Altering a colonial dress

Can you find fabric in a similar color (or use Sharon's method and "steal" some from the skirt) and add a gusset to the underarm area of the dress? It might be possible to add a small gusset from the front notches, around to the mid-back of the armseye.

Beverly

Beverly: Thanks so much! I can probably steal or find some appropriate fabric.

I'd been thinking of a gusset that runs from the waist to the hem of the sleeve, a long narrow diamond shape, tapering of course at the two ends. Your message seems to suggest I add a crescent moon shape added to the bodice, under the arms eyes. (where one would have ...uh ... perspiration stains if one forgot to wear shields.) Did I understand this correctly?

This is uncharted territory for me, so I would like to know which of these (or other) options is the best one.

Thanks very much. PAT

BEI Design wrote:

Apparently I misunderstood your problem with this dress. I thought the armseye was cut too high, and restricted movement. If the bodice and sleeve are both *too tight*, then your solution of adding width with a diamond-shaped gusset from waist to cuff of the sleeve would, probably address that.

Beverly

Pat the following site may help you with adding gussets to solve the armscye problems. If it is just the armscye itself that is causing lack of movement then I'd just add the diamond shaped armpit gusset but there are a range of other gussets you coul duse.

Looks like it would be dead simple to add more fabric in the front bodice, as well. (I vaguely recall a colonial dress my mama made for me...grade 3? age 8??...with a chest insert just like the pattern shows, and horizontal rows of lace stitched on top.

Might work to slash the sleeves on the outside, and add an insert that matches the bodice.

A Civil War dressmaker friend says "they always altered their dresses" as the wearer (out)grew them, the garment was passed along, etc. Can't hurt to look different from Everyone's Favorite Colonial Pattern, no?

HTH

--Karen D.