Diy Garment Alterations

Discussion in 'Home Improvement' started by Faye Fox, Mar 16, 2021.

  1. Faye Fox

    Faye Fox Veteran Member
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    Have you ever bought a garment that you couldn't return just to find out it needs an alteration to fit right? Things like shortening jeans or tops are easy enough but ill-fitting bra straps have always been more work than the bras are worth. I ordered 2 sports bras for the price of 1 on a sale. They looked like they would work from the photos of the young models and the straps not fully out, so I ordered them.

    I received my 2 sports bralettes with adjustable and detachable straps so they can be used traditional or the cross-back style. The cross-back style is my favorite for support and best posture. The only problem was on full length the straps were still way tight and caused my shoulder impingement problem to flare up with nice little painful grooves.

    After rubbing and putting my flaxseed heating pad on my shoulders all morning, after my workout, I tossed both of them in the thrift store donation box. No returns due to covid and me cutting off the tags. While I was out walking wearing my new women's trail running cap that fits perfectly, I was struck by genius. Why couldn't I detach the adjustable strap from one and add it to the other?

    All I had to do was cut the rings on one bra and then attach the removed straps to the other bra straps and adjust them down to perfection. Now two unusable bras become one useable and will be great for workout and my walks due to them being more compressive than my daily bras. 2 for 1 was more true than I expected.
    IMG_5085.JPG
     
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  2. Beth Gallagher

    Beth Gallagher Supreme Member
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    I have the opposite problem. I'm vertically challenged with short arms, so I can never buy a long sleeve top that the sleeves don't hang down over my hands. :mad: So I usually buy 3/4 sleeve tops unless I want to cruise the "petites" section where nothing seems to fit except the sleeves.

    Good job on making those work for you, Faye. Usually I have to have bra straps on the shortest adjustment. :p
     
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  3. Faye Fox

    Faye Fox Veteran Member
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    Isn't it crazy how much women differ and the gall of the designers to come out with things like one size fits all. The sleeve thing is also a problem for me but the opposite. If a long sleeve tee fits right everywhere body-wise then the sleeves are short. I have several long sleeve tops I converted to short sleeve.

    The crazy thing is for my height 5' 8" my inseam is short at 29" and my upper body is way long so many shaped tops have the bottom seam about 3" from my hips and looks silly. My freaky long torso thing is why I don't wear dresses unless custom-made. I became a two-piece outfit lover from a very young age.
     
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  4. Beth Gallagher

    Beth Gallagher Supreme Member
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    I can never buy "sets" of anything... pajamas or sweats, etc. I wear a size larger on top than on the bottom so I have to buy separates always. And of course, with advancing age my waist has disappeared, so to get pants that fit in the waist means they will be too big everywhere else. I suppose this is one reason women of a certain age finally give up and buy elastic waist pants. :D
     
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  5. Faye Fox

    Faye Fox Veteran Member
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    Same with me on the sets. My top is always larger than the bottom. I put together my own outfits. My fading hips are one reason I went to mom navel high waisted jeans. The low rise and hip huggers wouldn't stay up and the midrise even in relaxed had to be so tight over the hip bones that they caused back problems. My wide band stretch waist sports pants are getting a lot more wear these days.
     
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  6. Faye Fox

    Faye Fox Veteran Member
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    The Great Bra Save

    Using the straps from one bra to make the other
    with longer adjustable straps, seemed to render
    the other useless. I rarely use the thin cup pads,
    but when I do it is a hassle putting them in and
    out. I got the bright idea to leave the pads in the
    useless one and make it useful as a bandeau under
    the strapped bralette. The result is a wonderful fit
    and more compression that helps my posture. It
    gives a nice look but yet natural-looking for my age.
    The beauty is it is easy to take on and off leaving my
    unpadded bra in place.
    FF coll br redo.jpg
     
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  7. Silvia Benoit

    Silvia Benoit Veteran Member
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    Believe it or not but this head light 20210324_163934.jpg is great for people who has problems to see small stiches (crochet, sewing, knitting) as well as when they need to work in small / dark places ). BTW, this head light is battery operated. I am getting a rechargeable one
     
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  8. Silvia Benoit

    Silvia Benoit Veteran Member
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    One day I will learn to post pics...LOL
     
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  9. Kate Ellery

    Kate Ellery Supreme Member
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    I’m about 5 ft 1 and have to alter most long pants / skirts/ tops I buy
    I only buy skirts for dancing which are mostly a jersey type / knee length however they are usually about to my shin so to long for me , so I usually shorten them from the waist as I only buy elastic waist skirts for comfort in summer
    so it makes it a easier job than tackling the hem line .

    Same with any long pants I usually have to take them up usually I cut the hem off ..then make another hem about the same as I cut off ..that’s despite buying the “ shorter leg” pants
     
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