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From: Pudge99
Date: 10-15-2005, 04:24 PM (1 of 10)
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I need help shortening my daughters choir gown. This thing is about 12 inches too long. I am assuming that I can not cut any of the length off because they are just rentals. So what I need to know is what to do with the excess fabric so it will hang correctly and not look bunched up. I also need to know how far off the ground I should hem it so she won't trip while walking. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.
Gina
Pictures of my successes and failures Pfaff 2040 Janome Mylock 134D Singer Futura CE-100 w/ Autopunch Husqvarna Viking 3D Sketch |
User: Pudge99
Member since: 10-30-2001 Total posts: 1375 |
From: Chrysantha
Date: 10-15-2005, 10:05 PM (2 of 10)
Before you start...make sure she's wearing the shoes she's going to be wearing when she's in the gown....I'd make the gown hang around her ankles. (that way it's NOT too SHORT or too LONG).The taller the shoes the LESS you'll have to hem. I'd hand hem...I'd measure it on her, lay it out FLAT, pin it (really well). Iron it so it's flat and hand hem small stitches as invisible as you can. ( I did this with an old prom dress of mine so my sister could wear it as a costume..I'm 5'2" and she's 4'8".. and I like heels and she never wears'em. You couldn't tell the hem was almost a foot long).  
Chrys
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User: Chrysantha
Member since: 09-06-2002 Total posts: 2414 
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From: Pudge99
Date: 11-01-2005, 09:06 PM (3 of 10)
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Chrys, I need more help!!!! I have to have this thing done by Thursday uugh!!!! It is longer in the front. Is this normal? When I measure the sides at her ankle the front is still on the floor and the back is hiked up if I take up the same amount all around. I was thinking to just hang it on a hanger and pin it all to match the side length. Would this work? PLEASE HELP!!! This thing is driving me crazy. Gina
Pictures of my successes and failures Pfaff 2040 Janome Mylock 134D Singer Futura CE-100 w/ Autopunch Husqvarna Viking 3D Sketch |
User: Pudge99
Member since: 10-30-2001 Total posts: 1375 |
From: woodywoodpecker
Date: 11-02-2005, 12:06 AM (4 of 10)
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This probadly isn't the best solution, but it should work. If you take a piece of string and chalk it, attach to both sides of a door frame the height you want, and then have your daughter put on the robe and turn against the chalked string it should make a line for you to follow. One of my pervious customers was built really different and the dresses/skirts hung really long in the back and short in the front when it was on the hanger but fit her okay when it was on her, so that is the way I use to shorten stuff for her. |
User: woodywoodpecker
Member since: 11-07-2003 Total posts: 242 |
From: Teri
Date: 11-02-2005, 08:09 AM (5 of 10)
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Gena, Also check to make sure you daughter is wearing the gown correctly and that the shoulder seams are where they are supposed to be, if not pin them in place. Is your daughter in the front row? If not, nobodys going to see the hem anyway, if she is how far away is the audience? Don't fret too much about it! On rental stuff remember safety pins are your friends! 
Teri
"Where are we going, and why am I in this basket?" |
User: Teri
Member since: 09-14-2005 Total posts: 66 
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From: Pudge99
Date: 11-02-2005, 11:13 AM (6 of 10)
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woodywoodpecker, What you say makes some sense to me for why it is longer in the front. These dresses were custom made to fit last years choir, so this years choir gets stuck with all the alteration nightmares. This dress was probably made for someone with a chest and no rear. My daughter currently has a rear and no chest  .
Gina
Pictures of my successes and failures Pfaff 2040 Janome Mylock 134D Singer Futura CE-100 w/ Autopunch Husqvarna Viking 3D Sketch |
User: Pudge99
Member since: 10-30-2001 Total posts: 1375 |
From: Pudge99
Date: 11-21-2005, 12:06 PM (7 of 10)
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Just thought I would let you all know that I managed to get it done in time. I sewed a 1/4 hem on the bottom so it would look the same as the rest of the girls'. Then I ran a gathering stitches around the old hem. Then pinned like crazy pulling the gathering in. Then I did small hand stitches to hold the excess fabric in place. I hope it holds!!! It made it through one concert and picture day so far. Do you all think I should let it out when we are done with it or just give it back this way?
Gina
Pictures of my successes and failures Pfaff 2040 Janome Mylock 134D Singer Futura CE-100 w/ Autopunch Husqvarna Viking 3D Sketch |
User: Pudge99
Member since: 10-30-2001 Total posts: 1375 |
From: MaryW
Date: 11-21-2005, 12:34 PM (8 of 10)
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Was it altered by someone when you got it?
MaryW
owner/editor of Sew Whats New |
User: MaryW
Member since: 06-23-2005 Total posts: 2542 
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From: Pudge99
Date: 11-21-2005, 12:43 PM (9 of 10)
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Nope they were brand new last year, made to fit those girls. This is the first year of alterations on these gowns and honestly it is my first time doing alterations on something that is just borrowed.
Gina
Pictures of my successes and failures Pfaff 2040 Janome Mylock 134D Singer Futura CE-100 w/ Autopunch Husqvarna Viking 3D Sketch |
User: Pudge99
Member since: 10-30-2001 Total posts: 1375 |
From: MaryW
Date: 11-21-2005, 01:15 PM (10 of 10)
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Hmm, I would probably take out the stitching and keep it as the original was.
MaryW
owner/editor of Sew Whats New |
User: MaryW
Member since: 06-23-2005 Total posts: 2542
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