Tailoring question

Minaminu

I recently bought this preloved cotton dress at a bargain price! Colour works well for my skin tone and thankfully it overall

fits well, I am just unsure on the neckline. To my eyes, it does not sit well and constantly moves and is distracting. I managed to find some pictures worn by a model and you can see that this is intended, it is just that in my case it is even more!

I wonder, due to its knitted material, how easy is it to change the neckline? I remember Angie recommended last year a burgundy pleated dress in v neck and thought it was really lovely, so I'd be interested to see it is possible to change it.

Many thanks!!!

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by Minaminu

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1 year ago

General

8 replies

Latest reply was from Minaminu

Tanya

Veteran

Pretty dress! Tailoring knitted materials is tricky, but not impossible. It is more of a matter of finding a good tailor you trust, and asking them if it can be done. Mine will refuse to do what he thinks cannot be properly done.

1 year ago

Minaminu

Veteran

Tanya, that is indeed my worry! My tailor is OK to shorten the sleeves but raised both eyebrows when I suggested changing the neckline!

1 year ago

Joy

Veteran

Taylor's have told me to look for a back seam when buying things that will need taking in on top. It makes alterations easier and less expensive. Does the dress have a back seam? Linings also add expense as they must also be altered. That looks.Ike a great dress. Try a different bra, small shoulder pads, to change the fit of the neckline. Will you be wearing the dress under a topper. That can put pressure on the neckline too. I will be watching this thread for ideas.

1 year ago

Val

Active Member

Changing this to a v-neckline would likely require cutting off the existing neckband and replacing it with a new, longer neckband, since the new neck opening would be larger. It’s not a difficult sewing job. The hard part is that it needs extra fabric. Would your tailor be able to source a matching or coordinating ribbed fabric, that’s the question.

1 year ago

Minaminu

Veteran

Joy, thank you so much for all those fab suggestions! I will look at the shoulder pads and will also try with something on the top. The material is cotton, not sure it if would work for

Val, I will need to cut the sleeves as currently they ar so long that they cover my hands and more! So maybe the cutting could be used for the v-neck.I originally thought of altering the length so that it covers the wrist but maybe I should think if half size or 3/4 length would work better. Uhm...

1 year ago

cjh

(website)

Veteran

It might be possible to make a v neckline with a facing instead of a self-fabric banding or binding.

https://www.professorpincushio.....-neckline/

1 year ago

Jenava

(website)

Veteran

Is this a sweater knit, like a knitted fabric? Or is it knitted like a ribbed jersey knit? As long as it can be cut without it unraveling I think making a v neck would be not too difficult. Ribbing might look odd on a v-neck so I think I'd probably try a facing to finish the neckline.

1 year ago

Minaminu

Veteran

Thanks Cjh! I had a look at the link and it seems to be pretty straight forward with that material.
Jeneva, the material is a ribbed jersey knit and I could check how the material "moves" when I'll be shortening the sleeves (will be using an overlocker machine).
Fingers crossed!

1 year ago

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