AboutSharon Vogel Expertise I can answer general sewing questions as well as tailoring, heirloom, menswear, children's wear, craft sewing, quilting and just about any fabric or notion. I can also help with some sewing machine repair and maintenance.
Experience I started sewing at the age of 3...thanks to my mom and grandmother, and I am now in my fifties. Home economics classes in junior high and high school helped me to finesse my skills.
Education/Credentials Palmer and Plesch tailoring class
Basically, self-taught...give me the instructions and I will figure it out and then make it better!
Awards and Honors A few blue ribbons at fairs along the way
Expert: Sharon Vogel Date: 5/13/2008 Subject: Taking in a strapless dress
Question Hi,
I need to take in a strapless chiffon bridesmaid dress about 4 inches in the bust (they ordered me a size 16 in bridal because of my hips). My chest is not super small, a 36 D, but it gapes and it has seams down the bust and sides with boning, I also noticed the curve of the bust extends much farther down that it needs to. I have basic sewing skills, How do I do this?
Answer Jesse,
I am assuming the dress is lined, but you can still do a pretty quick fix if the lining and the chiffon are cut along the same lines...in other words can be thought of as one piece.
Put the dress on wrong side out...hopefully your breasts are essentially the same size (not being rude...just makes it easier)!
Fold in the excess fabric at both side seams and pin. Baste, probably by hand to be able to work around the boning, tapering the seam allowance into the waistline then try the dress on right side out. Since the dress is 4 inches too big in top, the seams over the bust may have moved too far toward the sides. If that is the case, you will have to take out some of the extra width in those seams, which may be more work than you want to try by yourself. But if you are game to try it, take up about half the extra width at the bustline seams and the other half at the side seams. You can also pin out the fullness of the too long curve below the bust line at the same time. Taper from the point of the bust line into the extra curve then taper back to the seam going into the waistline area. Baste the pinned in seams and try on right side out. If it looks ok, then you can sew it with a regular length stitch. You may also need to do some hand sewing to make everything look smooth and neat.
Good luck and if you have more questions, please write again.
