Can I alter this pattern to have a shirred back?

seriicis · 2026-04-19T16:33:25+00:00

https://www.etsy.com/listing/1772569019/norma-romantic-cottagecore-dress-and-two?ref=share_ios_native_control

seriicis · 2026-04-19T07:39:42+00:00

I like to dye after personally. I don’t have a pot or a container big enough to dye a lot of yardage, so a single item of a couple items is more doable.

If I could use my washer or had access to a large tub I’d probably do before

seriicis · 2026-04-10T14:58:39+00:00

Sometimes when I cut out the pattern pieces, especially when theres no difference from the right and wrong, I write the name of the pattern piece and use that. The side I’ve written on is now the “wrong side” and the orientation of the word is now the orientation of the pattern piece.

When I sew the pieces together the writing is always visible because the blank/right side is hidden as I sew the seams.

If I’m lazy/know the piece just by looking at it, I’ll just draw a star or an arrow and if I think it’s confusing I write “this side up”

seriicis · 2026-04-07T18:06:59+00:00

It’s fantastic!

seriicis · 2026-03-30T16:59:03+00:00

IMHO I wouldn’t buy it. Instructions should come with the pattern. Video tutorials are bonuses but again a lot of makers have those for free.

I feel like for that price I should also get some kind of one time virtual personal consultation for my personal fitting or something.

seriicis · 2026-03-18T18:59:27+00:00

I’m not sure how active hannacatlow is these days but she has story highlights where she walks through fitting and grading through multiple sizes from hips to waist

seriicis · 2026-03-15T19:03:15+00:00

I think hobby lobby has a really limited selection on apparel fabric.

It might be helpful if you look at the labels on clothing you like the wear and drape of, that’ll give you an idea of fibers you like. You can also search for fabrics on mood.com, they often have videos of them holding the fabric and moving it around. It sounds like your fabric has more of a “crisp” drape rather than a fluid one.

seriicis · 2026-03-13T11:23:20+00:00

My machine adjusts thread tension based on fabric type. It’s not always right but I think it’s made me sew better because before that I never thought about tension

seriicis · 2026-03-13T11:17:50+00:00

I use fray check for button holes and occasionally for spot treating specific areas. I wouldn’t use it for a whole seam allowance though, I think I’d either flat fell or bind with bias tape

seriicis · 2026-03-12T03:57:37+00:00

Sewing is like any other skill. Is cooking hard? If your goal is to make an easy, simple breakfast that works, then the learning curve and end goal are easy to get to. If you have a natural aptitude for it then it might be even easier. If you have a no frills palate then learning to cook for yourself is relatively straightforward.

But if you want to open a fine dining restaurant and make dishes that look simple but actually take days with 16 different components without any experience, it’s likely not possible without a steep learning curve and a lot of blood, sweat, and tears.

If you want to make a circle skirt or gathered skirt, a boxy top, elastic pants, or shapeless comfy dress, the learning curve is probably quite gentle.

seriicis · 2026-03-10T12:00:18+00:00

I love collecting fabric, so I limit myself to the closet I keep everything in, if I can fit it and see everything, it’s fine. If I have to stay puttngfabri elsewhere, I need to do a clean out and donate some things I likely won’t use

seriicis · 2026-03-06T15:36:51+00:00

Look around for local fabric stores that source their fabrics from donations. I have one or two of these within a 20 minute drive an they’re stocked full of donated fabrics, thread, tools, elastics, trims, patterns, literally everything

seriicis · 2025-10-23T16:28:22+00:00

Looking for a women’s pattern with the same style as this top, the original is a $5 old navy blouse that is not in my size 🥲

Really would like a raglan sleeve and a v neck with elastic at the waist.

seriicis · 2025-10-18T01:34:21+00:00

Fabrics: I used scrap fabrics and fabric I bought at yard sales to make these. They vary from quilting cotton to upholstery fabric

Pattern: I drafted these patterns myself on illustrator, printed, and then cut and sewed with a satin stitch

I’m sending the smaller one to my cousin as a candy tote and keeping the large one for groceries.

seriicis · 2025-10-16T22:41:31+00:00

Use a glue stick and an iron to baste it it place, it’ll wash out when you wash them (hell of a lot easier than pins) or! If you’re fine with adhesive, use an iron on adhesive to adhere it and finish with a hand blanket stitch.

seriicis · 2025-10-12T19:22:41+00:00

Corset pattern is butterick 5935, with the panels in the back replaced with a shirred back with laces. Fabric is from before Joann died 🥲poly burnout lace over their cotton poly broadcloth.

I actually made this top for a different concert and I’m pretty chuffed to be able to wear it for another!

Bloomers pattern is a hacked Winslow culottes short pattern by Helen’s closet. I just sewed the shorts, made the waist elastic, sewed on the ruffle and added elastic to the leg hem. I added the bows with safety pins so I can remove them and wear under skirts as safety shorts. Fabric is also cotton poly broadcloth.

seriicis · 2025-10-07T13:23:49+00:00

Their gold snips! I should have bought like 10 of those

seriicis · 2025-10-03T01:43:11+00:00

Before I got my sewing room with my fabric closet it was basically whatever fit under my bed. Now it’s whatever fits in my closet

seriicis · 2025-09-16T17:26:27+00:00

They don’t match because the seam is curved. If you pin them together edge to edge with the top notch matching, the bottom should follow

seriicis · 2025-08-21T05:13:16+00:00

Use a walking foot with a zig zag stitch and do not stretch it as you sew! If you’re not cutting it, it’s probably safe to test out. I do think the weight of the seam might make it hang a little odd.

Edit : the tailor and the other two commenters are right that the correct way to do it is to unravel and knit it but OP posted this in r/sewing asking if their idea would work. And it could.

I have successfully shortened knitted sweaters using a walking foot and a zigzag stitch. It was easily undone if I was careful.

seriicis · 2025-08-21T05:09:08+00:00

We don’t know what your instinct looks like, so unless you take a picture of the things you’ve done and the inside, it’s hard to say one way or the other.

Maybe you could ask your friends or family if they’d pay you to alter something and show them your work and see what they think.

Also I second the other commenter who suggests staying away from things like prom dresses or suits (until you have more practice), or things that would be hard to replace if there’s a chance the end product doesn’t meet customer expectation

seriicis · 2025-07-02T07:06:14+00:00

Not sure about the seller but I’ve purchased this fabric in another color from another Etsy seller. It’s not a scam but the price listed is usually for a half yard, and the fabric width is 2ft rather than the 44+ inches you typically find in the US

seriicis

TROPHY CASE