My favorite method of pattern alteration has always been Pivot & Slide from Nancy Zeiman's Fitting Finesse. But, for the first time, pivot and slide didn't work for me. What's a mother to do?My "otherwise perfect" daughter has a difficult body to fit. She has always been an athlete. She's played soccer, basketball and currently runs track. Her body is well developed in some places and over-developed in other places. Her back is broad, but she barely fills an A-cup. This made the strapless bodice a fitting nightmare. There was just enough room in the back of the dress and too much room in the bust area. If I'd used the pivot and slide technique as described in Fitting Finesse to decrease the bust, I would have decreased the entire circumference of the bodice, including the back. So, I turned to Sandra Betzina's Fast Fit. Betzina presented a method that specifically addressed a small bust in a princess seamed dress. The changes are applied to the bust area in the front of the dress and not the back. It's a good thing I had Fast Fit and an alternative method for altering the pattern. (Another reason to buy all the sewing books you possibly can.) I got a much better fit in the bust area, but I still may have to include the straps to hold the top closer to her chest.
Now, more about the "otherwise perfect" daughter. Her Senior Prom is less than a month away. I'm in a panic because I desperately wish I had more time to work on the dress. In the past, getting her to cooperate and try on anything has always been a challenge. After she tried on the first muslin, I finished the alterations and made the second muslin of only the bodice. I needed DD to try on the second muslin. She had the nerve to ask me, "Can we limit these fittings to one a night?" I have less than a month to finish the dress and she wants to establish limits! BUZZZ! Sorry, that's wrong! Teens must be the most self-centered beings on earth. Even more self-centered than panicky, stressed-out mothers!
I hear you! Teens ARE the most self-centered beings on the earth! Mine drives me crazy when I try to fit things on her because she's so ticklish--she keeps slapping my hands away. Makes for a very frustrating fitting session.
ReplyDeleteOk, I have no teenagers, but I can never sew for anyone else. Someone who doesn't sew has no appreciation of the hard work at all.
ReplyDelete"Can we limit these fittings to one a night?"
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh! That is hilarious!
You wouldn't need any fittings at all if she wanted to wear the emperor's new clothes :-)
Sure you can limit them to one a night, as long as she doesn't want the dress for, say, 2 months. ;)
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your daughter, don't worry about her sooo bussy schedule. This is such a wonderful time for both of you. Before you know it, she will be graduating from college and moving on to a wonderful future.
ReplyDeleteLOL, yeah. Patience mom. Two years ago when I made dsd a prom dress that was of her own design ideas, of black silk charmeuse, right up until the morning of prom she was tweaking the design. At noon on the day of prom she asked "Can we just change one more thing?" The answer "No".
ReplyDeleteThese are memory building times. And yes, the self centeredness rivals a two year old, don't you think?
My two favorite, and most used, sewing books. Like you, I love P&S. It's easy, and it works. I think Anne at Gorgeous once did a FBA with Nancy's method and FFRP's method, and they both came out the side. P&S is much easier in my opinion. And just about anything is easier than teenage daughters!
ReplyDeleteThat is too funny!!! (Now that my daughter is 26...not so funny when I was walking in your shoes!) I would tell her "Sure, we can limit the fittings if you don't care how it fits!" Is it any wonder in some species mothers kill their young? I'm kidding folks!!! Mary :)
ReplyDeleteLOL. I have never sewn much for my now 22 year old dd because of the same kind of nonsense your dd is pulling. She is now graduating from college and I promised I'd make her a wardrobe, if she didn't complain about having to stand still for the fittings! She made it through 2 muslins with nary a complaint in site. I am sure that your dd will grow up eventually, but probably not before her prom.
ReplyDeleteMy oldest daughter made her own prom dress, 3 years ago. Her date's mother couldn't get over how absolutely beautiful the dress was, and even told her son, "Lucky will be the man who catches this girl!" My youngest daughter hasn't even mentioned the prom yet, and we are still in the midst of The Great College Search!
ReplyDeleteI may be too late, but i recently saved a "has to be strapless" sundress for a friend of my daughter's. We sacrificed a bra, cut off the straps, tacked it firmly to the side seams and so it wouldn't peek out the front. It will hook before she zips the dress and provide some support so the dress waon't "fall down" without straps. Hope that helps.
ReplyDeleteI've used the pivot and slide method only once - it worked WONDERFULLY and I do plan on trying it again real soon.
ReplyDelete