Category Archives: Dressmaking

Alterations at Dotty Owl

‘Off the peg’ never seems to fit me so I am always adjusting my clothes! Being 5ft, 2 – length is always an issue for me and hemlines are frequently too long. ..


Sometimes we buy something that fits beautifully but it’s too long – then we never wear it as it’s not quite right! Or we try something on in a shop and it’s perfect – apart from a certain issue like it needs a pleat taken out, hem taken up, a tuck in the waist…. So we don’t buy it even though it could have been amazing! 💕

Do you have items in your wardrobe that you never wear as they are in need of alterations….

Standard sizes don’t always fit and clothes look so much nicer tailored…


If you need any alterations I can help. I do free fittings locally and charge £15 per hour for sewing work. Plus any fabric, zip etc in addition at cost price (I always source quality items at the best price).

I can also 🌟 clone clothes 🌟 If you have a favourite item that you just can’t find again – and it’s an amazing fit and a real favourite… I can reproduce the same item again in your choice of fabric! Perhaps its falling apart now and you need a new version!

Every job is different… some take 30 mins… other several hours. But feel free to ask for a rough estimate.


To give you some idea, here’s a list of some of the recent alterations I have done here at Dotty Owl:

✂️ H&M chiffon maxi skirt – taken up the hem

✂️ Next dress for a bridesmaid – taken up the hem and used the offcuts to create a matching belt

✂️ Ted Baker midi dress – adjusted hemline to make it short. Created extra ties for the back using the fabric offcuts. Plan to make a matching skirt from the remaining fabric

✂️ Karen Millen denim skirt – adjusted from size 8 to size 6

✂️ Ted Baker shorts – took a tuck both sides to make them smaller in the waist

✂️ Replaced broken zip in Next jumpsuit and M&S jacket

✂️ ASOS bridesmaid dress – sewed up slit plus added corset panel as the dress didn’t do up at the back

✂️ H&M linen trousers – took up length

✂️ Morgan top – removed old spaghetti straps. Created new straps from satin fabric and added them in (they are wider and now cover bra straps)

✂️ Karen Millen maxi dress (jersey top and pleated bottom) Shortened the pleated skirt portion and made a matching scarf from offcuts

✂️ Phase Eight jersey cardigan 🌟 cloned it 🌟 made another cardigan exactly the same but in a thicker / cosier fabric

✂️ Plus many costume adjustments for a local theatre company 💕

World Book Day 2018 – Molly Moon & Hedwig, Harry Potter’s Owl

It’s World Book day 2018 and it’s snowing outside! Here are the costumes for this year… Molly Moon and Hedwig the Owl from Harry Potter.

I had lots of fun making them! Click here for tons more information and lovely pictures…

Now to clear all the fur and feathers from my Sewing Room!

Megan Dress Hack – Tilly & The Buttons

I have been really busy at Dotty Owl these past few weeks – but I was so pleased with how this dress hack turned out (made in the summer) I couldn’t resist adding it to Dotty Owl. It combines a skirt section from an Oliver Bonas dress with a bodice that I created from the Megan Dress by Tilly & the Buttons. The result is this lovely dress for a friend. More information and pictures can be found here.

SaveSave