Calling all seamstresses--I need help!!

Quote:Have you taken the bodice apart and completely recut it, instead of trying to take it in that much? That's probably what I would do. I made my daughter's bridesmaid's dresses and her wedding dress. She liked the bodice on this dress and the train on that one and the skirt from that one. <sigh> I wouldn't attempt any major sewing without a machine. Most large fabric stores give sewing lessons. I'd take them and get a machine.

 

That is what I would do. Just take it apart at the seams and recut the dress. Any way you can get machine help from anyone close by. That would probably yeild the most pleasing results.

 

The secret to using a machine it to learn to control the way you feed the material. Sit down with some scrapes of material and just try different turns, or tensions with your hands. You have control of the material, you just feed it through and the machine will do what you want it too. A few minutes here and there and you'll have it down. Make a pillow or something. Like you know, a ring Bearers pillow, to practice.

As for the size??, Yeah I think you need to open up all the seams and recut. Sounds like you don't mind altering, so this will be the easiest in the long run.

You could cut out a pattern or use a store bought one. You can also cut freehand by following the piece. Re cutting just seems like your only bet with the size difference.

 

If it were me...

Yep, open it up. As it is probably too big across the top between the straps, cut straight down there (for each strap that is.just use inside of strap as a guide and cut parallel to side seam) and refit the center. Princess seams will be a help as well. Back can be done the same or with seam down center with readjusting zipper (I assume it has one there). Reverse box pleats may be helpful in the skirt waist.

 

If you are near a Joann fabric, they are having a huge sale this weekend. Some patterns may be .99 - $1.99. I would try to find a pattern similar to the dress. Take the dress apart like everyone says and use the pattern to fit the pieces.

 

Have you tried making a Duct-tape double of yourself? It was an immense help to me when I was making a costume with fairly expensive material. You can find the instructions in several places on the web. It only took a couple of hours. Fo a dress, get a closet pole and have someone make a mount for it, then shove the pole in the bottom of the dress form of yourself, and mount it at the height you will be in your dress shoes. That way you can get the hem right, too. As pelican said, you probably have to take the bodice apart, but if you pin it to the dress form, you can probably reform it pretty accurately. Let us know how it turns out!