How to properly alter a dress for a larger size, step-by-step instructions and choice of material

When you buy without first trying, it often happens that the thing turns out to be bulky. Almost any wardrobe item can be easily sewn to fit. But what to do if the dress turns out to be tight, is it possible to change it to a larger size, how to do it - such questions are often asked after shopping without trying. Dresses of a certain style can be reworked to become fuller in the sides, chest and thighs.

What you need to work

To remedy this situation, it is necessary to prepare special sewing accessories. The process of reworking a finished product is often associated with patience, as ripping seams becomes the basis for reworking a dress.

What do you need:

1. Sharp tailor's scissors and small nail scissors. Scissors are essential for ripping open seams, making cuts and cuts.
2. Needles and pins. Necessary for chipping or joining different parts of the product when sweeping parts are planned.
3. Centimeter, ruler.Necessary to draw straight lines so that the parts of the product are symmetrical to each other.
4. Chalk or bar soap. With the help of these objects, marks are left on the fabric, lines are drawn along which it is necessary to make a seam in the future.
5. Yarns of different colors. They select yarns that match the main color of the product in the shade and also use colored yarns in order to highlight an area of ​​the dress.
6. Sewing machine. It will be needed for overlapping seams.

Reference! To tear small seams, it is recommended to use razors or stationery knives.

Increase Instructions

It is quite easy to reduce the finished product by size, but it is almost impossible to enlarge the finished product by one size. The exception is women's dresses, which are sewn according to standard patterns. This is due to the peculiarity of using the technique when special allowances are left on the sides, as well as on the main seams. With the help of this simple technique, it is possible to make a tight-fitting dress fitted at the waist.

The style and model of the dress are also important in the modification. The more inserts, accessories or decorative elements on the product, the higher the likelihood of a successful trade-in.

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In the hips

It often happens that the dress is at the waist, but it is cramped at the hips. In this case, it may be enough to tear the seams on the thighs and reduce the allowances. The main task is to make the lines of the seams even and invisible on the side. The second way to increase the hip area is to use wedge-shaped inserts.To do this, you need a fabric of suitable structure, in a contrasting color. It is necessary to sew corners, strictly following the pattern, observing symmetry.

To the size

To increase the size, you can use one of the following options:

1. Height increase, insertion of a basque. This option is perfect for models with a straight cut. The only difficulty is the choice of fabric: it must perfectly match the type of fabric on the finished product, repeat the pattern and structure.
2. Changing the waist line. The dress can be cut below the chest line, then a wide panel can be made of contrast material.
3. Model change. To do this, symmetrical inserts are made along the waist line on each side. This method requires great skill.

On the chest

There are several alternative methods to increase the size of the dress on the chest:

• dissolve seams, increase the line due to allowances and darts;
• an increase in the neckline, if the style allows it;
• inserts of contrasting material, sewing of decorative elements.

Each of the options requires careful and precise execution. The part of the dress on the chest is the most noticeable, any inaccuracies will lead to the fact that the product will look ridiculous. You can change the volume of the dress on the chest with the help of ruffles or ruffles. To do this, the main part of the bodice is dissolved, ruffle inserts or inserts are made - ruffles. This method visually enlarges the breasts, therefore, not everyone is in demand.

How to increase the length

An increase in length is possible only if there is a significant margin around the edge. The seam is torn, the excess thickness is completely eliminated, the edges are ground in the simplest way.Other methods of increasing length are methods that change the overall appearance of the product. This includes decorating the hem with lace, fringe or tassels. Such techniques will visually reduce the overall length, but the dress itself will not change the length.

Sometimes it is appropriate to add strips of fabric along the hem. To do this, select a fabric of a similar structure so that the connecting seam between the finished product and the additional fabric is even, does not give additional folds.

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Yoke

A yoke helps change the pattern of any style. To increase the size of the dress, it is customary to use cut and sewn inserts. Converting with a yoke requires a high level of skill and performance. The yoke can be inserted into the back, thereby increasing the size along the chest line, as well as sew it into the upper part of the dress, completely changing the structure of the bodice. For a yoke on the upper part of the dress, it is advisable to use lace, nets, light fabrics, which are quite difficult to sew if you do not have special equipment.

bodice belt

A corset-like belt, sewn along the waistline, will help correct the situation, reducing the consumption of fabric, increasing the length and volume of the waistline. For the bodice, take ready-made corset type belts and insert them into the bodice. Although the bodice looks advantageous, solves several problems at the same time and is a fashionable element of any look, such an element cannot be sewn into every dress.The bodice should match the structure of the fabric to the finished product so that there is no feeling of complete divergence between the pieces.

Reference! When planning a bodice insert, keep in mind that lacing can accentuate imperfections in the figure.

inserts

Wedge-shaped inserts are made along the entire length of the product. Such inserts in the hips look especially advantageous. To sew fabric inserts into the bodice, you need to choose the right material and correctly plan the finished product. The most difficult option is waist inserts. It is very difficult to make them look natural.

The cage

The lacing solves the tightness problem of the dress at the neckline. The lacing with laconic decor of the bodice makes it possible to discreetly resize the upper part of the dress. It is only suitable for models with a low, deeply cut neckline.

Back lacing is possible if the dress has been neatly torn along the center seam and neatly finished around the edges. Lacing on the thighs is an extreme option that is only used for decorating designer outfits. The dress with sewn thigh lacing can be worn for an informal event, a party, a late dinner.

On the coast

Lace inserts are made on both sides of the dress or sewn on one side of the product. This option will help to increase the size of any dress. When cutting, they use the technique of expansion: from the top of the dress, the insert with the lacing applied on it gradually extends downwards. The technique looks laconic, provided that the fabric insert and the material of the finished product successfully match.

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Choosing the material to alter

Much of the success of reworking a finished product using a different fabric depends on the choice of material. Experienced seamstresses advise you to follow the basic rules when looking for a good alternative:

• nets, lace, guipure are used to model the coquette in the upper part of the dress;
• on the sides and hips it is customary to use inserts of guipure, hard lace, satin;
• for inserts on the sides, it is necessary to select such a fabric so that it does not bend, create creases and does not pull the fabric when sewing in parts;
• for the insert on which the lacing is made, use a dense knit that keeps its shape so that the lacing does not pull the edges of the insert towards the center.

One of the criteria is selection by color. Stylists advise using close color combinations or resorting to the contrast method. For example, for a model of a white and black dress, red or bright blue inserts will be appropriate, and milk-beige or cream shades will make the outfit incomprehensible.

Additional tips and tricks

When changing a dress in the event that it turns out to be cramped, certain rules are observed. The main condition is the ability to refrain from overloading the bow. Using multiple techniques at the same time can create a comical look. The best option is the thoughtful use of a technique in that part of the product where there is a problem with the wrong size.

Stylist recommendations:

1. When using a colored or contrasting insert to increase the size in the area of ​​​​the chest, hips or waist, the edges of the skirt or sleeves are decorated with the same fabric. This creates the illusion of a complete combination of two fabrics in one piece.
2. Before using the selected material, it is washed, ironed. Fabric may shrink or fade after washing.
3. After covering the main seams, they are carefully and carefully ironed to remove traces of the previous seam.
4. After the dress has been modified by sewing in inserts, it is washed by hand to exclude the possibility of shrinkage.
5. Some styles, after alteration, require adding decorative elements. An example of such decoration: the use of brooches, bows, epaulets.

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When tailoring a new dress that does not fit the size, it is washed first in order to work with the washed item and to be sure that it does not give additional shrinkage.