I need to alter/customise a top, but not sure what the stuff I need is called.

[onepieceoflollipop]

Sorry for very odd title! I have a lovely White stuff top (Posh t-shirt/short tunic type style). it is a bit too "flowing" for me, I am a size 8 ish with a small waist and it doesn't look great. I can easily sort this by sewing a sort of tie to each side of the waist and pulling it in at the back. I hope I am explaining this clearly enough! I need to know what the stuff is called that I need, then I can google it or go into a haberdashery dept and they will understand me!

Like a ribbon?

Or some tape?

Will it be visible?

Or are you thinking about elastic (underneath)?

when something has ties like that they're usually made from the same fabric as the garment, perhaps get some ribbon in the same colour at the top? Can't really think what else you might mean.

Yes like ribbon or tape, but not exactly like thwt iykwim. It would be visible, kind of like a slim belt that ties behind it. I have similar tops, and the "belt" bit is similar material to the top, but thicker. I will try and link.

Yes Dfg15, I think you understand. :) Maybe what I think I want doesn't exist anyway so ribbon may be an alternative.

They are usually made from the fabric, its made into a really thin tube, I can't think what its called. But its not easy to do yourself I know that. ribbon might be your friend here

Going to try ribbon, thank you. The worst that can happen is it looks worse and I unpick it! atm the top makes me look 5 months pregnant!

I think you'd need extra material to make one - it's very hard to colour match white

So ribbon/lace/cord will all be easier & to get a nice finish crochet or finger knit a small loop then sew it into the seam rather than unpick the seam and try to fix in the ribbon - then you can loop the ribbon round & back on itself

Has the top got those little ribbons for hanging it up with?

I have used these a few times

Good tip Herrena for future reference, I always cut those loops out.

Katy, thank you for your advice, the top is a darkish grey/mix, not white. :) (brand is White stuff) so hopefully easier to blend in.

The thin little tubes are something like rouleau straps - you need some special kind of thin stick to pull them right side out when you've made them. It was on the Sewing Bee programme.

Ribbon would be easier! Or would a thin belt work? Some of my flowing tops have thin belts rather than fixed ties which I think may make the fabric more evenly distributed round if the top isn't designed to have ties on the side.

Thank you SoupDragon and eveyone. Going to buy some ribbon on my next day off.

Ooh you can see how to make rouleau straps on youtube. Too advanced for me though. :)

Lots of my tops have enough fabric at the hem to cut off enough to use elsewhere (not very tall), which I often use to fill in very low neckline but could easily make ties. Easy to turn fabric tube right-way-round after sewing, using pencil or knitting needle - you can do it!