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From: smith972
Date: 11-06-2005, 02:24 AM (1 of 6)
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I made a dress but the front of the dress has a drup in the colar...please see the attached link for the pictures....can anyone tell me how to fix this??? thanks http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/smith972/album?.dir=/ae5e |
User: smith972
Member since: 09-10-2004 Total posts: 241 
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From: toadusew
Date: 11-06-2005, 08:53 AM (2 of 6)
| I'm not sure I'm on the right track here, but I'll try. This seems to be a sheath type of dress from the pic--could you do a deeper seam in the shoulders? That might pull up the neck so it won't gap quite so much. Of course, if this is lined, it might be a little more work, but worth it. I'm not really good at altering, but I did have to do some minor alterations on choir dresses and in some clases, all we had to do was take some of the excess out of the shoulder seams to correct the problem. I'm not sure I'm making much sense here (not enough caffeine yet! LOL)...maybe somebody else can come along and give you more/better tips. |
User: toadusew
Member since: 01-08-2005 Total posts: 369 |
From: Dede
Date: 11-06-2005, 10:07 AM (3 of 6)
| Are you using a multi-size pattern? What I usually have to do is use a smaller size from the armhole up and a larger size from the armhole down. It is easily done when you cut your pattern. Try the fit with inexpensive fabric first then you'll get the general idea and can adjust your pattern accordingly. |
User: Dede
Member since: 03-23-2001 Total posts: 469 |
From: paroper
Date: 11-06-2005, 12:54 PM (4 of 6)
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Hey, don't look so sad. I think this can be fixed. From looking you in the dress, my guess is that you are a little bit square shouldered. It is pretty common...but the pattern companies kind of split the difference between the sloped shouder people and the square shouldered people hoping to fit the majority. You may not even notice it except in dresses that are cut like this. Stand at a mirror and pinch the shoulder seam up just a tiny bit at the neckline until it looks right. pin and measure this. Now, you'll need to pull your shoulder down from the inside of your dress...pulling to the front is usually a little easier because you have more space. Take out the neckline seam for just a couple of inches. If this alteration looked right to you, you need to measure a wedge out of the shoulder seam matching your pinned alteration at the neck and feather it out near the arm hole. The last stitch of your "wedge should mesh with the last stitch of the old seam. One other thing, take out just a tiny fraction..maybe a scant sixteenth less than your measurment...that allows for seam folds and the like...it always seems to look better to me if I do that. You'll probably need to make a few adjustments at the neckline side to smooth out the look and you are done. Considering how much you sometimes have to take out for alterations, this is pretty simple. Your dress looks nice from what we can see of it! Good job!! pam
Bernina 200e, Artista V5 Designer Plus, Explorations, Magic Box, Bernina 2000DE & 335 Bernette Serger, Bernina 1530 Sewing Machine, Bernina 1300 DC Overlock (with coverstitch) |
User: paroper
Member since: 02-03-2004 Total posts: 3775 |
From: DorothyL
Date: 11-06-2005, 02:45 PM (5 of 6)
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Pam is correct. If you just take up the shoulders you will trade the problem of a too loose neckline for too tight arm holes. Sewing at an angle (or wedge shape) will leave the arm hole the same way and tighten up the neck. Next time you cut that pattern you can cut the wedge out before you start, so be sure you make a note on the pattern directions. Dorothy |
User: DorothyL
Member since: 12-09-2002 Total posts: 3883 |
From: Catalina
Date: 11-08-2005, 12:35 PM (6 of 6)
I do what Pam has suggested, and I do this alteration often, after I sew my shoulder seams I try my garment on and I can pretty much tell if its needed or not.. If you don't want to redo your dress you could try to gather your neckline with some elastic for a easier fix this time. 
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User: Catalina
Member since: 01-06-2005 Total posts: 119 |
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