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Member since 6/19/14
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Posted on: 8/3/15 1:46 PM ET
I think I have an idea of how to do this, but I'm hoping some more experienced minds would be so kind as to chime in! I'm working on my Halloween costume and would like to draft a combined armhole and neckline facing to finish it with. The pattern, a maxi dress from BurdaStyle, is very rudimentary and calls for the edges to be turned under and topstitched, but that isn't going to work for me. There aren't any darts in the pattern; the bust shaping comes from gathers at the shoulders and I'm wondering what to do with these gathers when I draft the facing: do I fold them out as a dart?

Here's the line drawing of the dress, the gathers are shown as an unsewn dart:



TIA!
  
Member since 6/10/10
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Posted on: 8/3/15 3:41 PM ET
In reply to MisfitToy
If you fold the pleats out as dart and it's not too tight, that's probably the way to go. Sometimes these types of pattern has less ease because they assume the unsewn dart will provide the additional ease. But since it's just a facing and doesn't go all the way down, I think you'll be OK.
  
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Posted on: 8/4/15 4:15 AM ET
Would the dart involve shaping or just take up the excess fabric? If you can lay the pattern flat after folding out the pleats, then I don't think you need to dart the facing. Just make sure that the back measures as wide as your back so it's not too tight. The pleats are to provide draping lower down than your shoulder blade, so you shouldn't need excess bulk in that area.
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I need to move to a new house. My fabric stash is too big for this one.
  
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Posted on: 8/4/15 2:00 PM ET
In reply to Alpine Queen
The dart does provide shaping, which is needed in the front, but not so much in the back. It's not a great pattern, the back is the exact same as the front and the v-neck is created by just being yanked over to the side, the way the pattern is drafted the neckline and center front/back seams are a straight line. You can see what's happening in this image:


So, I'm trying to make the best of a bad pattern. I have "costume standards" for this project, which are a bit lower, so I don't mind it terribly. The overall shape of the pattern is exactly what I need, I just want to make it work as best as possible, within reason.
  
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Posted on: 8/4/15 2:47 PM ET
In reply to Alpine Queen
Waiting to see the finished garment. I hope you review it.
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I need to move to a new house. My fabric stash is too big for this one.
  
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