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Fitting Flower Girl Dresses In a panic, not sure how to correct fit.
TheSewingGirl Beginner IL USA Member since 6/9/08 Posts: 58	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 3/27/10 10:13 PM I feel like someone should have said "step away from the sewing machine". For a wedding that is on 4-24, I have been making 4 flower girl dresses for my granddaughters. They do not live near me. I finished 2 for the twins, not hemmed yet. Of the other two dresses, one is ready for hemming, and the other is all cut out and darts done in bodice and lining. I mailed off the twins dresses and asked for pictures of the fit. Little Briallen is the model, after an afternoon out shopping. The pictures are here: http://www.friendsofpr.com/cgi-bin/showAlbum.pl?profileid=138508 Can this dress be saved? I started searching online for dresses, and then thought I will reach out to all of you that have helped me SO much in learning to sew. The dresses will have wide black satin ribbons for sashes. Thank you so much for any input. In a panic, Michelle (Grandma Shell) -- Edited on 3/27/10 10:20 PM -- -- Edited on 3/27/10 10:21 PM --
Kayseri   Intermediate NEW ZEALAND Member since 4/21/09 Posts: 251	Login to reply to this post In reply to TheSewingGirl Like this post Date: 3/28/10 5:55 AM Don't panic, these can be rescued if you are prepared for more work They are beautiful dresses - RTW are never as nice. The quick way would be to make new bodices and attach the existing skirts (and sleeves if they can be salvaged). If you are unable to get extra of the same fabric look for something complimentary in the same color. 1) Ask for shoulder width & chest measurements of all the girls. Check these for the dresses two that haven't been fitted - you may be lucky :) 2) Measure the flat pattern peices against these measurements to work out what sizes are correct. 3) Make new bodices. Or there is a fiddly way of fixing the dresses as made (or cut). How difficult this is will depend on how the bodice lining is fixed to the sleeves, and how the skirt is joined. The back doesn't look too bad but I would double check with the twins Mom that it did sit flat across the back. I would also get the chest measurement of the girls. You will need to take the skirt off the bodice, remove the lining or loosen it from the armholes and cut down the bodice. In principal I would divide Briallen's chest measurement in 6, and then I would cut the bodice in three, with cuts measured from the side seams that 1/6th (add SA!). You then have a large central section to cut off the extra fabric from. To make it look deliberate I would draw the lines down from the shoulders like princess seams; or make make a strong diagonal so that the center front is a triangle. Anything to make the seams look like a design feature. You will need to re-draw the neckline, then reassemble the bodice. If the lining is only loosened, then fold it up at the neckline and duplicate the cuts and seams in the lining. I notice the style is very clean but if embelishement will suit the overall bridal party style the seams can be covered with trim, or topstitched in matching thread with a fancy stitch. The skirt maybe just too full to gather back into the smaller front, but you should be able to trim excess fabric from the side or back seams. Good luck with this.
TheSewingGirl Beginner IL USA Member since 6/9/08 Posts: 58	Login to reply to this post In reply to Kayseri Like this post Date: 3/28/10 1:05 PM Thank you so much for your informative reply! My DIL is going to put them back in the dresses today, along with the sash, and take more pictures for me. I am thinking I might take the trip from Chicago to Ohio to work on these next weekend. Thankfully, I do have enough material left over if I have to redo the bodices. My DIL, who is very particular, is not in a panic over the dress. She said maybe other pictures, without all of the shadowing will help me see just how they fit. Thanks again. I can't even begin to tell you how valuable this site is to me!! Michelle
skae   Advanced MN USA Member since 4/23/07 Posts: 2746	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 3/28/10 1:11 PM I have to agree with kayseri. Make a differen't bodice. I would go down one size. It should fit better in the neck area. ------ Galatians 5:22-23 The Spirit produces love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, humility, and self-control. There is no law against such things as these
TallBean Intermediate MD USA Member since 10/13/07 Posts: 281	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 3/28/10 1:32 PM If you don't want to make new bodices...you could try making decorative darts or pintucks (depending upon how much fabric you need to take out) around the front and back neckline. Have your daughter pinch out the amount of fabric that needs to come out and pin it with saftey pins....then you'll know how much to do. They are adorable dresses....and super cute grandkids! Brenna ------ http://sewing4myself.blogspot.com/
TallBean Intermediate MD USA Member since 10/13/07 Posts: 281	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 3/28/10 1:34 PM Oh, the other thought I had...was to insert a casing at the top of the neckline and slip some elastic in there. Lots of dresses have this gather at the neckline...so I think it is very fashionable! Good luck! Brenna ------ http://sewing4myself.blogspot.com/
EleanorSews   Advanced MI USA Member since 7/26/07 Posts: 3756 Board Moderator	Login to reply to this post In reply to TallBean Like this post Date: 3/28/10 3:05 PM Quote: TallBean Oh, the other thought I had...was to insert a casing at the top of the neckline and slip some elastic in there. Lots of dresses have this gather at the neckline...so I think it is very fashionable! Good luck! Brenna or pleats at the neckline.... speaking of fashionable. ------ "We don't see things as they are, we see them as we are." Anais Nin "Attitude is the difference between an adventure and an ordeal." unknown
TheSewingGirl Beginner IL USA Member since 6/9/08 Posts: 58	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 3/28/10 6:20 PM THOSE ARE AWESOME IDEAS!!!!, since it does look like it has a "cowl" thing going on. OK, I am feeling better about these dresses. (insert big release of air here) Michelle
SophieMiriam Advanced Beginner Member since 2/10/10 Posts: 42	Login to reply to this post In reply to TallBean Like this post Date: 3/30/10 1:44 PM Quote: TallBean Oh, the other thought I had...was to insert a casing at the top of the neckline and slip some elastic in there. Lots of dresses have this gather at the neckline...so I think it is very fashionable! Good luck! Brenna This is what I was thinking. If you put lace around the collar before you add the elastic, it will look even more deliberate. :) ------ Check out my sewing blog! filasewphie.blogspot.com
BLT Intermediate TX USA Member since 11/4/05 Posts: 177	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 4/7/10 1:46 PM Michelle, I keep checking back to see how this is going! I hope you've been able to fix things to your liking.

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