Any way to make dresses longer...after they've been hemmed?

gibson123

Smokemeakipper wrote: »

I was only joking really.
I understand that it's an easy mistake to make, though if you're doing something for someone else you make sure you get it right.

I am often asked to sew for others, my sister dropped off a pair of trousers to be hemmed just last night. I am lucky if I get a thank you card or bottle of wine. Of course mistakes are made and the mistake your friend made is a very easy and common one, almost everyone who sews has made a similar mistake.

You have admitted this is not a skill you have yourself, by asking an amateur sewer to do the job for you, you clearly took a risk but weighed this against paying some-one to do this job for you, but she did the job to the best of her ability and in her own time. I feel sorry for your friend, I hope you are nicer about this in real life than you are on this posting.

LolitaLove

gibson123 wrote: »

I am often asked to sew for others, my sister dropped off a pair of trousers to be hemmed just last night. I am lucky if I get a thank you card or bottle of wine. Of course mistakes are made and the mistake your friend made is a very easy and common one, almost everyone who sews has made a similar mistake.

You have admitted this is not a skill you have yourself, by asking an amateur sewer to do the job for you, you clearly took a risk but weighed this against paying some-one to do this job for you, but she did the job to the best of her ability and in her own time. I feel sorry for your friend, I hope you are nicer about this in real life than you are on this posting.

Yes but she took it way shorter than we had agreed, and than we measured. The reason I think she did it on purpose, is that I never would have worn a dress before, and only ordered the dresses when I lost some weight. My friend is the same size as I used to be and she seems less than pleased with my weight loss. When I tried the dress on to measure her face kinda fell and I had an inkling then that she might do something like this, so I actually said to her ''please be careful, you know how long I've waited for these dresses''. She assured me of course she would she knows what she's doing - and she does. She's very skilled at sewing, tayloring etc. Which is what makes me think it was a deliberate mistake.

LolitaLove

snowleopard61 wrote: »

I agree - especially as you may very well wear an elasticated-type belt as many uniformed NHS staff do, which would cover the join.

I do, so this is a fab idea I never thought of

Smokemeakipper_3

gibson123 wrote: »

You have admitted this is not a skill you have yourself, by asking an amateur sewer to do the job for you, you clearly took a risk but weighed this against paying some-one to do this job for you, but she did the job to the best of her ability and in her own time. I feel sorry for your friend, I hope you are nicer about this in real life than you are on this posting.

I'm sorry but I think you are confusing me with the OP lolitalove. I simply made the comment that perhaps a little more care should have been taken. I also sew and know how easy it is to get it wrong. However if i was doing it for a friend I would TRIPLE check to ensure it was right.
Plus as the OP has said she believes it was done on purpose anyway!

gibson123

Smokemeakipper wrote: »

I'm sorry but I think you are confusing me with the OP lolitalove. I simply made the comment that perhaps a little more care should have been taken. I also sew and know how easy it is to get it wrong. However if i was doing it for a friend I would TRIPLE check to ensure it was right.
Plus as the OP has said she believes it was done on purpose anyway!

Yes apologies to both for the wrong end of the stick ... OOPs, mis-read, misinterpreted and now very contrite.

meritaten

I would find another seamstress and ask her to make good the damage. Far cheaper than paying for new dresses and if you dont sew or have a sewing machine - you are not likely to get a good result.
you can often find good seamstresses by asking in bridal shops - they often use seamstresses on a casual basis and are usually happy to pass thier details on - or you may find their ad in local post offices or newsagents. Good luck!

LolitaLove

meritaten wrote: »

I would find another seamstress and ask her to make good the damage. Far cheaper than paying for new dresses and if you dont sew or have a sewing machine - you are not likely to get a good result.
you can often find good seamstresses by asking in bridal shops - they often use seamstresses on a casual basis and are usually happy to pass thier details on - or you may find their ad in local post offices or newsagents. Good luck!

I have tried one shop, that quoted £120 for the dresses...almost double what they'd cost! Does anyone know if this quote is just a steep quote or is this the going rate? There's 4 dresses. Thank you

meritaten

That is steep! its probably the cost for bridal dresses which are far trickier to work on!

of course I dont know your location and it may be the going rate - but, surely there is someone local who could knock out a few hems for about £15 - £ 20 a dress?
do you have a free newspaper - any ads in there for alterations? another source are dry cleaners - they often have a freelance seamstress contact.
if you have access to a sewing machine try doing it yourself. It isnt THAT difficult - if you can sew a straight line its all thats required.
I understand how upset you must feel - if you are not comfortable with the hemline then of course you must have it lengthened.

you could bite the bullet and explain to your friend that you feel now its too short and could she do a 'false hem' on them for you? if she did do it on purpose she may be feeling bad about it now - and if she didnt then surely as a friend she would want you to be happy?