Alterations, Tailoring, and Clothing Design

Find a Tailors and Seamstress near Summit, NJ

Find a Tailors and Seamstress near Summit, NJ

Give us a few details and we’ll match you with the right pro.

Zip code

Top 2 Tailors and Seamstresses near Summit, NJ

Avatar for Richie’s Master Tailoring
Avatar for Richie’s Master Tailoring
1.
Richie’s Master Tailoring
1.
Richie’s Master Tailoring

Exceptional 5.0

(14)

Exceptional 5.0

(14)

In high demand
  • 13 hires on Thumbtack
  • Serves Summit, NJ
Alex L. says, "Richie is YOUR TAILORING / ALTERATIONS GUY! There’s simply nothing that Richie cannot tailor or alter when it comes to clothing. Richie worked on a high number of clothing items of mine and each one of them were tailored to absolute perfection. Clothes that I have had for a long time felt completely new with Richie’s work. I had four (4) suit sets, six (6) t-shirts, two (2) business shirts, a quarter zip and numerous chinos / business pants tailored by Richie. This volume was absolutely no worries for him! Furthermore, I have never seen such professionalism and precision with a tailor before like Richie. From Brooklyn, Richie made his way personally to my apartment on the Jersey City waterfront to do his size ups on myself and his precision and attention to detail was bar none. I completely got on really well with Richie, he is such an easy person to chat to and you could have a great conversation and feel absolutely comfortable in his presence. True charisma! Some shirts and suits I have not worn for a very long time due to myself cutting weight and adding muscle mass, yet, with Richie’s sizing, these clothing items are as though they’re brand new and I feel and look like a million dollars when I wear them. Some of my favorite were slimming the sleeves on my t-shirts, made me look bigger than what I normally am! Richie’s magic! The confidence I feel after Richie’s tailoring is unreal. I should mention, one suit I needed urgently before a Christmas party on the week of, Richie understood the urgency and prioritized my suit reshaping and personally delivered my suit to my from Brooklyn to Jersey City. That sort of service is simply what sets Richie apart from anyone. There’s so much more that I can write! I appreciate Richie’s work and absolutely will go no where else other than himself when it comes to tailoring and alterations. Thank you very much Richie!"See more

Q & A

Answers to commonly asked questions from the experts on Thumbtack.

What do seamstresses do?

Seamstresses provide tailoring, alteration and custom sewing for clothing or costumes. Seamstresses can reshape clothing that is too big or too small so that it fits properly — for example, hemming pants that are too long or bringing in the waistband of pants or a skirt that is too large. Seamstresses can also provide more complex alterations such as adding tucks to shape a dress or bringing in the body of a shirt. More time and expertise will be required for challenging fabric such as silk or clothing with lining, like a blazer or lined slacks. Seamstresses are also skilled in altering wedding dresses and other formal wear. The time and skill required for these types of alterations is greater than for basic tasks like hemming, so be sure to find an experienced seamstress to handle your special items.

Many seamstresses can also custom-make clothing for you. To come up with the design, you can bring in a pattern you like or an item of clothing you want the seamstress to replicate, or ask the seamstress to create a pattern for you. You can bring your own unique design to life with the help of a seamstress. There is no formal job training required to be a seamstress; many learn to sew and design from practical experience. For larger projects, like tailoring a suit, always be sure to review portfolios of work and read about the seamstress’s experience before committing.

How much do seamstresses charge?

The price for seamstress services will vary depending on the type of work you have done. The national average rate for a seamstress or tailor is $150-$280. Simple projects like repairing holes and hemming jeans usually have flat rates; larger projects, such as sewing custom creations, altering suits or altering wedding dresses, are typically priced based on the specifics of the fabric and pattern and the amount of work time needed. Here are a few examples of tailor and seamstress average costs:

  • Shorten sleeves of a dress shirt: $19.
  • Shorten jacket sleeves: $23 (without buttons) to $28 (with buttons).
  • Take in the body of a jacket: $40 (two seams) to $52 (three seams).
  • Take in a dress shirt: $20.
  • Adjust the shoulders of a jacket: $35.
  • Hem a skirt or dress: $10-$14.
  • Take in or let out a skirt or pair of pants: $15 (unlined) to $20 (lined) or $25 (with a zipper).
  • Shorten top-stitched pants: $10.
  • Shorten cuffed pants: $14.
  • Shorten lined pants: $14.
  • Shorten lined and cuffed pants: $18.
  • Take in a sheath dress: $45.
  • Restitch a fraying seam: $5.
  • Replace buttons: 50 cents each.
  • Move a button: $2.
  • Add a hook and eye: 50 cents per set.

Are you supposed to tip a seamstress?

Tipping seamstresses is not standard protocol. That said, anytime a talented seamstress goes above and beyond, offering a gratuity is a thoughtful gesture. A gratuity might be appropriate if the seamstress accepted a large project for you at the last minute — for example, hemming new suit pants the night before your work trip or taking in your party dress the day before your birthday. A gratuity may also be appropriate as recognition for the long hours of skilled stitching that your seamstress has put in altering your wedding dress, which often requires multiple fittings and precise fixes to make your dress perfect. If you do decide to offer a gratuity, first ask if the seamstress accepts gratuities; if they do, offer them an additional 15 percent to 20 percent of the total bill.  

How do you find a seamstress?

Look for seamstresses near you on Thumbtack. Here, you’ll see a list of the top-rated seamstresses in your area. You can narrow down the list of potential pros by viewing their profiles, reading their customer reviews and ratings, looking at photos of their past work and contacting them for price quotes.

What is the difference between a tailor and a seamstress?

A tailor is a person who makes or alters garments to fit a specific person. These garments can include suits, jackets, dresses and more. 

Meanwhile, a seamstress’s occupation is sewing. However, seamstresses can also tailor and alter clothing as well.

How long do clothing alterations take?

It can take less than a day or several days to complete your alterations. In some cases, an alteration may take an hour or even a week. It depends on the type of alterations you need and how many pieces of clothing that need to be altered. Ask tailors near you how long they estimate your clothing alterations will take.

How much does a seamstress charge per hour?

Hourly rates for seamstresses can vary depending on where you live and other factors. Contact seamstresses near you, and ask for free price quotes.

Can any clothing be altered?

Many clothing pieces can be altered to fit your body. However, there may be some limitations on what the tailor can do. For example, it may be difficult to lengthen a jacket. Or, they may not be able to increase (or decrease) the clothing’s size drastically.  

Consult with a pro to find out if your clothing items can be altered to your wishes.

Why hire professionals on Thumbtack?
Free to use

You never pay to use Thumbtack: Get cost estimates, contact pros, and even book the job—all for no cost.

Compare prices side-by-side

You’ll know how much your project costs even before booking a pro.

Hire with confidence

With access to 1M+ customer reviews and the pros’ work history, you’ll have all the info you need to make a hire.