ninacrum
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Date: 1/19/13 7:16 PM What's the reason the pattern says to reattach the shorten piece? Can't I just cut it off to the length I want? |
Vireya
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 3 members like this. Because the difference between a short person and a tall person is not just that the tall person has tall ankles. Height is distributed all through your body, so if you just cut the pattern off at the bottom the rest of it won;t be in proportion. The waist will be too low, the darts won't point to the correct place, etc.
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ninacrum
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Date: 1/19/13 7:48 PM Thanks, that makes sense. So I reattach it, and then what do I do with the markings that dont match up?
It's a skirt pattern, if that makes a difference.
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Vireya
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Date: 1/19/13 7:51 PM If the markings don't match up, you re-draw them with a ruler. So line up a ruler on the point of a dart and the place where the dart joins the waistband, and draw that line.
If it is the side seam that doesn't match, you just draw a smooth curve between the two parts. |
Vireya
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Date: 1/19/13 7:53 PM Actually sometimes you can get away with just shortening things. It depends on your body. If you have shorter legs and a longer torso, you might just be able to cut the bottom off the skirt pattern pieces. If you legs are longer and it is your torso that is shorter, you will need to do the adjustment above the hip line, otherwise the waist shaping and waist darts will be too long for you. |
ninacrum
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Date: 1/19/13 8:18 PM Thanks! This is starting to make sense.
On the back piece, there's no other marks interrupted. That is, the darts aren't chopped by the shorten line. So I should be able to just chop that piece off at bottom?
On the front piece, I see 'center front line' and a 'fold line'. Any advice?
I've never tried a pattern before. Thanks in advance! |
B
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Date: 1/19/13 10:04 PM Burda Style
has diagrams for lengthening and shortening clothing.
I usually draw a line the proper distance from the shortening line and after folding one line draw it up to the other and tape it down. That is, rather than cut apart which is necessary for lengthening, I fold up 1/2 the distance so that shortens it the full amount (because that part is doubled). Some patterns have the shortening lines and others don't, but the Burda diagrams show you where they are. Just draw a horizontal line, usually perpendicular to the grain line.
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tinflutterby
 
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Date: 1/20/13 4:45 AM The center front line is just that and making the skirt longer or shorter won't change it. I expect the center front is placed on the fold of the fabric so that also isn't affected by the length.
Another reason to not just cut off or add to the bottom is the skirt hem width will be narrower or wider than it was. For this reason I probably would either cut off at the hem or shorten in the body of the pattern but I would do it the same way front and back. I fore see side seam problems if one is much different than the other. |
Vireya
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Date: 1/20/13 8:06 PM Quote: ninacrum
On the front piece, I see 'center front line' and a 'fold line'
I've never tried a pattern before.
Normally the centre front is on a fold, they are not two separate lines. Is the fold some sort of detail like a pleat? Perhaps if you posted the pattern number we might be able to offer more particular advice. Have you got the instructions? Have you read all the way through them to see what the different markings are for? |
ninacrum
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Date: 1/21/13 10:32 AM The pattern is: kwik sew 2954, a wrap skirt.
I've been so hung up on trying to understand shortening methods, I haven't made any progress. I'll take your advice and work thru the rest of the instructions and maybe it will all click, and the line marked "fold" will be explained later.
Thx! Nina |
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