Resizing
Trousers, skirts, dresses, suits and jackets adjusted to your size. One size up or down is usually fine, and beyond that it depends on the garment.
- Waist in or out
- Tapering
- Letting out with matching fabric
- Suits and jackets resized
Rachel’sAtelier
Brazilian British seamstress with over 30 years of experience.
Clothing alterations and repairs in Bromley, BR2.
How I can help
Alterations and repairs for trousers, skirts, dresses, jackets and coats.
Hems and lengths
Shortened or lengthened to sit right, on everything from trousers to coats, leather and suede included. Bring the shoes you will wear.
- Hems for trousers, skirts and dresses
- Wedding dress hems
- Jacket and coat lengths and sleeves
- Lengthening
Zips and repairs
New zips, new linings and mended pockets and seams, so a much loved piece goes back into your wardrobe rather than the bin.
- New and invisible zips
- Re-lining
- Pockets
- Crutch repairs
Prices
Starting prices for the most common jobs. I confirm the exact price once I have seen your garment.
Trousers
- Shorten
- from £14.00
- Lengthen
- from £14.00
- Waist in or out
- from £15.00
- Tapering
- from £17.50
- New zip
- from £14.00
- Re-line
- from £30.00
Skirts and dresses
- Shorten
- from £15.00
- Waist in or out
- from £15.00
- Tapering
- from £17.50
- Skirt zip
- from £15.00
- Dress zip
- from £18.00
- Dress sleeves
- from £18.50
Jackets and coats
- Shorten length
- from £27.50
- Shorten sleeves
- from £27.50
- Tapering
- from £27.50
- New zip
- from £27.50
- Re-line
- from £80.00
Leather and suede
- Shorten trousers or skirts
- from £25.00
- Waist in or out, trousers or skirts
- from £27.50
- Shorten jackets or coats
- from £40.00
- New zip, jackets or coats
- from £40.00
- Re-line jackets or coats
- from £100.00
Cash or bank transfer. Discounts for multiple items, for example 10% off when you bring more than three pairs of trousers.
Hello, I'm Raquel (or Rachel!)
My mother and my grandad taught me to sew in Brazil, long before I thought of it as anything more than time spent together. It was with their guidance that I first began working as a seamstress.
Then life took me to England, where my husband and I raised our two daughters, and for years my sewing machine sat quietly in our loft. When Covid came along I found my way back to it. It started with face masks, which turned into a little Etsy shop that is still going strong six years and 23,000 sales later.
But my heart has always been in clothes. Making them, altering them, tweaking them until they fit just right, because there's nothing quite like putting something on and feeling like it was made for you.
Recent work
This top was a little see-through, so I added a lining.
What customers say
She did an amazing job, and made something which I thought would be impossible- possible. I highly recommend Raquel, she is fabulous.
Cannot recommend Rachel enough! She did an amazing job altering a bridesmaid dress for me. The quality of her work is incredible and she was very reasonable with timings and pricing!
Raquel is an incredibly talented seamstress with an amazing eye for detail. Her craftsmanship is exceptional, and she always takes the time to ensure everything fits perfectly and looks beautifully finished.
Great seamstress, highly recommend her. She helped us with a last minute alteration and it fit perfectly. We'll definitely be using again.
VeraMasksUK
Handmade make up bags, pencil cases, tote bags and hair accessories, sold through my Etsy shop.
- 6 years
- selling on Etsy
- 23,000+
- orders shipped
- 4.9
- 3,300+ reviews
FAQs
Is it always possible to alter a garment?
Usually, but there are a few things I do not take on. I do not alter wedding dress corsets (I only shorten wedding dresses), heavily beaded clothing, or replace zips in bags, heavy materials or shoes. I also do not repair sports gear, tents, suitcases, hard bags, shoes or belts. For anything more unusual I need to see it before I can say whether it can be done, so message me and I will take a look.
How much will it cost, and how do I pay?
It depends on the garment and the job. The prices above are my starting prices for the most common work, and I confirm the exact price once I have seen your garment. I take cash or bank transfer. There are discounts for multiple items, for example 10% off when you bring more than three pairs of trousers.
How long will it take?
It depends on the job, how urgent it is and how complex it is. Most jobs take 1 to 3 days, and I can do an express turnaround if you need one.
How do I make an appointment, and how long does it take?
Message me on WhatsApp or Facebook and we will arrange a time. An appointment takes up to 30 minutes, depending on how many items you bring.
What should I bring to a fitting?
The shoes you plan to wear with the outfit, especially if something is being shortened. Hem length cannot be judged without them.
Do you take in and let out clothing?
Yes. Depending on the garment, I can let it out by adding similar fabric or remodelling it to make it bigger, or take it in by removing fabric and remodelling where needed. One size up or down is usually fine. Beyond that it depends on the garment and how much needs to change.
Can you resize suits and jackets?
Often, within limits. If the change is so big that the shape of the garment would end up completely different and no longer work with its original pattern, it may not be possible. That can happen when a piece is far too large or far too small. Message me and I will tell you.
Do you repair zips?
Yes, I repair and replace zips in trousers, skirts, dresses, jackets and coats. I do not replace zips in bags, shoes or heavy materials.
Do you do wedding dress alterations?
Only shortening. I shorten wedding dresses, but I do not alter corsets.
What areas do you cover?
I am based in Bromley, BR2, in South East London, and I confirm the exact address when we arrange your appointment. You can visit me from wherever you are happy to travel, or post your item to me and I will post it back. Postage is at your own risk in both directions.
Do you make bespoke items?
No, I do not make to order. I do make handmade make up bags, pencil cases, tote bags and hair accessories, which you can find in my Etsy shop, VeraMasksUK.