Project Blah-g (alteration-foo)

[threadwalker]

Grumble.
Here's my grumble:

I've shrunk out of two bodices that I haven't even worn yet. I was only 1/2 way done w/ the hand-done eyelets on one (linen). I am done with the machine-done eyelets on the other (creamy silk).

I know, not many will feel sorry for me. Hawkgirl already said, "Poor Thread_walker, she loves to sew and now she needs to make stuff because she lost weight. Boo hoooooo..." (all very sarcastic and loving)

Grumble. Here is my dilema: I don't have a lot of free time. Fabric costs money. Rework pisses me off. And how the heck do I fix this? And should I bother? what if I lose MORE weight? Although I keep thinking there isn't anything left to lose or that the effort required to lose it is beyond my current commitment level, and then I prove myself wrong.

This does bring out one of my thoughts about those fricking hand made lacing holes. The bodices have 2 side back seams and both of them lace shut, so it's "TWO" openings on each bodice that are laced and being impacted by this.
My anal-rent prefers hand finishing and wants them worked into the fabric. My time-compressed life and my budget does not permit me to make spare bodices or spend all my time doing alterations and making MORE hand-worked eyelets. Otherwise I'll never finish anything. Grrr... So, I've been percolating solutions and I'm starting to seriously consider the practicallity of metal rings for all future projects.

The silk is easy-ish. I'm wacking off (with shears) the eyelets on all edges, hand binding the new edges with more silk, and adding metal rings to lace shut. It won't close all the way, but this layer was meant to be a petticoat, so it won't be visible.

The linen lined bodice is not as easy to trouble shoot since it's intended to be visible. It's not as "heavy" as the silk. What I'd like is hand finished eyelets down both seams, but I can already see that this is not going to happen unless I take a week off from work. What I may do is, looking at each seam as "front" for the edge that's part of the front of the bodice and "back" for the edge that's part of the back half of the bodice:

1. Finish the hand eyelets on the "back" half.
2. Alter the bodice. The danger of alterations is that it shifts the shoulders into new places and can mess up arm-holes. So I do not want to add a seam to the center back (already learned the error of that one!) or sides (hate the aesthetic). Therefore, the alteration needs to be on the current seam/opening itself. Since it's not a dramatic alteration, I will probably wack off the 'front' seam edge and it's lacing holes and then hand-bind the edge. So it will have no lacing holes when I'm done.
3. Then, instead of adding lacing holes, I'll mark where the lacing will pass, I'll sew rings to the lining of the bodice, and then, with an awl/needle, lace a ribbon through the holes and pierce the fabric. No more hand-bound edges on the front half. I can see how this might go very wrong, but ... I'm tired of rework. It might go very well, too, and I'm willing to take that risk. A journey of discovery...

Comments

[fighter-chick.livejournal.com]

"I know, not many will feel sorry for me."

lol...I do--I know this one well. Welcome to the unloved minority. ;-)

[falzalot.livejournal.com]

I like the rings catagon3 has on her blue flemish. That's what I'm going to do if I ever get around to making one. Hand-sew eyelets? DUDE! That would cripple me for weeks!

But yes, I can sympathize, even while I think it's AWESOME that you're growing out of everything. :->

Ever consider finding an apprentice who likes doing hand-sewn eyelets and pass the job on to them? ;->

[catagon3.livejournal.com]

Heh. I decided that I want to wear my heraldic "kitty dress" next weekend when I step up as Bard again. (I made it for the first time, after all.) I tried it on this morning just for a quick reality check and found out it's loose. It will be tricky to alter because of the applique, but should be doable. And it can be worn as is, especially if I take up the front hem a little more. I'm taking it to the cleaners today since it is both rayon and really dirty.

[aastg.livejournal.com]

You've already alluded to a good compromise in your post: use hand-sewn eyelets where they'll be seen, and whatever method takes less time everywhere else. Your baseline standard is already high, so you wouldn't be losing anything by doing that.