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Help needed! Designers or those who understand design! (sli...
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This is a WIP refashion project. I didn’t make this dress, it’s a beautiful vintage (maybe 1980s) dress given to me by my cousin. She’s obviously several inches taller than me. I’ve worn it out a couple of times (couldn’t resist) and had to carry my skirts around me, edwardian style. I don’t want to wreck the dress by having it drag around – it needs to be taken up.
Problem: I can’t take up the dress at that lovely detailed hem. If I take it up at the high-waist seamline, that’s a heck of a lot of work, including removing and replacing the zipper.
I figure I can make a tier in the skirt, and take a couple of inches out of it there. Problem is, I don’t know where in the skirt to do that. Mid thigh? Just above the knee? Knee? Calf?
I want the hemline to finish at my ankles (as I often wear flats).
Can anyone out there advise me where to slash the skirt and attach a (slightly gathered) tier? If you can, please give reasons for your answer.
I have no design skill whatsoever. I just don’t want to go ahead and find out too late I’ve done it wrong.
Much gratitude in advance!!!!!
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Feb 10, 2013, 07.38 AMby MojoHollz
You could try ading a few folds. Folds along the hem line have a bit of a vintage flair to them. Basically you fold the hem up to the inside stitch (maybe half an inch from the fold) and repeat until you get the desired length. It would almost look like roman blinds when you were finished. Does that make sence?
Feb 10, 2013, 01.44 AMby Mary Athey
I agree with dcollins, I.d cut the bottom embellished part of then chop some.inches of and re. Attach.it. Gorgeous dress x
Feb 10, 2013, 12.59 AMby dcollins45
If the fabric is forgiving to needle marks, try basting the tier in to see what it will look like. Then remove the basting if you don’t like it.
You could also find a coordinating lace fabric and insert a panel, probably just above the knee would look nice. Use the cut for the panel to shorten the skirt.
Another idea is to cut just above the eyelets/embroidery and the bottom, remove the extra few inches from the unembellished part and re-attach the bottom higher up.
Good luck, and please post the finished project. It’s a beautiful dress.
1 Reply
Feb 10, 2013, 09.51 AMby RenaissanceBombshell
Thanks D! I’’m going to do your second suggestion. There is a little bit of eyelet above the seam where the lace insert is, but I’ll sacrifice it to keep the rest of the design intact (ie, not adding the extra seam that a tier would inevitably add)
Will definitely post the finished project but it will have to wait until I’ve given it a napisan soak and a steam after the hemwork because I went on a bit of a waterfall adventure with friends yesterday. Whites! You can’t take me anywhere!