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Member since 10/29/03
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Posted on: 2/17/07 5:50 PM ET
I am making this top baby doll top. I made it before & the neckline was too low. I want to raise it, but not quite sure where or how exactly to do it. help please.

-- Edited on 2/17/07 5:53 PM --
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Beverly
  
Member since 7/10/06
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Posted on: 2/17/07 11:17 PM ET
Is the width of the strap at the shoulder OK? If so, I'd just angle out from the inside side of the shoulder in a line diagonal from the current cutting line, with the widest part (above the seam a bit, since it's a crossover) giving you whatever added height on the crossover pieces that you want.
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Member since 10/27/05
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Posted on: 2/17/07 11:20 PM ET
In reply to BJ1400
I found this website, but I don't know that it'll be what you were looking for. Click here. In the last sentence she says you can raise it by adding a bit of paper to the tissue. That's exactly what I thought too when I read your post. Add tissue paper to the area between the shoulder and V. Then put a dot/mark straight up from the V the amount you want to raise it, and redraw from the shoulder to that mark. Don't forget to add/include seam allowance. The problem I see here is that your pattern looks like (hard to see the pics) a faux wrap V neck and I don't know how that would work.

If you give it a bit more time, I'm sure someone else will post some ideas.

  
Member since 9/14/05
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Posted on: 2/17/07 11:22 PM ET
When you raise the neckline, it's going to crossover a little more than with the lower neckline. Start at the shoulder seam and redraw the neckline as high as you like, just make sure it's nice and even all the way to the bottom of the pattern piece. It's worked great for me, you just need to remember that the pattern piece is now slightly wider than the original.
  
Member since 10/29/03
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Posted on: 2/18/07 9:50 AM ET
Thanks everyone for your suggestions. It seems everyone is suggesting the same thing & what I thought too. I lay in bed last night thinking about how to do this There are upper bodice pieces that cross over a little, with gathers underneath & then attaches to the bottom gathered panel. I thought I would add width beginning at the shoulder & running all the way down. The problem I could see was that that would also add to the width at the bottom of the bodice piece which would increase the cross-over amount. But I don't see any other way.
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Beverly
  
Member since 3/4/03
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Posted on: 3/3/07 10:30 PM ET
All necklines are too big for me. I have the added problem that they are not right on the shoulders either so the bra straps peek out unless I make radical changes that often make the neck really weird. I am getting better with the neck but in past years a lot of bare in the neck made various garments not wearable or uncomfortable. How do you add to the shoulder area in addition to doing the alteration of raising the neck.
  
Member since 7/10/06
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Posted on: 3/3/07 10:34 PM ET
mssewcrazy, it sounds like you might be using a pattern too big in the shoulder. If you're using a multi-size pattern, start with a smaller size in the shoulder and grade out to a bigger size at the bust or wherever you need it. A lot of people recommend that you choose your pattern size by your high bust measurement (around the chest just below the arm) rather than the full bust measurement, and then make adjustments at the bust if needed, because the bust is much easier to alter than the shoulder.

Another possibility is that you have sloping shoulders, which make straps and necklines slide down off your shoulders. Fast Fit or Fit for Real People are both books that discuss this alteration. (Forgive me if I'm telling you something you already know.)
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Member since 3/4/03
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Posted on: 3/5/07 1:55 PM ET
I'll bet I have sloping shoulders as bras straps always head down. Recently I have been putting some double sided tape under my bra straps. I take up the shoulder width but it could be the neck size is too big that I am using. Even when I was small the necks were problematic. I wonder what size head the pattern makers think has to go through the necks- must be an enormous one.
  
Member since 5/28/06
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Posted on: 3/5/07 7:27 PM ET
In reply to BJ1400
I hope your still checking this post for reponses. Ann of Gorgeous Things recently did a play-by-play on how-to-raise-a-neckline on her blog.

Gorgeous Things' Blog

You'll have to scroll down to see it.

The style she used is quite similar to your baby doll top. So I think, it's worth a look!
  
Member since 10/29/03
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Posted on: 3/5/07 10:17 PM ET
In reply to poplin
Thanks for that link! I will print that out for future use. The top I was working on went in the garbage! I couldn't get the fit right & the fabric was awful slippery polyester But I try it again.
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Beverly
  
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