Pietermaritzburg · South Africa

Seam AllowanceRoom in the seam.

Seam Allowance starts with the way you actually wear a garment. Sit in the trousers, reach for a shelf in the jacket, walk a few steps in the shoes you brought. A pin placed at that moment is worth more than a guess from a hanger.

Prepare my note

A jacket that catches at one wrist

Try the jacket with the shirt you normally wear underneath. One extra layer can change how the sleeve falls and how freely the elbow bends. Point to the cuff while your arm is relaxed, then reach forwards. If the pulling begins at the shoulder rather than at the cuff, that observation changes the conversation about what to alter.

At the worktable we look inside before promising a result. An existing buttonhole, lining attachment or worn fold can affect the finish. Agree whether preserving the original detail matters more than obtaining a particular length. At collection, bring the shirt again. Repeating the same fitting conditions makes the finished result much easier to judge fairly.

Left means left when worn

2–5 working days estimatedOne day’s booking noticeMaterials quoted separately

Point to the side while wearing the garment. A photograph in a mirror can reverse the clue, and a jacket turned inside out can cause the same confusion at the worktable. Make the note about the wearer rather than the person looking at the fitting.

If two changes are proposed, ask which one affects the other. Changing where a waistband sits alters the apparent length of a trouser leg. Settle the fit at the waist before judging the final hem. At collection repeat the movement that first made you notice the problem.

The collection-room fitting

At collection, start with the reason you brought the garment in. If the problem was a catching sleeve, putting both arms down by your sides will tell you very little. Repeat the movement, give the fabric a moment to settle and look at the inside finish as well as the outside line.

Bring the matching item
Use the same shoes for a hem or the same shirt under a jacket. A different layer can make a finished alteration feel unexpectedly different.Move before judging
Walk, sit or bend the elbow at an ordinary pace. Tell the fitter where the garment feels different rather than relying only on the mirror.Inspect the repair together
Look at the agreed thread, fastener or lining where it was fitted. If another area now needs attention, treat it as a separate assessment.

0 of 3 reviewed

Inside the garment

Trouser and skirt hems

Bring the shoes you wear most often. Mark the fall while standing naturally, then walk and turn before committing to a finished length.

Waist and side seams

We inspect the material inside the seam, pockets and lining. What can be let out depends on cloth that is physically present.

Zip replacement

A zip must suit the garment’s weight and construction. We inspect the teeth, slider and attachment before quoting a replacement.

Seam and lining repair

A seam that has opened is a different job from cloth that has worn thin. The inside of the garment often tells the more useful part of the story.

Sleeve adjustment

Cuffs, buttons and vents influence how the sleeve can be shortened. Bend your arm during the fitting to check where the cuff settles.

My fitting slip

Choose the option you want to discuss and add a detail in your own words. Note which side of the garment you mean when worn. The text file is yours to keep or share later.

Write a fitting tag

Mark the side from the wearer’s point of view and choose the movement that brings the problem out. Use the tag in the fitting room before a length or seam position is finalised.

Side as wornMovement

Carry this result into my note

At the counter

Must the garment be clean?

Bring it clean for intake and fitting. Specialist cleaning and dyeing are separate from the alteration work.

Can a repair be invisible?

Wear, weave and the position of damage affect the finish. We discuss the likely appearance after examining the cloth.

Can you promise an exact thread match?

Matching materials depend on availability. Check the proposed replacement before approving the work.

Labour is priced after inspection. Replacement fasteners and matching materials are separate; additional work requires approval.

The estimate depends on construction, cloth and workshop capacity. An event date or express completion is binding only when the arrangements have been confirmed.

Saving a working note does not place an order, take payment or confirm a booking.

The write a fitting tag tool runs on your device. Your selections and the words you put in your working note stay in the page until you download them or close it. Seam Allowance does not receive a copy from this form.

This page uses no cookies, tracking scripts or third-party images. If it is served online, the hosting provider may record technical access details such as an IP address and request time. Opening the local file works offline. You control the text file you save.