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Member since 5/3/08
Posts: 122
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Posted on: 10/16/08 11:25 AM ET
Specifically, I'm referring to this pattern. I know that shorten/lengthen lines are usually somewhere in the middle of the skirt, but I'm not sure where to remove the length. Any help would be appreciated.
  
Member since 10/16/07
Posts: 613
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Posted on: 10/16/08 11:44 AM ET
In reply to cutestcutie
I'm 5'2", and I usually draw one (sometimes two) shortening lines (they must be perpendicular to the grain line). One set I put between the waist and the hips (otherwise the hips on the pattern won't hit me right). The other set (when I do more than one set of shortening lines), I put somewhere in the middle between my hips and the bottom of the skirt. If it's a longer skirt, I put that second set of shortening lines somewhere around my knees.


ETA: Yes, you can just hack off a few inches from the bottom. But only if you first determine that the hips on the pattern are hitting your hips in the right spot. :)
I do the second set of shortening lines when there's a shape to the skirt I want to preserve (one that wouldn't be the same if I just shortened it from the bottom).
-- Edited on 10/16/08 11:47 AM --
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Becca
My blog: rosebee.dreamwidth.org
So much fabric & patterns to fantasize about, so little time to sew!!
  
Member since 5/3/08
Posts: 122
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Posted on: 10/16/08 11:55 AM ET
In reply to Rosebeee
Thanks for your helpI think I might just go the hacking route with this one, but I've bookmarked your reply for future reference where I need to adjust for the hip. I'm 5'5" so I think for this one the hip is in the correct place; I just don''t want it so long.
  
Member since 7/1/08
Posts: 699
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Re: How do I shorten a skirt that doesnt have a shorten/lengthen line? (posted on 10/16/08 1:11 PM ET)
Many skirts can indeed just have the length removed from the hem because they maintain a consistent shape below the hipline.

Only skirts that change shape, trumpet skirts, for example, suffer from being shortened at the hem.

Straight, dirdle, A-line, semi-circle, and circular skirts can all be adjusted from the hem without distorting the overall shape.
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3KB

"The combination of physical strength and moral sincerity combined with tenderness of heart is exactly what is wanted in a husband." Amelia Peabody Emerson
  
Member since 1/26/03
Posts: 3678
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Posted on: 10/16/08 1:22 PM ET
In reply to cutestcutie
In this case it's probably best to remove length from the bottom so you're also removing some width. A skirt that flares out like this has a lot of fabric and can be a bit much on a short person. For myself I even do this with simple A lines to narrow the width, after any hip adjustments.
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Member since 5/3/08
Posts: 122
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Posted on: 10/16/08 1:53 PM ET
In reply to Stitchology
Yes, exactly. A lot of the reviews said the skirt turned out poofy so hopefully shortening from the bottom will prevent that.
  
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