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From: sewsassy
Date: 03-22-2005, 08:17 AM (1 of 8)
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Well good day all: I have a dress that I'd like to make bigger. It zips in the back and has 2 side seams. The problem is in the high waist/bust area where it's fitted. I'd say 1 1/2 to 2 inches total increase is desired. The dress is ankle length and very flowy and I have lots of fabric left over. Or any resources for garment alteration? I have plenty of sources for pattern alteration. 
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User: sewsassy
Member since: 03-07-2005 Total posts: 24 |
From: AndreaSews
Date: 03-22-2005, 02:24 PM (2 of 8)
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crums. It sounds like you made it, and now that it's done, you need more room in it. If you have tons of fabric left over, then you may want to go ahead and use those pattern alteration resources and use them to alter your garment. Does the waist have princess seams, or an actual waistline (empire or other)? Or darts that can be opened up? If you need 1 1/2-2 inches, then it sounds like you really need to cut those pieces bigger (cut new pieces with the leftover fabric an rework the snug part). You might be able to just shrink down your seam allowances enough to get the extra room you're looking for. If you restitch the seams on the left and the right a quarter inch closer to the raw edges, then you'll gain one inch around. You may not get enough room unless you have extra seams (princess) to let out.
Andrea
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User: AndreaSews
Member since: 02-18-2005 Total posts: 1007 
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From: Carol in ME
Date: 03-22-2005, 06:37 PM (3 of 8)
| Can you add a strip at each side seam? It would be under your arm, so it won't show much. |
User: Carol in ME
Member since: 01-27-2003 Total posts: 105 |
From: sewsassy
Date: 03-22-2005, 06:48 PM (4 of 8)
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Hi Andrea & thanks for the helping hand. There are no darts nor princess seams to let out. I have been seriously toying with the idea of adding an additional strip to each side, but am not sure how to pin or mark for the contour of the dress. By the way, this thing also has a ruffled yoke, so I can't fiddle with the front. I will sit with your suggestions a while and then plan my attack. It's all have been thinking about for about 27 hours. I'll let you know. Thanks for you time. Tab |
User: sewsassy
Member since: 03-07-2005 Total posts: 24 |
From: sewsassy
Date: 03-22-2005, 06:53 PM (5 of 8)
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Can you add a strip at each side seam? It would be under your arm, so it won't show much. Hey!! My brain had just got around to that. I am not coming up with the procedure though. The waist area/bodice of the dress is pretty fitted and the rest flows to the ground. Do I cut like triangular shaped strips? Rectangular. and Should I decide to accept this mission do the extra strips need to go the full length of the dress. Thanks to you and good day Carol. |
User: sewsassy
Member since: 03-07-2005 Total posts: 24 |
From: Carol in ME
Date: 03-22-2005, 07:33 PM (6 of 8)
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Well, where is it too tight? You could add a strip from the underarm to the floor, and overlay it with lace, so it looks like a design element. If it fits at the waist, the piece can taper off to nothing there (think of a long triangle). And you could still center a piece of lace over the whole seam, from armpit to hem. Stitch a piece to each side of the front. Leave enough at the armhole to turn it to the inside. Try the dress on and have someone help you pin it to fit. Carefully take it off, don't stick yourself with those pins! And mark the new seam, where the inset meets the side back. And stitch. If you have lots of fabric left over, don't skimp on the insets. Nothing so frustrating as stitching them in, then finding they're not quite wide enough to make the fit comfortable. Once I had to make a pair of tux trousers fit a very voluptuous woman. I took the trou apart at the inseam, and added a piece of fabric down the entire length of the seam. It was five inches wide at the crotch, and actually, not quite that wide at the hem, but she did, or does have really curvy calves! |
User: Carol in ME
Member since: 01-27-2003 Total posts: 105 |
From: LeapFrog Libby
Date: 03-23-2005, 07:04 PM (7 of 8)
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Is the bust area where the problem is ?? If so, and you made the dress, check out the alterations for a larger bust and cut new pieces and replace them..
Sew With Love
Libby |
User: LeapFrog Libby
Member since: 05-01-2002 Total posts: 2022 
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From: mommydionne
Date: 03-24-2005, 03:42 PM (8 of 8)
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my mum altered a dress like this once, same problem, she inserted football shaped fabric in the side seams (under the arms) so she didn't have to adjust the armscye or waistband, worked well
Jeanette
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User: mommydionne
Member since: 01-08-2004 Total posts: 838 
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