Any experienced seamstresses about?

[lucysmam]

I have a very nice dress that I was going to take to a local alterations place at some point after pay day next week, to be taken in. That's not happening now & I can't decide whether it'd be silly to try it myself (needs taking down at least a dress size, possibly more).

Anyway, it's fully lined & has a seam around the waist.

I'm reasonably confident at alterations & repairs but not entirely sure whether to attempt this myself because of the lining being attached at the waist (so it's like a lined skirt attached to a lined bodice rather than being a dress then lining (hopefully you understand what I mean )

Would it matter if I just alter it at the side seams, treating the fabric & lining as one? Rather than unpick the whole thing? I suspect that will maybe make the seams quite bulky though.

I've searched Youtube for a tutorial to have a look at first before I even think about getting the pins out but not found quite what I'm after.

Yes you could do that but cut the seam allowance, don't leave the old fabric there. It won't be perfect but hey..

Hows the rest of it? If it is fitted it may not work to take in just the sides.

But tbh just use this as an experiment. You have no choice at the mo. You'll learn a lot from doing it.

It's a big job ! Lining always makes things more difficult . Personally I'd unpick it at the waist so you'd have a separate top and bottom. Then I'd turn the pieces inside out, and take each one in to the desired amount. Cut away the excess fabric, turn them back to the right way and then sew the top to the bottom again. Good luck !

Turn it inside out . Tack stitch half inch in from previous seam . Turn back and try on .
If it works then stitch it . If is looks bad then re- assess .
Try simple first .
Come back and let us know please .

@Trumpton that's what I was considering doing. I suppose I can tack it, and see what it looks like, as you said.

If it doesn't work then I might look at unpicking and reassembling it. Or I might just put it back and leave it hung up looking nice; I don't want to ruin it.

Yes I think for half an inch seam decrease ( so an overall 2ins ) it’s worth a try . If it looks ok you could always leave the seams uncut so they can be unpicked later and done professionally .

You only need to unpick the waist at the side seams to allow for taking in. You don't need to completely detach it if you're only working on the sides. But do work on the outer and lining separately as it will be a much nicer finish.