Sorry if this thread has been cover before.
Is there a tip anyone has for sewing blouses or altering bought ones, so that the front button area doesn't 'spread'. I am sick of safety pins in between the buttons/buttonholes to keep the blouse shut.
This has put me off sewing anything with buttons down the front.
Thanks for any input
cb
1: Make it bigger: the gapiosis is usually because the garment is too small in that area. If you are larger than a B cup, you need to do a 'large bust alteration' to the front pattern pieces. 2: Sew the buttons and buttonholes closer together.
3: Use larger buttons. Sometimes blouses are closed with tiny buttons that are not big enough for the job. Especially true of cheap factory made items.
Do you need a bust adjustment to your pattern (most are cut for B cups)? See also button respacing here:
Thank you Kate and Kay for your suggestions. These tips are something I hadn't thought of. Thank you so much. I have a bit more confidence now, and can't wait till summer comes around (we are in mid winter :-( ) so I can try my new buttonhole bit on my new sewing machine.
What a great group.
cb
Being an F cup, the large bust adjustment is one of the *first* things to occur to me! I also used to have to do another one for fat arms... :(
One button spacing idea that I like is grouped buttons: place two or three close together, and then make a longer gap between the groups! I also always space buttons so that the top one is correct, and the one at the centre of the bust is correct.
When I find a fabulous RTW top that needs to be enlarged, I check for covered shoulder pads. I take those out, unsew 'em, and make them into underarm gussets. This can add several inches.
Gaping fronts: ick. Velcro, extra buttons. Fold-over placket with hidden buttons. Or wear over a camisole or tank, the sides flapping freely in the breeze...oh wait, you said you're enjoying winter. In a few months!
HTH
--Karen M. wondering if a UK "F" cup means that Kate could fit right into the Scottville Clown Band
Karen - I am NOT enjoying winter, except when the sun is shining like today :-)
ps. What is RTW. I do like the idea of fold-over placket. Will try and find how it is done.
Thanks
RTW-ready to wear.
I took a course at Stretch and Sew about a hundred years ago. They suggested making the first button hole at the bust or gap point and measure from there. That way you hit the spot where you need it most. Then if you set the buttons in group s of 3 or 4 you will measure up or down from your bust for spacing. Juno
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