How to Add Darts to a Dress Shirt (Every Step in 2 Minutes), by Stylish D Tailors on YouTube. 2 min 28 s.
- Video length
- 2 min 28 s
- Time to do it
- 30 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 7
What you need
Steps
Turn the shirt inside out and put it on. Pinch the loose fabric at the lower back on each side and pin it flat, keeping the dart widest at the bottom hem and narrower as it goes up.
Use five pins per dart. Leave about 1/2 inch between the first two pins at the bottom and 1/4 inch between the rest, with a top pin as a stopping marker.
Set the machine up with a universal 80/12 needle and polyester thread. Choose a straight stitch, set the stitch length to 2.5 and the tension between 3 and 5.
Start at the bottom hem with a backstitch. Sew slowly up the pin line, letting the dart narrow until the stitch fades out at the top placeholder pin.
Finish the top with a backstitch, or tie the thread ends off by hand if you prefer. Trim the loose threads.
Press each dart flat with an iron, working from the inside of the shirt.
Try the shirt on. If it pulls too tight, unpick the stitching with a seam ripper, re-pin and sew again.
Tips and common mistakes
Take in the side seams first if you want the closest fit, then finish the job with the back darts.
The shirt will feel odd against your lower back the first time you pin it, but that usually means the fit is right.
Keep your fingers clear of the needle and never sew over a pin.
A small dimple at the end of a dart is normal, and a quick press with the iron makes it almost invisible.
Questions
How much fabric should each dart take in?
About 1/4 inch to 1 inch at the bottom, tapering to 1/4 inch or less at the top. Take in less on a small shirt and more on a loose one.
Can I sew darts without a machine?
Yes. Sew a backstitch by hand along the same pin line, then press the dart flat.
Do I need a dart on each side?
Yes. Sew one dart on each side of the back so the shirt stays balanced and the fabric hangs evenly.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
