Sprucing up my Standard gown - sewing questions!

[Sandra Rutherford]

Suspenders (AKA braces). Facetious, but seriously it just might work if they can be hidden, etc. They do keep my interchangeable tail suit pants up...

I did big snaps. But the waistband was stoned so you didn't see them. Never fell off.

 

[Sandra Rutherford]

I have been madly sewing for the last few days and in my rush I have made a huge mistake.

I've taken in the princess seams for my overdress AND underdress way too much. I think it's because I split the front pattern piece into two and then took that seam in again when the whole dress was too loose.

What the heck can I do to fix it? Someone suggested a V-shaped splice from neck to waist. I'm thinking maybe a long vertical strip of fabric down the center? Should I be adding triangles under the arms? I'm not digging this ruched thing, either. That's not at all intentional.

The dress is wearable right now but definitely not ideal.

View attachment 2974

The princess seam to me does not seem to be in the correct place in the first place. So I am thinking you could can a princess seam panel. Cut it where the seam is now and add a panel of black velvet that goes from the top of the princess seam to the hem. I say velvet only because that is what it looks like on the piping. It would be dramatic. I saw a woman on the dance floor with a black and white swirl stripe dress and she stood out so much. You could only stone the black velvet or the reverse. I can draw you what I am thinking if you like the idea.

 

[Sandra Rutherford]

I have been madly sewing for the last few days and in my rush I have made a huge mistake.

I've taken in the princess seams for my overdress AND underdress way too much. I think it's because I split the front pattern piece into two and then took that seam in again when the whole dress was too loose.

What the heck can I do to fix it? Someone suggested a V-shaped splice from neck to waist. I'm thinking maybe a long vertical strip of fabric down the center? Should I be adding triangles under the arms? I'm not digging this ruched thing, either. That's not at all intentional.

The dress is wearable right now but definitely not ideal.

View attachment 2974

Or here is an idea that you had with the Vee in the center except I am not sure it will work because it looks like the princess seams are over to the underarm too much. https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/2c/2a/a9/2c2aa9f95eea010d8ccaa2e275f88729.jpg

 

[Sandra Rutherford]

I have been madly sewing for the last few days and in my rush I have made a huge mistake.

I've taken in the princess seams for my overdress AND underdress way too much. I think it's because I split the front pattern piece into two and then took that seam in again when the whole dress was too loose.

What the heck can I do to fix it? Someone suggested a V-shaped splice from neck to waist. I'm thinking maybe a long vertical strip of fabric down the center? Should I be adding triangles under the arms? I'm not digging this ruched thing, either. That's not at all intentional.

The dress is wearable right now but definitely not ideal.

View attachment 2974

The panel in the middle could be wider like this on the right. https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/48/28/ce/4828ce2f02aa270b3f546381b71a914b.jpg

 

[Sandra Rutherford]

I have been madly sewing for the last few days and in my rush I have made a huge mistake.

I've taken in the princess seams for my overdress AND underdress way too much. I think it's because I split the front pattern piece into two and then took that seam in again when the whole dress was too loose.

What the heck can I do to fix it? Someone suggested a V-shaped splice from neck to waist. I'm thinking maybe a long vertical strip of fabric down the center? Should I be adding triangles under the arms? I'm not digging this ruched thing, either. That's not at all intentional.

The dress is wearable right now but definitely not ideal.

View attachment 2974

This one has a bit of my earlier idea. http://cdn.supadupa.me/shop/2242/images/1971943/Simplicity_9206_womens_pattern_large.jpg?1435443289

 

[Sandra Rutherford]

I have been madly sewing for the last few days and in my rush I have made a huge mistake.

I've taken in the princess seams for my overdress AND underdress way too much. I think it's because I split the front pattern piece into two and then took that seam in again when the whole dress was too loose.

What the heck can I do to fix it? Someone suggested a V-shaped splice from neck to waist. I'm thinking maybe a long vertical strip of fabric down the center? Should I be adding triangles under the arms? I'm not digging this ruched thing, either. That's not at all intentional.

The dress is wearable right now but definitely not ideal.

View attachment 2974

Or this one

but go to the hem

 

[Sandra Rutherford]

I have been madly sewing for the last few days and in my rush I have made a huge mistake.

I've taken in the princess seams for my overdress AND underdress way too much. I think it's because I split the front pattern piece into two and then took that seam in again when the whole dress was too loose.

What the heck can I do to fix it? Someone suggested a V-shaped splice from neck to waist. I'm thinking maybe a long vertical strip of fabric down the center? Should I be adding triangles under the arms? I'm not digging this ruched thing, either. That's not at all intentional.

The dress is wearable right now but definitely not ideal.

View attachment 2974

Here is another similar to my first idea

 

[Sandra Rutherford]

Or here is an idea that you had with the Vee in the center except I am not sure it will work because it looks like the princess seams are over to the underarm too much. https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/2c/2a/a9/2c2aa9f95eea010d8ccaa2e275f88729.jpg

 

[mindputtee]

Is it too tight throughout the whole bodice or just in certain parts?

 

[mindputtee]

The ruching looks like your center piece was more stretched than your side panels when you sewed it. Maybe check your presser foot pressure and make sure everything is going through smoothly?

 

[Dancing Irishman]

What mindputtee said on the presser foot. I'd also add that you might find the full stretch of it being on your body and weighed down with skirts / anchored by the leo bottom (if you're building one in) might fix the light ruching effect you're seeing. Depending on how you sewed the seems, it might be a pain to open up the center front and add more fabric, which I think is what you're talking about but not 100% sure.

 

[Lioness]

Is it too tight throughout the whole bodice or just in certain parts?

Pretty much just through the chest. I feel like it would easily accommodate an A or a B cup, but certainly not an E.

I know where I went wrong...I cut the front panel singly instead of on a fold because it's one continuous panel from shoulder to hem and I wanted more flare in the skirt. Then when I tightened all the seams because the dress was too loose, I tightened the center front seam as well.

 

[Lioness]

The ruching looks like your center piece was more stretched than your side panels when you sewed it. Maybe check your presser foot pressure and make sure everything is going through smoothly?

To be honest I imagine I just pulled the fabric. I'm very bad with that.

 

[Lioness]

What mindputtee said on the presser foot. I'd also add that you might find the full stretch of it being on your body and weighed down with skirts / anchored by the leo bottom (if you're building one in) might fix the light ruching effect you're seeing. Depending on how you sewed the seems, it might be a pain to open up the center front and add more fabric, which I think is what you're talking about but not 100% sure.

Hmm. I'll definitely consider an anchor. I do want to fix the boob room bit though.

I actually find serged seams very easy to unpick! I'll give it a try now and see how it goes.

 

[wooh]

I like the "piping" idea. A contrasting color all along those seems could be lovely. You've got curves, flaunt them.