So my lovely Orvis skirt was way too tight - in the CS shop it was stretched on a wooden hanger. I got it home, and it had pinged back to shape - a 24" waist! I have not had a waist that small since before Liz was born [40+ years ago]. Not a casing with a circle of elastic inside, but like many pjs, the elastic was sewn in with 5 rows of machine stitching. And very tight when contracted. Not easy to enlarge, but I needed some wriggle room!
Solution -
Cut a 2" slit down each side, and open up into a straight line, bind these raw edges with binding. My waist is around 30" now [oops!] and once I tuck the elastic inside [as I did as a teenager] the skirt sits comfortably just below my waist and is the right length.
I have been living in this skirt for the past week, so cool and breezy. It's been complimented too, which is pleasant. And it goes well with lots of different plain teeshirts and vest!
A neat alteration! I looks a lovely skirt; I used to browse an Orvis shop and read the catalogues in the same way goes round Fortnum and Mason or Liberty's... lovely to look at, but...
ReplyDeleteRather pricey !!
DeleteExcellent modification of the skirt! I would not have thought to do that and it’s such pretty fabric. There was an Orvis fishing shop in Bakewell, gone now, but they had a fabulous women’s clothing section that I drooled over while OH was browsing fishing rods. The clothes all seemed to be excellent quality.
ReplyDeleteSo well made. You get what you pay for!
DeleteGreat idea and definitely the ideal wear for this weather, Catriona
ReplyDeleteCooler than trousers but still covering the plump little legs
DeleteThat's a fabulous solution and a really pretty skirt. I have been wearing a really loose and flowing sun dress with thin straps but only in the house, I would not want to show my horrible upper arms to the public! Or quite a lot of my bra which although pretty, that look doesn't look good on a 76 year old. Regards Sue H
ReplyDeleteSpaghetti straps are a challenge for our generation
DeleteWell done with the alterations!
ReplyDelete👍
DeleteI hate it when the elastic in a sewn- in elasticated waistband perishes so I have to unpick a gazillion lines of stitches, create a new waistband and then thread through new elastic. My sewing-machine is not sophisticated enough to do sewn-in elastic. Congrats on your artful solution.
ReplyDeleteTwo cuts and zigzag stitched bias binding, job done
DeletePretty skirt. I remember having the Orvis catalogue for some years, but it seems to have disappeared now.
ReplyDeleteI think it is still around in the USA
DeleteOnce again a very clever alteration. Lovely skirt. I am trying to alter a couple of sleeveless tops which now cut in under the armpits🤭.
ReplyDelete👍hope it works
DeleteA great alteration, I so admire your skills.
ReplyDeleteAlison in Devon x
Thank you
DeleteIt looks like one of those pretty, comfortable skirts that you can wear all summer. So impressed that you managed to alter it.
ReplyDeleteI did a lot of thinking before I took the scissors to it! Second option was cutting the elastic off and regathering the skirt onto a new waistband. But I am too lazy for that!!
DeleteWell done indeed! Did you connect the tops of the binding to each other with elastic? JanF
ReplyDeleteNo, I left it "open"
DeleteVery pretty fabric, I like that you can wear almost any colour top with it JennyP
ReplyDeleteSo versatile
DeleteWell done, it is a skirt that I imagine you will find yourself hanging onto for years - so pretty and summery!
ReplyDeleteI hope so
Delete