before and after
you guys are so smart. i didn't want to do it. but i didn't want to let you down either. so i bit the bullet and ripped the skirt off my dress and raised the waistline to help get rid of the dreaded bunchiness. i'll let the photos show you the results…
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much better, right? i haven't fixed the skirt lining yet and i haven't sewn the center back seam of the skirt or finished the bottom of the zipper. i feel like waist on the left side of the dress (from my point of view when i'm wearing it) is a smidge lower than the right. i measured like crazy though. and i also tied a string around my natural waist to help measure. i raised the waist in the back a little more so that it would be even. i think i have a bit of a swayback issue.
when i first heard about swayback alterations it sounded like the hunchback of notre dame… but i read more and found it's more common. the lower back curves inward more prominently. but now i'm also thinking my left shoulder might be slightly higher than my right. that would cause the issue i'm seeing with the waistband looking slightly uneven. i was tested for scoliosis when i was younger, and it came back negative. (they tested all of the kids in middle school) but now i sit in front of a computer all day at work with one hand on a mouse and it's wreaking havoc on my upper back. i've started getting massages. i've tried yoga. i've tried stretching breaks. it helps, but it's not a solution.
anyway, focusing on the positive… i'm pleased with the changes to the dress. before i was thinking "it's not that bad." i really just didn't want to do it over. but doing it over is helping me become more confident in my sewing skills. and now that i compare the "before" and "after" - it's a lot better. thank you for all the feedback on the last post. and thanks for the push ;)
It looks great!
ReplyDeleteWow, what an improvement! That's why I love sewing blogs, readers are always happy to suggest solutions to your sewing dilemmas, and they always work!
ReplyDeleteHave you tried pilates for your back? I suffer with lower back problems and started pilates at the beginning of the year. I've noticed an improvement already.
I've heard of pilates, but haven't tried it. I think they used to offer it at my gym, but then the gym closed, so now i have an elliptical machine at home and i've taken some yoga classes at a local community center. I'll have to check and see if they offer pilates too. thanks for the recommendation!
DeleteMuch better! I think a lot of people's left shoulders are a little higher for exactly the reason you mentioned: using a mouse. Mine are like that too. Even carrying a shoulder bag on one side all the time can do that. Good work on the dress. I'm eager to see it finished. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, now i feel better about my messed up shoulders, knowing that i'm not alone. actually i think i carry my purse on the shoulder that is slightly higher, maybe it's overcompensating for the extra weight? i'm doing shoulder stretches as i type this =)
DeleteIt looks fab now, bang on!
ReplyDeleteyay, thanks!
Deletewow! the changes are CLEAR. can't wait to see the final product
ReplyDeletei know, it made such a difference!
DeleteOh my! I definitely have to try this next time I make a fitted dress! Mine always look like your before and I had no idea how to fix it!
ReplyDeleteThat looks so good! The one fitted dress I've made looked like your before picture – looks like I need to go read all the comments on your last post and try again!
ReplyDeleteTry tying a string or rope at your natural waist (where you bend to the side) to get a more accurate position of your natural waist and try raising the waist to that point on a fitted dress. helped mine out a lot =)
DeleteI think this looks so much better!! Great job! I hope you are doing the hem and finishing it up as we admire your work ;) You are so, so close, keep at it!
ReplyDeletethanks! i'm planning on working on that tonight!
DeleteOMG! What a difference, and what a fantastic little sewing community you have going on over here! Sooooo cool :)
ReplyDeletei know! it's good to have smart people help point me in the right direction =)
DeleteAwesome! Yay! Isn't it wonderful when you can fix the fit issues? Great job :)
ReplyDeleteNow you can use the bodice as a block for your other dress patterns :)
I'll have to mark my alterations onto my pattern piece (which i did trace) and then make a new pattern piece. I think i'll change the neckline for the next dress. I need to get some of that swedish tracing paper and stop using all the baking parchment =)
Deleteyay!
ReplyDeleteYay!!
ReplyDeleteYay!!!!! =)
DeleteI didn't comment on your previous post because I'm rubbish at figuring out fit issues and didn’t know how to help. Your dress is looking great! As far as the difference in your shoulders’ height goes, perhaps doing the body map suggested in “Fit for Real People” would help you identify those issues. I just did my own body map two weeks ago and was amazed by what I learned.
ReplyDeletethanks, i'll see if my library has it! how does the body map thing work? did you post about it on your blog?
DeleteLooks much better:) good work
ReplyDeletethank you!!
DeleteThis. Looks. Even. Radder. Great work! And all the cool kids have to make swayback alterations... just saying!
ReplyDeleteawesome, now i feel like i'm part of the gang. swayback fo life
Deletehaha
Wow what a difference. Good for you for sticking with it - and figuring it out.
ReplyDeleteyeah, i reallllly didn't want to rip it apart because the zipper looked so nice. but now it will look so much better when i'm actually wearing it =)
Deletemuch better! bet you are glad you bit the bullet and shortened it. sometime you really can't be bothered but it's always worth the effort! looks great. when you atsrt looking at all the changes you have to make you feel like a real freak - i generally need some or all of - all over lengthening by about 3" on bodice and 2-3" on skirts, swayback adjustment, broad shoulder adjustment and i am learning there's something about the scoop in certain shaped armholes that doesn't work well - could be a forward shoulder? the joys of sewing!
ReplyDeletei know!!! I think i have sloping shoulders and i also have narrow arms, and swayback. it reminds me of this bit that comedian brian regan does:
Delete"My eye doctor told me this, I'm not making this up. He goes, 'You know you have one eye set a little bit higher than your other eye?' 'No, I didn't know that.' He goes, 'It's no big deal; it doesn't affect your vision or anything. I just thought you might want to be self-conscious for the rest of your life.'"
http://www.comedycentral.com/video-clips/3shdyv/comedy-central-presents-a-level-of-self-consciousness
hehehe
thanks, it's coming along! =)
ReplyDeleteWow, looks great! Little change, big result. From the pictures I think that your left shoulder is a tad lower. Maybe taking in the shoulder seam on that side just a tad, maybe an 1/8 of an inch on each SA? I work in medicine, and trust me, few people are ever symmetrical. I just started reading "Fit for Real People" (also from the library) and it's so good that I'm going to order it!
ReplyDeletei'll look for that the next time i'm at the library, thanks!!
DeleteCongratulations, because that is an amazing improvement! Ripping out a zipper is absolutely the worst, but it was so worth it.
ReplyDeleteI have uneven shoulders, too, but so far I've ignored them in fitting. I guess I should make sure I don't become any more crooked so I can continue to do that. Heh.
i didn't rip out the whole zipper, i cheated and just ripped out the bottom =) it lined up pretty well when i re-did the bottom part. well at the zipper it lined up. the bottom of the skirt is a crazy uneven mess, so it's going to be loads of fun to hem ;)
Deletei'm probably going to continue ignoring my uneven shoulders, because i'm the only one looking at them critically. it's not super drastic. i think it looks more uneven in the photos here because of how i'm holding the camera. maybe? ah well
This looks great! What a nice fix!
ReplyDeletethank you! it was worth it in the end
Delete