vogue v8003 evening skirt pattern

Where did you add the 4 inches, at the bottom of the flounce? I would think that way would of add fullness. Maybe the fabric you used is too flimsy. Also I noticed when you look at the pattern straight on, it isn't really very full. The views showing it from the side look fuller, almost like a train effect. Maybe you could add horsehair braid to the hem to make it stand out more. On a straight skirt I add the length to the bottom of the skirt, or where they say "shorten or lengthen here" on the pattern pieces. On bias cut skirts I add to the bottom because I don't mind the extra width at the bottom.

There were three places that it said I should add length so I split the

I would think

The thing is that no matter where you add length, if the skirt is designed to get wider as it goes down then the additional length will mean that it loses fullness proportionally. That is unless you also add width to the pattern pieces in proportion to the increased length. I just suddenly realised this and wondered why they don't mention it, and whether there is maybe a rule that I don't know about for working out how much extra width to add.

For example if you add 5% length then I guess you should add 5% width as well.

It actually just not quite flimsy enough. It sits in large strong folds rather than delicate ones.

That's a thought. I'll have a think about that. I wondered if maybe in the magazine they'd carefully laid the hem out before taking the photo but that seems like cheating. If the pattern is good then the skirt should sit properly without being arranged.

Cool. Thanks.

Jen

I don't know that there is a hard and fast rule. I can tell you what I do. I slash the pattern where it says to lengthen it, then I move the pattern pieces apart however much I need to add. I use freezer paper to add to the pattern paper; I slide that under the original pieces and tape in place. Then I just eyeball the difference in width. I make a smooth line from the narrower part to the fuller part. Since you divided up what you needed to add, that should be fine. You shouldn't need to add to the width. The proportion should be fine.

Sharon

I agree w/ the above. I have this pattern and cut it from light wt satin and planned to line it w/ light wt cotton. I have not sewn it yet. I was making it for a cruise and did not have time to finish the sewing and wound up wearing something else. Now I am excited to sew it up. Please post pics of your skirt.

Kay

That might be an idea, but you will eventually run into width-of-fabric issues if you get too carried away.

Which view of the skirt did you make? A B or C? I would make different choices for altering each of the views (and I'm 5'10" also).

Having once rubbed baby oil all over industrial plastic filters during an advertising photo shoot, some amount of fussing with the hang of the skirt would not surprise me at all.

Also, a size 6 skirt will have different proportions than a size 22 (to take it to the extremes) because only if the size 6 person was 5'6" tall and the size 22 was about 6.5' would the proportions be the close to the same. (OK, so I totally pulled the six and a half feet out of my hat) therefore, altering a size 6 for 5'10" would lead to different choices as to proportion and so on then if the alterations were for a size 22 at

liz young

Jen wrote: ...

Couple ideas: try washing it. If that doesn't help, repeat, and add fabric softener.

Also, try a petticoat underneath. (I went to a 1950s-set play last week, and enjoyed seeing crinolines again.)

HTH

--Karen D.