Simple Skirt Alteration Help

Srujana

I'm a total novice when it comes to having alterations done, and I just wanted to ask for advice.
I bought this skirt (in olive) last week: http://www.downeastbasics.com/uptowncordskirt.aspx and since I'd never ordered from this site before, I erred on the safe side and ordered an XL. the skirt is lovely (no pics of it on me ATM) but it is quite large at the waist. I can easily pinch an inch or two at the waistband, and am afraid that it might slip off me if I wear it as is.

This should be an easy fix, right? Corduroy is a forgiving enough material to take in? Anything in specific that I should be aware of, or know to tell the seamstress?

16 years ago

General

6 replies

Latest reply was from Isabel

MsMaven

Veteran

If it has a waistband she will have to take it off, shorten it and take in the skirt, and reattach it. Not difficult, but somewhat time consuming. If no band it should just be a matter of taking in the side seams or darts if there are any, although it might make a difference if there is interfacing or a top facing. An experienced seamstress will have done this many times. I sewed with corduroy a lot when I was young--the most challenging part was to make sure you had the nap running in the same direction on all pieces. Not a problem with a constructed piece (or at least it shouldn't be.)

16 years ago

elpgal

Veteran

Srujana, I don't have alteration advice but have a question about the skirt. The description says it is a low-rise A-line. Do they seem that way?

16 years ago

taylor

Veteran

I'm no pro, but do some simple alterations, and I think this is simple. If there is no zipper in the back ,a simple seam from top to bottom should bring it in nicely..but as MsMaven mentioned a waistband could be more complicated. I think Sandy is our resident seamstress so hopefully she will be checking in here....good luck:)

16 years ago

Anonymous

Hi there, I just saw this post, and Taylor I have come to help. HaHa! I have come to the rescue!!!!
Hi Srujana, to me this seems like a simple alteration and that the seamstress will have all of the answers to your questions. It sounds like a very basic alteration. After speaking with the seamstress, if you still have questions, get back to us and we'll see if we can answer them. I think any seamstress advertising herself as such, would look at the skirt and be able to tell you the steps she will take as in 1. 2. 3.
Please show us the results!!!!

16 years ago

Ele

(website)

Active Member

Taking things in at the waist is generally a simple alteration- and one of the most common ones seamstresses do! Yes, it's a bit trickier with a waistband and lining, but nothing she won't have seen before.

16 years ago

Isabel

Veteran

Hi Srujana,

There are mostly two ways to alter the waistband :

Take off the waistband as mentioned and then reattach it ( like mentioned above ). This could be laborious and cost anywhere from $30 -$40, at least where I live.

Or, as someone else mentioned, there can be a seam or gather put into the waistband right above the seams of the skirt without taking anything apart. My wonderful seamstress charges $7 for this.
( I do this all the time to pants and skirts ).

Where this all gets tricky is if the waistband needs to be taken in alot, because when the rest of the skirt is re-attached, the top circumference of the skirt may be more than that of the waistband. You should ask the seamstress if this is probable, how she will handle it, and how much it will cost.

I once had a skirt that needed so much tightening, that the waistband was done, then the entire skirt had to be cut and narrowed to look proportional to the narrower waist.......it ended up being very costly. Honestly, in the end, it wasn't worth it because she practically re-cut the entire thing and put it back together.

16 years ago

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