What is this text about? In this text we will answer the following questions: if the dress has become small, how to expand it, the dress has become small, how to make inserts, how to increase the dress a size larger. How to increase the size of a dress at home?
Many women are prone to spontaneous purchases. Therefore, after purchasing a new outfit, the question often arises of how to embroider a dress if it is small on the sides, narrow in the shoulders, too short, etc. Another option is also possible: the dress faithfully served its owner while she was as slender as a birch tree , but as soon as I gained a couple of extra kilos, it began to look untidy.
Thoughts about altering clothes visit both avid needlewomen and girls who have a vague idea of which side to pick up the needle and thread from. Minimal sewing experience will still be required. In fact, there is nothing too complicated in this process, you just need to stock up on time, patience and our advice.
Are we going on a diet or changing?
The main dilemma that visits women in such a situation is: what is easier - to remake yourself into a dress or a dress to suit yourself. Let's be honest: not everyone has the desire and willpower to lose weight. Sometimes health problems become an obstacle. But even when a woman is ready to take care of her figure, she does not always have the necessary amount of time. For example, an outfit was purchased for a holiday that will take place in a couple of days. In any case, it will not be possible to reduce your volume by a size or even more within such a period.
Then there is only one way out: make the dress bigger. Just first you need to soberly assess this possibility: imagine what you would like to see the end result, understand whether this particular style is suitable for remodeling. If the dress has additional elements (ruffles, ruffles, yokes), then after alteration they will successfully disguise the new inserts. And if it has a strict straight cut, then you will need to act extremely carefully so as not to spoil the impression of the outfit.
Shorten the skirt
You can shorten a skirt in several ways, and they will depend on the style of the dress:
- Trapezium implies uniform expansion downwards. To shorten this style, you must first put on the product and mark the desired length of the skirt. From the marked line you need to measure down 2-3 centimeters for allowances and make a mark or draw a line with chalk. You need to measure from the hem to the waist, but not vice versa! It is important to measure the same distance on all sides and then cut. Before stitching, make a small hem and baste the new seam. It is recommended to stitch after a control check.
- A straight skirt can be shortened much easier than other models. Even a beginner can cope with this task. The product must be folded at the seams and leveled on a hard, flat surface. Next, from bottom to top (to the desired length), marks are made on the right and left with chalk. Then the lines are connected, a straight line is drawn that will be parallel to the bottom. All that remains is to cut off the free edge evenly, hem and stitch. It is important not to forget to iron the seam so that it is not noticeable.
- Skirt with pleats. Before sewing or shortening a product with folds, you need to wash it and let it hang on hangers for several days. At home, it is easier to shorten such a skirt at the top than at the bottom. First, the skirt and the belt are torn off from the bodice, so extra centimeters are removed, and then the belt is sewn into place. In a studio setting, things are done differently. The folds are smoothed out using a special sender, the length is trimmed, like a trapezoid or sun flare, and then crimped back.
Pleated skirt
Tips and tricks
Before you get started, read the rules that will help you embroider your dress neatly and competently:
- If the dress has not yet been worn or has only been worn a couple of times, then the simplest solution is to open the side seams and reduce the seam allowance (of course, if its size allows this). So the outfit can be increased by a whole size, and no one will even notice anything.
- When choosing the size of the insert, keep in mind that a certain amount of material will go into the seam, as an allowance. Don't make your outfit too tight - you should be able to move comfortably. To expand the item by 1 cm, you will need a fabric flap of 5 cm, by 2 cm - 6 cm, etc.
- Before sewing, the material must be washed and ironed so that it takes on its true size and does not shrink into the finished product, ruining its appearance.
- If the sewn fabric contrasts with the dress itself, then you can add similar decorative elements to the sleeves and neckline to make everything look harmonious.
- If only one specific place (chest or hips) is not suitable in size, then it is permissible to make inserts only in this area. But when the waist is narrow, you have to alter the entire outfit.
Sew the armhole under the arm
If the dress is wide in the sleeves and under the arms, it is recommended to sew in the armhole so that the product fits beautifully to the figure. To narrow the sleeve neckline, the first thing you need to do is outline it. Then the clothes are put on and the shoulder point and axillary folds are located. To do this, you need to hold a ruler under your hand and mark the front and back notches along its top line with chalk. It is necessary to measure the product on underwear and with shoulder pads, if they are expected when wearing a dress.
You might be interested in this: The procedure for constructing patterns for men's shirts
How to sew an armhole
How to embroider a dress if it is small in the hips, waist, or chest?
If the clothes are tight only in the hips, then this simplifies the situation. There is no need to completely rip the seams along the entire length. You can limit yourself to the hip area and make wedge-shaped inserts on both sides. Just keep in mind that in this case dark contrasting inserts are preferable. A light outer line of the hips will visually fill them out.
If the outfit is too tight in the chest and shoulders, then there are possible solutions to the problem. The easiest way is to deepen the neckline. Of course, not every style allows this, so you can use ribbons as an alternative. They are inserted into a previously opened seam and sewn. Sew on one wide ribbon or intertwine several narrow ones - the choice is yours.
The hardest part to fix is the waist area. To do this, you will have to rip the seams from top to bottom: you won’t be able to get by with short inserts - they will stick out sloppily. Therefore, a long piece of fabric is inserted along the entire length. It will be wider at the waist, narrower at the chest and hips. But all transitions are made smooth, and then the material will not wrinkle.
The most important thing is not to overestimate your strength. If you feel that you cannot cope with the alteration yourself, contact professional seamstresses. This is also advisable if the product is expensive and there is a risk of spoiling it.
Changing darts
Darts are adjusted only if the dress does not bulge completely according to the figure, but only in some places, for example, it is large in the chest. Then you need to adjust the darts, that is, sew them in a little so that the product becomes a little narrower.
Method for updating darts step by step:
- you need to put on the dress, twirl in front of the mirror and determine in which places it needs to be reduced;
- all the “extra” is pinned to mark the places of adjustment;
- then the item is removed and turned inside out;
- Based on the intended volumes, it is necessary to sweep out the darts, try them on and sew them with a machine seam.
To prevent the seams from being noticeable, they must be ironed or steamed before wearing the item.
Adjusting darts
What to do if the dress is short?
Often the problem is not the need to space out the dress or increase its size, but the need to make the outfit longer. Methods for restoring a dress along the length will depend on the style and desired image:
- Sewing a strip of fabric that is similar in color and texture can be tricky because the new seam at the bottom of the hem usually looks silly. As an option: make an insert not at the bottom, but at the waist, pre-strap the transverse seams. However, not every style allows this possibility, so in most cases it is recommended to hem elements from a different fabric to the hem.
- It is better to buy a wide lace ribbon and put it on the dress, so it will look elegant and stylish.
- You can sew frills to the hem. It is also permissible to add them, for example, to sleeves. This method is well suited for holidays and special occasions.
- An interesting effect is created by a dress with a bright strip of fabric, different in shade and pattern from the main material. Such a thing will look original and unusual.
- Sometimes you can not bother with fabrics at all, but sew fringe, tassels, and woven beaded elements on the bottom. The result is a fun, playful outfit, especially appropriate in the summer.
Increasing the overall width
We have already discussed in a few words above how to do this along the side seam. Moreover, this method is well known and described on the Internet. We will consider original solutions.
There is no need to have a seam on the back. If you need to increase the size of a blouse or tunic, you can simply cut it, leaving the neck intact. Finish the edges of the cut nicely. You can make overlays from leather or denim. Sew in several ribbons, which will then be tied into bows, preventing the cut from diverging when bending or other movements.
You can insert lace or mesh into the cut. You can drape the fabric and close the cut. It all depends on the figure, how much the item needs to be expanded and the desired end result.
There are no options ahead. You need to make an insert from a material that matches the texture and color.
How to choose material for alteration?
If the new dress does not fit or the old one is too small, then before altering it it is important to choose the appropriate material. There are different options here. The optimal, but at the same time boring solution is the selection of identical fabric that fully matches the original. This option is relevant for business images, when excessive frivolity and extravagance are not encouraged.
If the dress is festive or casual, you can make it more interesting by inserting a piece of fabric that differs in color and texture from the entire dress. In evening dresses, you can sew mesh or guipure on the sides, adding femininity and mystery to the image. If you are not ready to wear transparent fabrics, then it is better to use a combination of silk or satin with mesh on top.
You can sew in inserts that contrast in color. It’s especially possible to come up with a lot of successful combinations for a black or white dress. When you buy material, be sure to take the outfit you are looking for with you to the store so you can immediately figure out whether you will like this or that combination. It is very important to choose high-quality fabrics that are easy to finish and do not require special manipulations or technical means when processing the edges.
Video: how to increase the size of a dress with your own hands?
Shrinkage after washing
This method is only suitable for natural woolen items. When exposed to high temperatures, they tend to shrink, that is, shrink. If the dress has lost its shape or stretched, it is recommended to soak it in water at +50–80 degrees. The hotter it is, the more it will shrink.
Wool after washing
It is worth remembering that the thing will not stretch back, so it is important to be careful. It is better to wash by hand in order to control it in a timely manner.
Thus, the process of changing the size of your favorite dress after reading this article will not be so difficult for any girl or woman.
In the studio
The need to take a sundress or dress to a studio arises if you can’t do it yourself or don’t have a machine. It is also better to trust a specialist if the dress has a complex cut or needs to be changed by 3-4-5 sizes (then only a professional can recut it).
It is also important to remember that there are certain specifics when working with elastic fabrics. They can become pulled together or deformed when sewing and, in order not to spoil the product, it is better to trust the seamstress
If the dress has a complex pattern and many elements, then it will be difficult to reduce its size on your own. In this case, it is better to hand over the dress for a girl or woman to an atelier; experienced seamstresses will do it efficiently. Evaluate the rationality of your choice; this option is not always economically justified. It should be remembered that different fabrics used for sewing dresses have different quality characteristics, for example, linen and knitwear. They stretch and lay differently, this should be taken into account when remaking finished products.
Caring for deformable items
After shrinking and subsequent stretching, the item requires more careful care than before.
Recommendations:
- give preference to hand washing;
- use only cold water;
- choose a detergent suitable for the material;
- during the procedure, do not rub things, but simply gently dip them in water;
- do not twist the product, but simply blot it with a towel;
- dry only in a horizontal position in natural conditions;
- Try to iron things as little as possible, and if ironing is required, iron through gauze without the steam function.
Of course, it is better to prevent things from shrinking than to fix this problem later. To do this, simply follow the prescribed instructions for caring for delicate materials. If the product does shrink, you can return its size using mechanical influences and available means.
