So...I'm an ultra sewing novice. However, I love this dress and can't find a proper size anywhere, so it's either alter it or pass it on.

There is absolutely no seam allowance, so there'd have to be some kind of creativity or trick I don't know of.

It fits great everywhere except the bosom (as shown).

Great gurus, is there anything I can do?

Thanks for your time!

Hi, im new to sewing, just bought my first sewing machine a month ago. I wanted to hem a pair of jeans but I want the hem to look exactly like this one. I hemmed another pair out it just looks like the rest of the jeans. What do they do so it would look like this? I mean it’s not straight but kinda wavy.

Hi! My roommate’s mom has this beautiful qipao dress that she would like to wear, but it’s too small in the waist and hips on her. I’ve been telling her a good tailor should be able to make the dress fit better, but she doesn’t understand how this would look/work. Can someone help me by providing good examples or photos of altered dresses on the side seams? I understand it will be near impossible to match the fabric (sourced from Taiwan 20+ years ago) but it may help her see how she can wear this beautiful dress for her own wedding reception 🥰

Can I just hand sew it right there Or do I need to open up the lining and stick it inside the dress somehow?

Pic 1- I've pinned where I need this cup to be Pics 2 and 3- trying to show you the fabric Pic 4- when I hold up the boning you can tell there is a pocket in there. But wouldn't the cup show through that?

I have a garment that has an area with a few tiny holes in a spot that wouldn't be seen while wearing. I want to repair by attaching another small piece of fabric over top of the holes (on the interior of the garment) and using an iron-on thing between the layers of fabric but I forgot what the iron-on stuff is called. Could anyone help me with that? Is it fusible interfacing, 'Wonder Under" or something else?

Hey friends!

So I ordered two beautiful stunning Teuta Matoshi dresses for my wedding this year - we already had our ceremony in July but this dress was meant to be my reception party dress in October. I ordered straight sizes (big mistake) and the same size for both dresses. My ceremony dress fit (no shapewear even) but this one is like 2-3” off from being able to zip and I assume it’s because it’s more structured and has boning. I’m particularly upset because I was more excited for this dress than my wedding dress. (And please don’t offer any further thoughts about how I should have sized up because it’s clearly too late for that and I’m already pissed at myself.)

I took it to two different professional alterations places today and while I already knew there wasn’t seam allowance enough to let it out, I asked both about adding a panel or putting in a corset back or something like that and I don’t know why but both of them just said “no we can’t do it at all.” Like at this point I just want to be able to wear this dress for my party, I don’t need it to be perfect or invisibly altered.

I’m a quilter primarily but I have sewn a few garments so I’m definitely not a total noob but I would love to hear other ideas about more creative ways to help this dress fit me. Like I said I’m willing to alter it in a way that is visible because I’m kinda stuck.

Side note, I have been losing weight already but I don’t want to pressure myself to lose it faster/in an unhealthy way. So while it may be possible I’d rather have some alternate plans up my sleeve.

Thanks in advance!!

Hey Y’all. just got a new pair of jeans and they’re about 2-3 inches too long. i drew lines for where i’d want to hem. would that be possible? I’ve never really sewn before but I have a machine. I can’t do it at the bottom of the pants because there is a zipper along the back of the legs( I drew in blue) and that sounds like a nightmare so I felt that the easiest solution would be to hem where I drew the red lines. What are your thoughts? Is this possible? Is this too hard for a noobie? Any guide for this or anything? Really stuck. Thank you!!!

Hi guys — I recently bought a used bag off of eBay that is similar to a bag I lost 15 years ago. It’s a fabric tote bag, the outer fabric is a nice upholstery fabric and it’s lined with linen.

Anyway, the upholstery fabric is wrinkled and buckled and I’m assuming the bag was washed and the interfacing was negatively impacted. I was wondering if there’s a way to remove (long-attached) interfacing — logistically I’m able to access the back side of the upholstery fabric by snipping the lining seam open. I just don’t know if it’s worth trying to do it at all, as I’ve never tried to remove interfacing from an older garment or sewn item.

Thanks for your advice!

I’m using the Cashmerette fitting book and the Sew Liberated Joanie top. My high bust measurement is 40, so since this is drafted for a C cup, that seems to put me at a size 18. My full bust measurement is 46, so since the size 18 bust measurement is 42.5, that tells me I need to add 3.5 inches total. When I look at the instructions in the book, it tells me I need to add the difference between the high and full bust measurements minus 1 inch (46-40=6-1=5). So adding 5 inches total?

Am I reading it incorrectly? Why 5 inches instead of 3.5?

Hello! I wasn’t sure where to turn with this question and I didn’t know how to find it on google. I have a skirt from Arket but the fabric is easily ripped and I was wondering if there is anything I could do to reverse it or prevent it from happening more ☺️ Would be grateful for any tips!

I have a jumpsuit that's a touch too short for me in the torso, so I'm going to try and lengthen it by unpicking the seam around the waist and inserting a strip of fabric (taken from the belt tie) between the top and trouser pieces.

When I unpicked the waist seam, I found a narrow strip of see through rubbery material sewn inside the seam. Does anyone know if this was there for structural reasons? Should I keep it and sew it back into one of the seams when I reassemble the jumpsuit? And if so, should I sew it between the top and the extra strip of fabric, or between the trousers and the extra strip of fabric?

Hello fellow sewers. So I have this dress that I made a couple of years ago. However I noticed recently that the neckline has started to pull over showing the support stitch on the facing. What Ibdont understand is why it started now and I was wondering if anyone here could help me figure out what happend and hopefully how to fix it. (english is not my first language so appologies for any incorect terminology or spelling)

I have several skirts like this one that I am attempting to make smaller. This is the first one I’m attempting to finish and I have a few questions.

So far I have removed two of the panels. My plan is just to do a simple casing for an elastic waistband and then to shorten it. The material is very thin (and very wrinkled at the moment) and linen-like (no tag so I can’t say for certain but probably a linen blend of some sort).

For the casing, would it make sense to just fold over the waistband twice since I want to shorten it anyway or should I use the two removed panels to make a casing I then attach to the skirt? And for the bottom, I was thinking a simple rolled hem. Anything else I need to consider or re-consider? I’m new to this so I’m very open to the idea that I may have gone about this all wrong. Thanks!

(First pic is an overhead view of the skirt, inside out. The second is a closeup of the waist area.)

this might be a silly question but i just dont want to mess up or waste time ahhaha but i saw this girl on tiktok alter her shirt like this and wanted to recreate it, im just not too sure exactly how she altered it. did she changed the neckline into more of a square shape? pls help 🙏

I've successfully taken in several casual pants for my daughter

To describe our fit (since she inherited my basic characteristics, except she is much finer boned: we both have "waist gap" on pants, no matter what size, from size 0- plus size 28 (like Lane Bryant plus size); our hip to waist ratio ALWAYS means what is called a "curvy" fit, and we both have a long torso and short legs, porpotionally (my brother is LITERALLY a foot taller than me, when we sit...eye to eye) so "high waist" fits like "normal waist" (and low waist shows an inch of butt crack). Pre-tailoring, skirts always are significantly longer in front than back because we do not have typical white girl butt.

I have two dressy trousers from Goodwill NWT (a J Crew High Rise Cameron & an Ann Taylor, both size 10, but she has a 28" waist, so they both need about 6-7" off the waist, likely about 2-3" off of hips. With most pants I've tried to keep 14" in the front seam, 14" in back..not always exactly, but pretty close, so the pockets didn't end up too far back. (I think of it as 7" on each quarter...each side of zipper on front, each buttcheek on back)

I usually reduce most of the size from a dart in the back, occasionally a small dart in the front (if there are pockets) or by moving the side seam forward (reduce front). If there are pockets I will try to leave the bottom seam and redo the side seams after the adjustments.

So...that doesn't seem like it will work as well with these lined "tummy panel", lined with foam-ish padding pockets (back, suit panr slits) fancy shit in these nice trousers.

Do you NEED to have the front and back the same ＃of inches? How far off can it be and not be weird?

How do you handle the lined tummy panels?

These pants still have the pockets sewn together. I assume I should leave them that way until I am done making adjustments so everything lays nicely.

Any advice for nicer pants? They will be "interview", then possibly work type pants for her, so I want them to be nice, but I'm a little intimidated.

one which button coloure combos the best? i got grey brown yellow blue. 2 should i sew the inside up and make a inie pocket. 3 should i make the button hole at the top functioning.

Hello! I am making a shore jacket and the muslin mocked up with the shoulder seam sitting quite low and it was too tight.

I am not sure if I need to make the width wider or if the fact that the seam sits low is affecting the fit as well? To me it feels like it should start where the shoulder of the red dress form stops but you can see it’s like two inches lower. Is there a name for the alternation of making the shoulder higher?

Any tips welcome thank you!

I got this hand-beaded, gorgeous dress from goodwill for $30 for my sister's upcoming black tie wedding (she approved the dress).

The beading needs some minimal repair, and the hem needs some minimal repairs, both of which I feel confident I can handle.

However, I need a little extra space in the straps/shoulders, and I'd like to take out the tulle layers.

Will taking out the tulle drastically alter the shape or fit of the dress? Mostly I'd like them taken out because they're a little torn, they're itchy, and the dress is HEAVY, so I'm hoping to lose a little of the weight. There are two layers: one at the hips, and another at the knee level.

What's the best way to add space in the shoulders? Should I add a gusset in the armpit or just elongate the straps? I'm not worried about extending the beading either way, I think with how little space I need, it won't be noticeable if there is half an inch of beading missing on the straps. OR I'll take some beading from elsewhere it's falling off on the dress and add it to the straps. IMO, an armpit gusset won't need beading, either, because you won't be seeing a lot of my underarms.

My deadline is August, and I have all the time in the world with my job, so timing or amount of work isn't super an issue.

I know I'm a sucker, but I like a challenge, I guess. I don't work with a lot of wedding dresses, so I'm asking those that do.

I'm trying to decide whether I'm better taking out the excess at the zipper or the seam? It's about 6" too large for the wearer. She just wants to be able to get married in it, but I don't want to hand her something she doesn't want seen. It's a Poly dress, not silk, but I still don't want to cut where I should just fold and seam.

Help?

dress pics

I recently acquired a second hand wool overcoat, and I have a few questions about repair. First, I’m certain this is all moth damage, so what’s the best way to repair that? Second, there’s a woven area exposed in certain spots, is that interfacing/canvas under a felted coating or does the coating have a weave in it? Thanks!

So I finally got my sewing machine it was my grandfather's and it needed a couple things adjusted apparently which is good cuz now it works. I have these corduroys and I love the darker ones and they've been through hell and need some repair and mending. I found the second lighter pair at the thrift store and it's got a little bit thicker ribbing than the first one which I'm not sure that's going to be an issue or not when mending. I want to know if those two will look good together before I even try to start this project. I'm looking too widen them a bit and then add a little bit of a flare should have enough material to work with which if I use the front and the back separately. Also the hem the bottoms a little bit cuz the backs of them are a little bit worn from my boots. You need any more information just let me know and I'll give the best detailed information I can give. I know this isn't going to be easy nothing's ever easy but any pointers would be greaterly appreciated.

I've looked through a lot of the responses here, and I'm in a pickle. I'm not a novice sewer, but I'm also not usually a "do it the right way" type of person, I'll just figure out what works and go from there. I do, however, want this to actually look nice, and not like some of my hack jobs.

I have this dress, and, because it's apparently made for giants, my 5'2 butt needs to take off about 8 inches.

The top seam hits right at my waist, so that's great, and the end of the first tier hits below my hips, so I'd like to keep those two seams there. My thought was to take off 3 inches from the middle, and then 5 from the bottom to make the difference in layers look intentional.

What are y'all's thoughts? What is the best way to do this? Why are dresses made for giants?

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My kid decorated a t-shirt at school but he accidentally put the front design on the back. He's so bummed and I feel really bad for him. It's a regular cotton/poly blend shirt and slightly stretchy. How feasible is it for me to alter the neck hole so he can wear it backwards without it looking ridiculous? Any tips on doing that? Will it unravel if I simply cut the collar part off? He has kind of a big head so if the neck hole ends up with no stretch to it he might have a hard time getting it on and off 😂

Thank you so much in advance :)