Not sewing, yet, at least not from scratch. Rather a down and dirty alteration wins the day.
A trip to Key West had me in a bit of a tizzy the first few days of the new year wondering what on earth I would wear. Most of my summer clothes are at least a size too big, more likely two to three sizes too big, but that was something I actually didn't discover until I tackled the alteration pile.
Of course I had the top I altered to take to Tucson. I thought perhaps I could alter the two dresses I made in the spring of 2020 (photo above). That is when I learned that I was not necessarily down one size, but at least two, and possibly three.
These two dresses saw heavy wear over two summers, and I knew that they were too loose, unwearable really, by fall. But the reality hadn't really sunk into my head until I tried them on again with the intention of making alterations. They fit beautifully when they were made, and I have to thank my friend Marjorie for all the fitting help, but that also meant that more than the most minor of alterations would be required, if alteration was even possible. I decided to accept that they have served their purpose in my life, that they are still in good condition, and it is time for them to find a new home.
Enter a Lafayette 148NY tank I purchased 7 or 8 years ago. After trying it on I realized that although I needed to take up about six inches, this was actually manageable in this loosely fitted tank by simply taking up the side seams, and perhaps removing some extra volume at the center back seam as well.
Initially my plan was detailed, to meticulously deconstruct and then replace all those beautifully finished seams. But when I actually looked at the garment I realized the fabric was far too fragile for this to happen. Seven season of wear have taken their toll, and although the top remains wearable, its time is limited.
This knowledge was freeing. Since the alternative was the rag pile, there was no reason not to just slash and seam, and I did want one more wearable top for the trip. Therefore, I simply serged off the side seams, taking out four inches at the bust under the arms and tapering to nothing at the hem. Notice that shaped hem in the top photo. Taking significant volume out of the hem would require much more extensive work than the top was worth, especially at the side seams, where the curve is sharp, so a decided bell shape would be preserved. I also took a big chunk out at the back waist, about 2 1/2 inches, tapering to nothing just above the bra line. I had a little more leeway at the hips, and was able to remove a small amount of extra volume at the center back hem, but not much. The trick was to take out enough to eliminate some of the bagginess, but not so much as to shift the side seams toward the back. The serged edges were tacked neatly in place at the underarm and hem and I was done. Easy-peasy, and if it survived one trip I would be happy. Everything else is just a bonus.
Enter the obligatory hotel bathroom photo.
The top works. It is far from perfect, but it fits at least as well as anything I could buy and it fills an immediate gap. As you can see the top remains loosely fitted through the body. And it is also quite wrinkled here as this photo was taken about half way through the day, when I took my mid-day retreat from the sun. If one cannot live with wrinkles, one should not wear linen.
Perhaps all I needed was a bit of mad panic and a holiday out of the confines of familiarity and routine. My brain is sparkling with ideas, and although I still have unpacking and cataloging to finish before extensive wardrobe sewing begins, I am looking forward to new sewing. Somehow it has even dawned on my that even the idea that I have nothing, no patterns that fit, is itself an opportunity. It won't, perhaps be fast, but it will be fun.
After all, how often does one get an opportunity to start over?
