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Member since 9/15/06
Posts: 31
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Posted on: 3/23/09 11:22 PM ET
--I've looked through the boards and don't see exactly what my question is already asked elsewhere-- hope I'm not repeating someone else here.

I need to take 1 7/8 inches off the skirt of a vintage pattern with no lengthen/shorten here line. The skirt is a drapey A-line and I want to keep the movement at the hem edge.

Question 1: How do you find the usual alteration line as one sees it on a modern pattern? How does the location of that line relate to the full hip location?

Question 2: In order to keep the style line of the skirt, do I take all the length out just below the hip? Do I take half out at the hip and half out at the hem?

Thank you! So grateful to have these forums to ask!
  
Member since 10/16/07
Posts: 613
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Posted on: 3/23/09 11:45 PM ET
In reply to myrasweet
Does this pattern grading chart help at all? I find it helpful to tell me the best places to petite a pattern.

This article is the more detailed explanation/instructions for the pattern grading chart.

It says you take out half at the hipline, and half at mid-thigh. :)
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Becca
My blog: rosebee.dreamwidth.org
So much fabric & patterns to fantasize about, so little time to sew!!
  
Member since 9/15/06
Posts: 31
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Posted on: 3/25/09 12:05 PM ET
Rosebee, thanks for your reply and the links and sorry to take so long to acknowledge-- I'm down with a cold. I ended up just taking up two inches at 10 inches below the waist (so removing inches 10-12). The fullest hip of the woman I'm sewing for is at 8 inches. There's a 3" hem allowance on this dress so I think I can do any more fudging at the hem.

Thanks!
  
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Member since 7/26/07
Posts: 15334
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Posted on: 3/25/09 12:24 PM ET
In reply to myrasweet
Sorry you are not feeling so well. Hope it goes away soon.

Rosebee's links are perfect. I am 5'3' and have always intuitively shortened skirts just below the hip and then halfway between that and the hem line to preserve the skirt's shape. On a "trumpet" style skirt I have been known to shorten in 3 places. It depends on how much shortening is needed.

There are times when you look at what the shape would be if you just cut off at the bottom and you can see that it changes everything (or at least a lot). Keep this in my as other situations come up. You can shorten as many times and in as many places as you need to in order to maintain the line of the skirt.
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"Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible." Dalai Lama

"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

“Be curious, not judgmental.” Ted Lasso
  
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