Adjusting skirt

Elizabeth, given your parameters, I suggest you shorten the skirt from the top, then take the side seams in enough to fit you. I've altered skirts in this manner, when they could not be shortened from the hem. If this seems beyond your skills, perhaps you could find an alterations expert; a lettuce-edge hem _can_ be duplicated, given the right equipment. A really great garment deserves all the care you can give it, so let us know if you salvage your beloved. Cea

You don't have to retain that extra six inches! Cut it down to about 1-1/4 inch, and make a casing for elastic.

I don't think you need maternity stretch for this skirt, a 3/4" non-roll elastic should do just fine.

Once you're happy with the length, you really *can* cut off the excess, and you don't want that bulk. Serge the edge if you can, or zig-zag if you don't have a serger, sew the casing, thread the elastic through, et voila!

Beverly

In article , cea writes

Hi, Cea, and thanks for replying!

Ah, as I thought - good.

Hmm, wideness not really a problem as the "cut" and fall of the skirt hides this so will probably not narrow it!

Hmm, I really needed to know whether shortening from the top was ok (glad it is!).

More importantly, however, is the crumpling of the folded over material at the waist once I'm wearing it. The hemmed fold will be about six inches deep after I've folded it over enough and stitched it down.

I'm worried this will not remain a neat, six inch "hem" but will crumple into a messy "spare tyre".

I was reading another news thread about inserting stretchy "maternity" fabric. Perhaps if I lined the inside of the six-inch-fold (closest to my skin) with this fabric, it will stabilise it, stop it srumpling into a roll but also, importantly, be really just as comfortable as it is now?

I've folded up the six inches and pinned it with fine pins. It looks good but I just daren't start sewing yet until I'm certain that it will work when I wear it.

In article , BEI Design writes

*smiles* I only really needed someone to encourage me! You and Cea have decided me!

No serger, just a New Home, all-metal, straight stitch, one-direction- only machine (yup, I know some of you might remember I got given a Frister + Rossman but now is not the time to try out a new machine with my fave skirt!!)

Not sure it's really zz, the needle moves once to the left and then back again. I can alter how much it moves to the left with a lever. I have a range above the lever of 1-5 (5 being the zaggiest) for this zz. I can also alter stitch length, 1mm to 5mm.

What zz and what stitch length should I use?

What thread should I use?

Is there more than one kind of 3/4 inch non-roll elastic?

How do I know which one to ask for if there is more than one kind - should I take the skirt with me to the shop?

Am I right in thinking one needs about 2-3 inches less elastic than one's waist size?

If I use 3/4 inch wide n-r elastic, how wide should the casing on the skirt be?

OK, better now!

I shall try this on Saturday (only free day between now and then!). That will give me time to get up the courage to cut into the fabric.

Thanks bunches!

Oh, Cea and I are *full* of ... eerrrummm... "Good Advice", yeah, that's it, good advice. ;-)

Do some experimenting on that 6" scrap you cut off! ;-)

I'll let Kate answer that, I'm too lazy to convert mm to stitches-per-inch ATM. If I were zig-zagging to finish an edge on a stretchy fabric, I'd use a three-step stitch and make it width "5" (the widest it has, about a quarter inch) on my Singer

401A. Sorry, I know that doesn't help much.

A good quality 100% poly,.

How do I know which one to ask for if there is more than one > kind -

I doubt any fabric shops will stock more than a couple of flavors, probably white and black in several widths. Just pick one.

Best test is to safety-pin a length of elastic around your

*waist* for a comfortable fit, then be sure you can get it off over your *hips*. I like to have an overlap of about 1 inch to secure the ends together.

Measuring *up* from the actual waistline: .75" (outer part) +.75" (inner part)+.375" (3/8" seam allowance) = 1.875 (1-7/8") inches. Press on the foldline, and sew through all layers of the casing at 3/4" from the fold line. Be sure you leave an opening at the CB to insert the elastic. I like to leave the CB portion of the

• vertical garment seam* open, but there are other options.

ROTFL!

You're welcome. And thanks for the suggestion about a new way to use calories, I'll give that a try. ;-þ

Beverly

Smallish stitch: 2 - 2.5mm, and the narrowest zz you have available for the seam. Use a wide zz for neatening the edges.

Yup - Gutterman is usually OK, but check it. I also like Metler and Empress Mills.

In article , cea writes

Oh dear!

Oh deary-dear.

It's been hanging in the wardrobe for the last 2 years.

I shall now find a spot for it on my shelves. I am a real ditz!

Cea, if you can't hang bias items, what do you do when they are not dirty but just a bit sweaty and they need an airing (but not washing) before being put away?

Put them in the clothes dryer on "Fluff" for 5 minutes. Remove, smooth and fold.

Kathleen