Thread: @#!$^%&!!!! 3 inches too small!!!

Oh crap, I guess I've gained more weight than I thought. My newest lovely costume purchase is a good 3 inches too small in the upper hip. If I unzip the zipper it's the perfect size. Sigh. Has anyone ever constructed something to solve this kind of problem? I'm posting a picture of the zipper, which is on one hip, and the cutout that is on the opposite hip. This costume is gorgeous and pristine and I would love to be able to wear it. I''ve been depressed for two days now over this

edited to add: constructing a lattice like the cut out is way beyond my sewing skills, even if I could find fabric to match!

Originally Posted by dunyah

Oh crap, I guess I've gained more weight than I thought. My newest lovely costume purchase is a good 3 inches too small in the upper hip. If I unzip the zipper it's the perfect size. Sigh. Has anyone ever constructed something to solve this kind of problem? I'm posting a picture of the zipper, which is on one hip, and the cutout that is on the opposite hip. This costume is gorgeous and pristine and I would love to be able to wear it. I''ve been depressed for two days now over this

edited to add: constructing a lattice like the cut out is way beyond my sewing skills, even if I could find fabric to match!

insert matching fabric, bead to match?

Safety pins and a strategically draped veil? maybe in a colour that picks up the beading?

How about mimicing the netting on the other hip and make a triangular insert of that?

How about mimicing the netting on the other hip and make a triangular insert of that?

That's a very good idea!

I've had this problem with my golden rhinestone-Bella. I sacrificed one of the gloves to use the lower part of it as an insert on the other side where there was no cutout. The other side had one. My... what a feeling to cut through this Bella... I will take some pictures of that the next days and post them...

Love, Sahira.

Easy to make in Photoshop. Takes a bit longer in real life unfortunately

Can you move any of that fringe along the top edge either side of the zip opening? It would probably do a good job of blending in a triangular insert if it hung directly over it. If that leaves any odd looking gaps elsewhere you could add corsage-type flower(s) or beaded motifs in matching/ toning colours, maybe adding a smaller version to bra and/or hair to pull it together.

Originally Posted by gisela

Easy to make in Photoshop. Takes a bit longer in real life unfortunately

This looks ideal but I would have to have someone do it for me, I don't have the materials or the skill to pull this off. Also, wouldn't it have to be stretchy or have a closure of some sort so I can get it on and off? Not sure how that would work.

hmmm...
One of my BD dresses were to small in the back so I put in a triangular piece of the same fabric (I asked Eman for extra fabric when I bought it). I just unstitched one side of the zipper and put the extra piece in, one side to the dress and one side to the zipper. The zipper now goes a bit diagonal. Is it making sense? It works ok but doesn't look perfect.
Is there some other kind of decoration on the dress which could mask the inset?

This might sound strange but it has worked for us several times. Buy a pair of booty shorts or biker shorts in a similar color or nude. (Darker colors might show through the light colored velvet.) Try-on the skirt while wearing the shorts. Pin and baste an accessory to the shorts so that it covers the open zipper area. Dress again and insure the insert is properly placed. If you are OK with the 'look' stitch securely in-place. Mark four areas down each side of the zipper and one at the bottom, add either snaps or hooks-&-eyes in all nine areas. Dress again, verifying the fit works for you. The flexibility of fit remains intact and no need to remove the zipper. In order for the lattice on the opposite hip to be see-through you can cut-away the short fabric. For us the matching shorts or nude shorts were not noticeable so we usually left the short fabric intact. This process can easily be reversed if necessary.

Originally Posted by showtime

This might sound strange but it has worked for us several times. Buy a pair of booty shorts or biker shorts in a similar color or nude. (Darker colors might show through the light colored velvet.) Try-on the skirt while wearing the shorts. Pin and baste an accessory to the shorts so that it covers the open zipper area. Dress again and insure the insert is properly placed. If you are OK with the 'look' stitch securely in-place. Mark four areas down each side of the zipper and one at the bottom, add either snaps or hooks-&-eyes in all nine areas. Dress again, verifying the fit works for you. The flexibility of fit remains intact and no need to remove the zipper. In order for the lattice on the opposite hip to be see-through you can cut-away the short fabric. For us the matching shorts or nude shorts were not noticeable so we usually left the short fabric intact. This process can easily be reversed if necessary.

ooooh, and then add some hot-fix rhinestones to the shorts!

I've seen the triangular-insert-in-the-open-zipper work (usually made from a glove or wide headband) and I've also seen it not work so well. It's certainly worth a try.

Looking at the pic, depending on the beadwork further down on the skirt, I'd be tempted to open up the ENTIRE seam, top to bottom, and add a 3" insert. Nude with rhinestones, silvery white, or some contrasting color (if I used a contrasting color, I'd probably add it to the bra somewhere as well). You could still put a hidden zip in the top of one of the insert seams if you feel you need it.

Originally Posted by showtime

This might sound strange but it has worked for us several times. Buy a pair of booty shorts or biker shorts in a similar color or nude. (Darker colors might show through the light colored velvet.) Try-on the skirt while wearing the shorts. Pin and baste an accessory to the shorts so that it covers the open zipper area. Dress again and insure the insert is properly placed. If you are OK with the 'look' stitch securely in-place. Mark four areas down each side of the zipper and one at the bottom, add either snaps or hooks-&-eyes in all nine areas. Dress again, verifying the fit works for you. The flexibility of fit remains intact and no need to remove the zipper. In order for the lattice on the opposite hip to be see-through you can cut-away the short fabric. For us the matching shorts or nude shorts were not noticeable so we usually left the short fabric intact. This process can easily be reversed if necessary.

This sounds like something I could do, it's worth a try. I found a rhinestone applique on line that looks like it matches the fuschia rhinestones on the costume. But just hot fix rhinestones on nude shorts might work. Thanks for the suggestion!

Originally Posted by Lauren_

I've seen the triangular-insert-in-the-open-zipper work (usually made from a glove or wide headband) and I've also seen it not work so well. It's certainly worth a try.

Looking at the pic, depending on the beadwork further down on the skirt, I'd be tempted to open up the ENTIRE seam, top to bottom, and add a 3" insert. Nude with rhinestones, silvery white, or some contrasting color (if I used a contrasting color, I'd probably add it to the bra somewhere as well). You could still put a hidden zip in the top of one of the insert seams if you feel you need it.

I wouldn't trust my sewing skills to do the insert all the way, or to put in a zipper, but that's a good suggestion. I do have a wide head band that matches the costume, I just hate to cut it up unless absolutely necessary.

Not sure if it would work with the rest of the costume, since we haven't seen the bra, but you could pick up that cranberry-looking accent cover and then make (or have someone make for you) a huge applique in that color and snap it over the open zipper area.

Originally Posted by bintbeled

Not sure if it would work with the rest of the costume, since we haven't seen the bra, but you could pick up that cranberry-looking accent cover and then make (or have someone make for you) a huge applique in that color and snap it over the open zipper area.

There is a little of the fuschia rhinestone accents on the bra but not a lot. I did find an applique on line that I think will work with the under-shorts idea.