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From: sewsassy
Date: 01-30-2007, 06:42 PM (1 of 11)
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Pleated Skirt Alteration -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I have a skirt that has some pleating. It is made of a stretchy material and is lined. My job is to let the hem out to the maximum and to somehow make the overall circumference of the skirt bigger. This is for a friend who needs extra room in the hips only. What alteration tactics would be a sensible start? __________________ |
User: sewsassy
Member since: 03-07-2005 Total posts: 24 |
From: paroper
Date: 01-30-2007, 07:24 PM (2 of 11)
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Is it pleated straight down from the waistband or is it sewn down. If it is sewn down, the skirt usually is sewn anywhere from 6-8 inches and from the waistband hollowed out from there up. That senerio puts it near the full part of the hips in which case you may not be able to let it out.. Also, is the skirt box pleated or is it knife pleated? How wide are the pleats? Are there color insets to the pleats or is the skirt all one color? Sometimes there are seams in the folds of box pleats. do you have those and if so, are they in the bottom fold or the top fold?
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: sewsassy
Date: 01-31-2007, 03:31 PM (3 of 11)
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To see pics of the skirt front please click on the link. There are no pleats on the sides(hips) of the skirt. If you can view the pics, there are three pleats. The back is essentially the same. http://flickr.com/photos/sewsassy1/sets/72157594511532196/ |
User: sewsassy
Member since: 03-07-2005 Total posts: 24 |
From: paroper
Date: 01-31-2007, 05:09 PM (4 of 11)
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I'm not getting to your folder but if there are no pleats on the side seams and it is possible, your best bet is to let it out there. A great deal will depend on how much you need to let it out and how large the side seams are.
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: Sherri
Date: 01-31-2007, 05:41 PM (5 of 11)
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What an ambitious project. I would never try to alter a pleated skirt. Sher My website
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User: Sherri
Member since: 02-07-2001 Total posts: 357 |
From: sewsassy
Date: 01-31-2007, 09:51 PM (6 of 11)
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I really think I may be making it more difficult than it need be. Her original desire was to make it an a-line. I thought it would be a bear to remove the olds stitch lines from the pleats. My fingers are itching to begin though. I haven't even let the hem out yet. What an ambitious project. I would never try to alter a pleated skirt. Sher |
User: sewsassy
Member since: 03-07-2005 Total posts: 24 |
From: sewsassy
Date: 01-31-2007, 10:46 PM (7 of 11)
I am about to begin---just know that bravo or bust I will post the results.
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User: sewsassy
Member since: 03-07-2005 Total posts: 24 |
From: sewinglady4u
Date: 02-01-2007, 07:59 PM (8 of 11)
Hi there. Hope your project came out the way you wanted it to.  I just wanted to add my 2 cents as far as ripping out stitches goes. We always used single edged razor blades to rip out everything and cut off buttons in the tailor shop I worked in. It was rare that we used a seam ripper. Cuts down tremendously on the time it takes to rip seams open, especially when there's an overlocked seam involved. Takes a little time to get used to using one, but once you do, it's great. So don't be afraid of all those seams. We even had high school girls come in to help out, and we got them to use them. Anyways, good luck with your project. Jobs like that bring out the creative side. Pam |
User: sewinglady4u
Member since: 10-07-2005 Total posts: 18 |
From: sewsassy
Date: 02-02-2007, 12:50 AM (9 of 11)
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Sewinglady4u, Thanks, but ther are no buttons to speak of on this particular item. I have only let out one side seam and part of the waistband so far. There was not much room for growth in the band--plenty on both joining seams though. A thing of concern is if I can do the other seam without taking out the zipper. As I said, it is a very stretchy material. I am going to let out the other side seam up to the zipper, iron out the creases, baste it back together on the new seam line and try it on my stand-in model (my daughter). Thanks for stopping by though.  Hi there. Hope your project came out the way you wanted it to. I just wanted to add my 2 cents as far as ripping out stitches goes. We always used single edged razor blades to rip out everything and cut off buttons in the tailor shop I worked in. It was rare that we used a seam ripper. Cuts down tremendously on the time it takes to rip seams open, especially when there's an overlocked seam involved. Takes a little time to get used to using one, but once you do, it's great. So don't be afraid of all those seams. We even had high school girls come in to help out, and we got them to use them. Anyways, good luck with your project. Jobs like that bring out the creative side. Pam |
User: sewsassy
Member since: 03-07-2005 Total posts: 24 |
From: paroper
Date: 02-02-2007, 08:33 AM (10 of 11)
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To make it look right you may have to take out that zipper, at least the bottom of the zipper. You could always replace it with a hidden zipper which is easier to insert.
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: sewsassy
Date: 03-07-2007, 02:55 AM (11 of 11)
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The finished item is really not much different from the start. Basically all of the pleats remained, they were just extended as I let the hem all of the way out and only turned it up about 1/2" to hide the serged finish. There was about 3/4 of waistaband circumferecnce gained and that it how much the skirt seam was let out. I did not move the zipper nor let out the seam on that side. If I had to for fit I would have. I am pleased with everything except the part where the waistband was sewn back together to meet. I had to add a piece of silk to close a gap on the inside. If I had silk wide enough and long enough to cover the whole inside of the waistband I would have. Thanks to all. |
User: sewsassy
Member since: 03-07-2005 Total posts: 24 |
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