altering always takes longer than I think.

[kareina]

 Today I have battled the stupidity of modern clothing--I have been altering a pair of flannel pajamas purchased while visiting in the UK (where houses are neither as well insulated nor as well heated as in Sweden). The pajama top started out with:

* sleeves the correct length
* about the correct diameter of fabric around the hips
* way too much fabric around the waist
* shoulder seams that fell partway down my arms
* sleeves too big around the upper arm
* sleeves that wouldn't permit me to lift my arms without the entire top needing to lift as well. 

Solution:

* cut off the sleeves
* cut the body fabric into a rectangle only as wide as my shoulders
* cut the extra fabric from the sides into triangles from hip to waist, and rectangle from waist to underarm
* sew those side gores to the body rectangles
* make underarm gores from the fabric that was left over after making side gores
* cut the sleeves into rectangles
* use the fabric left over from the sleeves to extend the top of the sleeves (so that they will still be the correct length, despite moving the should seam
* sew the sleeves and under arm gores back on to the body.

Result:

A top that fits well, and permits me to raise my hands over my head without moving any of the body fabric.

I have spent five hours on this project so far, and I still have the second sleeve and sleeve gores to attach. However, I am content to put that bit off till tomorrow. I will never understand why clothing manufacturers do those stupid curved sleeve arms that make it impossible to raise one's arm without getting a cold tummy, when underarm gores are so easy to do...

Comments

[fjorlief]

It is frustrating, isn't it! I know that a lot of the choices made by manufacturers are based not on how the clothing is used, but by what makes it look good in the package, or good on a mannequin, or good when photographed. Modern style armholes keep the fabric from bunching up around the armhole seam, which "looks bad", even though the extra fabric is exactly what is needed to allow free movement

[kareina]

I need to finish that project--I still haven't gotten back to it, and take photos. I don't think it bunches up around the armhole seam at all, but perhaps it does...