Can any expert sewers help?

beachbeth

I am cursed with being only five foot tall. Although the height itself doesn't bother me, it makes buying clothes a nightmare. Ive just ordered some petite clothes from Next and two of them are quite pretty t-shirts. I want to keep them as they fit nicely. The only trouble is that I could do with the straps over my shoulders being an inch shorter. I thought they'd be fine because they're petite. Two other t-shirts that aren't petite that I ordered fit me lengthwise but are too tight (why can't they get the sizing right on these things!)

How can I shorten the straps without it looking stupid. If you want to look at the item on the Next website the item number is 463-063-G34. The trouble is that the strap goes over the shoulder and then follows round the neckline, so wherever I was to cut the strap it would be noticeable (especially with my lack of sewing skill!).

I get so fed up with having to alter clothes!

Gothdolly

I can't find the top on the next website? What is it called?

anguk

Both me and DD have the same problem with vest tops, we're only about 5ft 1in. What I do is shorten the strap at the back of the vest, I don't cut it I just make a loop with the excess and stitch it in place. It's quite hard to explain but easy to do, I bring the back of the vest up the strap and then stitch across. Hope you understand, I'm not very good at explaining these things!

Space_donkey

Pity my mums not around, she could shrink anything. I think angeluk has the right idea.

beachbeth

Gothdolly wrote: »

I can't find the top on the next website? What is it called?

Its called Patch Button Vest. It comes in pink, yellow and brown in petite. I really wanted the neutral colour but that only comes in regular! Typical.

Ive done what you said before, Anguk, but I just think it looks like Ive done that. Perhaps its not as noticeable as I think.

nementai

I can think of 2 options.

1. My preferred option would be to cut and shorten right on the tops of your shoulders. Then find some pretty ribbon in the same colour and tie a bow over the joint. A couple of tiny stitches to fix it on and you've covered the join nicely, as well as customising your top! You could also use small broaches or large beads to do the same but on the front or back of the top.

2. Or, the strap must have a join somewhere (I guess?) you could try to unpick the whole thing, from the neck as well, and shorten it where the join it, then sew it back on. That's a bit of a pain though!

3. Make a loop (as suggested above) there the straps meet the back and tuck it under the neckline.

Hope that helps.

Gothdolly

I've found it now.

Nementai has some great ideas, especially the first option which would be really easy, as would making the loop. I have to do that all the time and it's not noticeable at all when you're wearing it. You could always cut it off at the back and stitch it back in place for neatness.

sheng719

You could probabaly put or stitch an orament i.e. a small flower or beading in the join of the strap...So all you have to think is where you put the join that it wont look out of place.