Although BJ at A Better Fit delivered quality work on schedule, I cannot recommend her business. Her rates are drastically inflated--I paid half as much to another seamstress for identical work on the same dress in another color. When I picked up my dress, BJ informed me that she acts as a middleman, splitting fees 50/50 with the seamstress who does the actual sewing, which doubles the cost for the customer. That pricing structure, paired with BJ's consistently unprofessional and abrasive attitude, means I will not be a returning client. read more

Expensive, but they do very good work. BJ is great and takes her work very seriously!

BJ is not only extremely knowledgeable & professional but she is incredibly sweet & easy to work with. she altered my wedding dress PERFECTLY. highly highly recommend her! read more

I called and made an appointment to have a new pair of jeans hemmed and asked if it was possible to keep the original hem. This was important to me because of these specific jeans. Well, BJ actually specializes in this technique. She took special care in taking the time to measure with a couple different pairs of shoes I would wear with them and she explained how she is able to do this. My pants were completed in a week and they turned out perfect. I was so pleased. I highly recommend her services. She's been doing this for a long time and it was a great experience overall. read more

BJ is phenomenal at her work and a great person all around. Alterations are done with a quick turnaround time, you quite frankly, won't regret it. read more

BJ is very knowledgeable, honest, takes every detail into consideration, all while getting you the best price. As a petite person with a rather complex dress, she managed to hem and bustle my wedding dress perfectly. She is in demand so be sure to verify your appointments in advance! :) read more

Had to alter a bridesmaids dress. Quality work with a great turn around time. Thank you so much!

BJ is fantastic- be on time, be courteous of her time and she is a delight to work with. She's very straight forward which IMO is all you can ask of someone doing alterations. I came to her from a recommendation of a friend for my wedding dress and could not be more pleased by the result. PSA to brides book her early!! Like 3+ months in advance. I think we might have been at 5 ish months when I booked her- we did an initial consultation, I put down a small deposit (I want to say it was $20-30) to book her future availability, and then came back 6 ish weeks ahead of our wedding to begin the fitting process. She's really great at her craft, I would not hesitate to recommend and or use her for any future needs! read more

BJ is AMAZING! I absolutely recommend her to everyone! She did an amazing job on my wedding dress, communication was absolutely amazing and the value and price she charged me was incredible! Her services are outstanding and you will not regret having her do your alterations! I 10000000/10 recommend go to BJ for your Alterations, ESPECIALLY wedding dresses! read more

BJ is very thorough, honest, and good at what she does. My dress fit like a glove on my wedding day. She even helped resolve my large breasted issues and ordered special cups she sewed into my dress. Fairly priced compared to many wedding dress alternation places too. Thanks BJ!! read more

A Better Fit - Sewing & Alterations Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

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BJ is an alterations hero. If you are looking for a perfectly honest, expert seamstress, look no further than "A Better Fit." I bought my wedding dress over a year before the wedding. When it came time to get it hemmed, I was worried it wouldn't fit me as well as it had when I bought it. My family and friends were very supportive, but I wanted a pair of honest, unbiased eyes on the situation. I consulted with BJ 3 months before my wedding, she was candid about how much weight I would need to lose for the dress to fit me the way I wanted. When I went back for my last fitting, the dress fit like a glove, and BJ hemmed it perfectly. Long enough to look elegant in photos, but short enough to dance easily. I cannot thank her enough for her genuine guidance and talent. I will be going back to BJ for all my future alteration needs! read more

A Better Fit - Sewing & Alterations Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

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With clothing: I have exacting standards and, often, a very specific vision. When a project goes beyond my skill level, I will look no further than A Better Fit. BJ saw the vision I had in mind, and knew exactly how to execute it, making suggestions and adding little technical touches that I would never have thought of. The service was gender-affirming for trans/non-binary customers, which can often be so fraught when it comes to the false binary of style and body types. We will definitely be returning. read more

BJ did a fabulous job with my wedding dress. She was professional and easy to work with, and most importantly, the finished product was gorgeous and comfortable. Highly recommend. read more

BJ is the absolute best seamstress ever!!! I came to her just a few weeks before my wedding with not one, but TWO dresses, and to add just another challenge to the mix- would be 21 weeks pregnant at my wedding! She did a ridiculously magical job tailoring my fitted non-stretch dress to perfectly fit my baby bump and giant boobs (see photo) and when I threw in the reception dress last minute that needed to be hemmed she miraculously somehow got that done too! She is a sweet kind person and makes standing on that platform staying perfectly still as easy as can be - she really gets people and is a master at her craft. I am so grateful!! read more

A Better Fit - The stretchy dress that needed hemmed- fit PERFECT. - Sewing & Alterations Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

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BJ does good work and on time. However, of the three projects I've taken in, shes only agreed to do 2 jobs. The one she did do she told me it was a waste of my money to get done but agreed to do it. The other two she told me couldn't be done. They could. I took them to See Sew Maria's; they said no problem and had them done a week later. She totally has the right to be choosy about what projects she does and does not want to do, but I got tired of being told that fairly simple alterations weren't possible when they clearly were. read more

BJ was honest from the very beginning of my experience with altering my dress, which I couldn't appreciate more! I had only 2 months till my wedding when I came to her with a dress I bought off the rack that was probably 3-4 sizes bigger than it should have been. She told me time wasn't the issue it was the dress shape, since the back was so open we couldn't quite take it in around the ribs or abdomen, but shaping other places made the dress sit on my hips nicely. She shaped around the bottom area to give me more curves. Her seamstress did beautiful work with the hem, even considering having to deal with embroidered lace. The bustle was secure, but otherwise unnoticeable ! With BJ's honesty and fine attention to detail and meticulous work my dress could have not fit me better! It truly made me the bride I could only have imagined to be on my big day :) and brought my now husband to tears for the first time in the 7 years we've been together !! read more

A Better Fit - Sewing & Alterations Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

BJ is an incredible, detail-oriented, affordable tailor. She worked on a bridesmaid dress I needed for a wedding, and because of her work I chose her to help me with my own wedding dress. She worked with me to completely change my dress- it had sleeves and we took them off. Because of this she had to make more alterations to ensure that it fit perfectly. She was direct and patient at the same time, which helped me because I wasn't sure how to articulate how I wanted my dress to fit. read more

BJ helped take a thrift shop wedding dress that was 4 sizes too big and make it my dream dress! 10/10 would recommend, she is awesome!

I had a bridesmaid dress that I needed hemmed within a few weeks- she was quick and did and excellent job. She assured me it would be done in time and even got it done sooner than expected. I didn't know to call to schedule a fitting in advance and would recommend simply calling before rolling in- she scheduled me for a fitting the next day to keep prioritizing the projects she already had lined up but got me in quickly. read more

I went here after having it recommended by a friends. I wish I would have read the reviews on here before making and appointment. I left sobbing after my wedding dress was too small (which is upsetting enough), but then was told there was no way it would fit me in time for my wedding. She was rude from the time I got there and the place was a mess. I don't think I would have felt comfortable leaving my dress anyway. She also nitpicked the quality dress I had bought. Good news is I found a wonderful seamstress in Campbell and my dress fit beautifully by my wedding. It was worth the drive not to have to revisit this place. read more

I brought BJ a consignment wedding dress and what at first seemed like it would be an easy fit quickly turned into a puzzle of strange prior alterations and mismatched sizing. BJ handled each obstacle incredibly and the dress fit perfectly on my wedding day! She is honest and direct about feasibility, pricing, and timing, and her flexibility with scheduling around my difficult work hours and untimely vacation was crucial in order to get the dress done before the wedding. Her work is immaculate and I'm so grateful that she accepted the challenge of my second-hand dress! read more

A Better Fit - Sewing & Alterations Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

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Unprofessional & dirty. Brought new linen curtains to shorten. Photo speaks for itself (left), to compare with original hem (right). Curtains were returned entirely wrinkled, wrapped in a bag with no care. No, I cannot recommend this place. Don't risk your wedding dress. read more

A Better Fit - Original hem, before her work. - Sewing & Alterations Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

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BJ took an off-the-rack suit I bought and tailored it so well it looks as if was custom-made for me. The quality of her work is excellent - she suggested a couple of things that I would never have thought of and they made a huge difference. Excellent value for such high quality work. BJ is professional, easy to work with, and above all really knows tailoring. I don't hesitate to recommend her. read more

I have been bringing in clothes for alterations for years. BJ has always done a wonderful work with whatever I have brought her.There is usually a week turn around. read more

Love how my jumper turned out! BJ worked through different looks and was patient with me.

Like the last reviewer, this was my first time having clothes tailored. I had a few shirts slimmed down, a few pairs of pants hemmed, and a sports coat slimmed down and the sleeves shortened. I have to say BJ a superb jobs with my clothes. My wife loved them and now they look great for work. BJ, the seamstress, is a pleasure to work with. I'm currently an instructor at UC Santa Cruz, and her advice was very helpful. She explained what she could do and what alterations made sense the cost and whether it just made more sense buy new shirts. BJ was very patient with helping me choose alterations that I was happy with. She also gave me recommendations on what to look for when I buy jeans, dress pants, and shirts! Thanks to her, I figure out a good in between size pants so that I can give a nod to fashion, but not go completely toward skinny pants (sorry kids, I grew up in the 90s). Her service was completely worth the cost. Its' better to have a few great fitting items for work (and play!), than a bunch of sloppy looking shirts and ill fitting pants. read more

I've tried several tailors in the Santa Cruz area, and Bj is the only one I trust. She is very straightforward and honest about the alterations she can make as well as pricing (her prices are worth it for the quality of her work). She clearly knows what she's doing, and she does great work- I'll be taking all my alterations here from now on! read more

Excellent service amd consideration. Could have easily up-sold me on things I didn't need, and told me to avoid certain alterations because it wouldn't be worth the amount it would cost. Also, the alterations themselves are spot on. I bought a cheap dress shirt from a thrift store and brought it in to be fitted. Once done, it looked and fitted like a million bucks. read more

Super rude lady, unprofessional. Overall very bad vibe from her. And the place is a mess. Right away looked at me and said she didnt have any time at all to fix what i needed. read more

This woman does a nice job with hemming and fixing dresses which is why I'm going to be honest and give two stars. However her bad customer service is what keeps it so low. I bought my black bodycon bridesmaid's dress in to be hemmed. This was a dress that I liked and felt I looked good in. Then I was given very rude comments about it when all I wanted was a hem. When I came out of the dressing room with it on, the first thing she asked me was was I planning on losing any weight and that it looked visually tight in a very cold tone. I was completely stuck and just standing there as she was hemming my dress not knowing what to do. She kept making comments about it riding up and looking tighter on me. It was a very uncomfortable situation. At the end she simply whispered to me that I did not get the right size and should have gotten something different. Needless to say I was very hurt and could not believe somebody would say that to me so tactlessly. The only bright side was that I was able to find a better dress. The bride didn't care about the style as long as it was black, and to be honest I like the second one a lot better. However I would have rather not have the body shaming I experienced beforehand. I'm sure her business does fine,but I'm never coming back again. read more

I had a great experience when I brought some curtains into her hemmed. Friendly, informative, and on-time!

Really wonderful service and expert craftsmanship. I was in a hurry and so she squeezed me in. It was worth the expedited fee.

I learned the hard way that alterations is not something you go bargain shopping for. This place is not expensive but it is a little more than other places in town. There's a reason for that. It's worth it. A Better Fit provides good service and quality work. read more

My husband just had two pairs of pants altered by BJ, and they look fantastic. She did a simple hem on both of them, but also let out the waist on one pair, and the work is extremely professional looking. Plus, when he went in to drop them off, she was very attentive in measuring and re-measuring to make sure that she got it right (which she did!). She's also very friendly and professional, and everything was ready on time, as promised. Just remember to bring cash or a check, as she doesn't accept cards. And, the prices are on the higher end for the work that is done, but from our experience, well worth it! read more

I just had a great experience at A Better Fit. I brought in a suit I need tailored on short notice, and BJ said she could get it done. She spent a long time with me making little adjustments to sleeves and pants, until we found just the right fit. She was also very friendly and fun to talk to. I found out about this place on Yelp and then got a referral from a friend before going in, now I'm a BIG believer in the business. If you're worried about the 1 star review, don't be. You can ask BJ about it when you're in, if you like...but coming in after close to try and get a wedding dress altered in 3 days is probably a bad idea; just sayin. As far as my last-minute needs went, she was very accommodating--but also told me point blank when I walked in that if it was anything more than a hem, I was out of luck with such short notice. Honest, helpful, friendly, and accommodating. That's how I would describe this business. Check it out! (An aside about her hours...: Yelp doesn't have a way to show this, but I found out by going in today that you can potentially go in Monday or Wednesday by appointment...just call first to make sure they're there!) read more

To me, alterations are crucial. I'm a petite on top and a regular on bottom. It took me some time to figure out that I simply need alterations! I have all my tee shirts and tops shortened here--sometimes the sleeve lengths as well. BJ is highly sensitive and notices small details; she makes sure they are perfect! Which I really appreciate. She's educated me as well. Once I said, "If I buy a jacket that's too big, . . . " and she said, "Don't!" So now I know that alterations of the jacket body are 'way too expensive to be worth it. A sale jacket just doesn't pay off. read more

I needed some jeans hemmed. BJ was really friendly and helpful answering all my questions. She took all necessary covid precautions, and my jeans fit perfectly! read more

BJ is a wonder. She took a beautiful wedding dress and made it amazing! I sat with the bride to be in the one hour consultation and could not be more impressed with her expertise and willingness to work with us. She then back time lined the first fitting, second fitting, and bustling training to make sure the dress would be done in plenty of time. She even offered up ideas to save extra $$ on the overall cost. Highly recommend! Kimberly M., Santa Cruz read more

BJ has done some wonderful alterations for me ... tapering dress shirts so they are less 'billowy,' shortening the length of dress shirts so they look less like a shirt-dress. She even did some alterations on several consultation jackets so that I'd look more professional when seeing my patients in clinic. When I was having specific problems with an altered item, she modified the item to work around the issue. When it turned out that the previous alteration was *not* the problem, she made alterations to the item that fixed the other problem. FREE Pricing is high, quality of work is higher. read more

I have been bringing my clothes to BJ for alterations for over 20 years. She does a great job tailoring my clothing so that everything fits perfectly. I have tried other seamstresses in the past, but once I found BJ, I knew right away, it doesn't get any better than this! read more