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Member since 12/19/06
Posts: 6
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Posted on: 7/27/07 4:16 PM ET
Good day! I have done some internet searching without success and thought some of you folks might be able to help. I want to alter my maternity dresses to make them into "non-maternity" dresses. I am a beginner and have some idea of how I might make it work but I sure would appreciate the wisdom and experience of others first.

Thank you,
Mrs. Klause
www.clothedwithscarlet.typepad.com
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Mrs. Klause
www.clothedwithscarlet.typepad.com
  
Member since 4/28/04
Posts: 539
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Posted on: 7/30/07 1:42 PM ET
I haven't done this so bear this in mind as I comment, and hopefully someone with more experience will jump in.

I'm currently pregnant and, looking at what I have, it depends on how it is styled in the first place. I know to take some regular and make maternity you can sometimes add extra width bustline down and often lengthen the hem. Therefore, reversed, you would at least probably want to take out extra material by taking in both side seams on the garment and probably shortening the length in the front. If it has front gathers you probably would take those out. Many of mine have a longer hem in the front than the back to hang correctly with a big tummy. So that would need to be rehemmed to hang straight.

Again though, It would depend on the design of the garment to start with. Some of the empire waist styles right now I can wear pregnant just fine with no alterations, so alternatively empire maternity right now would probably look fine with zero alterations.

Tanya
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My sewing blog: weebeaks.blogspot.com
  
Member since 6/24/06
Posts: 2472
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Posted on: 7/30/07 8:58 PM ET
Many maternity garments have extra width in the front. If you lay the garment flat on a table front down you should see the front side seams wrap to the back, this is what you want to remove almost a triangle shape. Easiest way to alter this would be to take apart the side seam and pin out the excess front material. Try it on with a good fitting pant or skirt. The sideseams of the garment being altered should match pretty close to the other garment.

If you only took it in at the sideseam evenly the seams would be visible at the back and the front would still be larger.
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