Late August is when every parent opens the wardrobe and discovers that what fitted last year no longer does. Some of it really is too small, but a good deal of it simply needs a small adjustment, and that is the difference between a long shopping list and one short visit to the workshop.
What to Go Through
Before heading out to shop, it is worth doing a quick pass over what you already have. These are the things that come to us most at this time of year:
- Trouser and skirt length — what changes most from year to year
- Sleeves on shirts and sweatshirts
- The zip on last year's coat that jams or came off its track
- Seams that opened at the knees, the crotch or the armhole
- The school bag — a strap, a zip or a seam along the bottom
Hemming With an Allowance — The Trick That Saves a Whole Year
There are two ways to shorten a child's garment. The quick way cuts off the excess and that is that. The other folds and stitches without cutting, so the spare fabric stays tucked inside, and next year when the child grows it can be let down and lengthened again. It takes a little longer, but on good garments it is worth every minute. Just tell us you want the allowance kept.
The School Bag — Do Not Bin It Over a Strap
A bag with a torn strap or a zip that no longer closes looks finished, but those are exactly the two simplest repairs there are. A strap can be stitched and reinforced so it ends up stronger than the original, and a zip can be replaced. A bag your child is already attached to is worth more than a new one they have to get used to, and it saves an entire purchase.
A tip from the workshop: gather everything that needs attention and bring it in one go, ideally with the child. A short fitting is far more accurate than guessing from an old garment, and it tells us how much allowance to leave for next year.
Why Now Rather Than the First of September
The week before school starts is the busiest of the year for us and for every alterations shop. People who come a couple of weeks ahead collect their things calmly and without pressure, and the work can be done more thoroughly. Those who come two days before will get our best effort, but the range of options will be narrower.
Want to go through the wardrobe before September? Drop by 27 Haim Ozer Street in central Petah Tikva, or send a photo on WhatsApp to 052-332-6634 and we will tell you what is worth repairing and what has genuinely reached the end.
