Making a dress smaller in certain areas?

[Keilania]

Alright, I've got a simple dress.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v130/bunnie_licker/Img_1669.jpg

I'm going to add the details and more stuff later. But for now; deal xD

Well I made this dress from an old long skirt xD so it's quite rectangular. It fits from my shoulders to under my bust, but then my stomach area is quite loose to what I need it to be. I need the skirt to be full so I'm probably not going to mess with that. (If anything if I need it fuller I'll just put slits up the side) BUT ANYWAYS;

How can I make it tighter without going back and sewing? Because I really am half decent at sewing it's just I'd have to tear up the hems and ugh! Way too many variables for failure. ;-;

I mean I was thinking grabbing two sides, folding them in, and putting eyelets in or grommets but ah. Or just sew on 2 strips of fabric near the back and trying them into a bow, it'd help hide the sewing mess too. But with the eyelett idea it seems like I'd mess that up too. >.<

Anyone wanna give me advice? ;_;

[Da Tenshi Kurai]

Eyelets are actually pretty easy if you make sure your fabric is in place before you punch the holes. They're also pretty cheap, too. You can get eyelets and a pair of eyelet pliers for under $20 at most places. I got mine for $9, actually.

From your description, I also think that corseting the skirt up in the middle would also look very nice. If you did, you'd probably have to use an offset color for a backdrop, or an offset color of ribbon/lace.

[Amaya De'Morte]

if you did want to resew the dress, but not completely take it apart.. turn it inside out, and put it on safety pin the area's where you want it tighter, then take it off. If it comes off- you're good. If it doesn't come off... repin. ^^

[Keilania]

Oh no it's made of strechy material. But basically I'm really liking the corset idea. I want to include a different color with black and white. The shirt is probably going to be white, but now that I'm thinking about it, maybe powder blue?

Anyways! but say you're looking at me from the back with he dress on. Pinching 2 parts about 2 inches in from my hips on the back, pulling them, and the part in one hand doing eyelettes through the 2 pieces of fabric back to back, and doing the same on the other side, lacing it up with white ribbon or something. Then somewhere in there sewing the sides down somehow so that it won't be loose or anything. I'll have to experiement. At this point I am so confused.. >.<

That way no sewing, but would eyelettes be able to be strong enough, because it'll be sorta stressed. How could I reduce the propability of it tearing the fabric?

[Sarcasm-hime]

Eyelets in stretch fabric are a bad idea; they'll probably rip out. I don't understand why you're so against sewing; putting in eyelets would be more time-consuming than just taking the sides in a bit.

You don't have to tear anything out, just put on the dress inside-out, pinch the loose fabric at the sides until it fits you right; those'll be your new side seamlines. Pin vertically along those pinched areas, then take the dress off and sew the new side seams, starting on the old side seam and gradually curving to the new seam. If you're not sure about eyeballing it, you can mark on the wrong side of the fabric with white chalk, white pencil crayon or even soap, and then sew along the lines you drew.

[Keilania]

Wow. I think I'm either really stupid or you're god.

I thought about it but it never registered.

I love you!! ^^ <3 This is what AMA raves do to a girl.

[Sarcasm-hime]

LOL no problem. ^_^'