and make you feel great.” I completely agree. If you want to learn how to do clothing alterations, grab a copy of The Fitting Book and start learning today. I’ve been sewing for ages, but I still learned something new!