Hello,
First time poster here! I’m a WP size and therefore find it difficult to find ready made clothing that I like. Can you alter the fitted part of a regular size blazer to a petite(waist, bust, making them higher)? Also, can you add darts (front or back) to one of those straight blazers? BTW, I’ve been sewing for years and have moderate skills. Many years ago I made my young son a sport coat….my last attempt at actual tailoring! So, I think I can handle this alteration if it’s doable. Thanks for any tips or help!
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Replies
Does WP mean petite large? (Not the contradiction it sounds!) If so, I share your problem but haven't been able to make that kind of alteration without disassembling the blazer--a job that is worth it only if the fabric is great.
I leave the collar, lapels, and buttons intact (if they fit) but take off the sleeves and open them and the side seams, then lay my fitted pattern onto the fronts and backs to remark and recut the new shape. This works only on big, boxy jackets, as there isn't enough width on curved jackets in the waist area to become your new hip area.
While the sleeve is off, I also shorten the shoulder seams by an inch and recut the sleeve to match the new armscye before re-assembling the jacket. It's like making a blazer from scratch, so I alter only if I love the fabric.
Thanks for your reply! WP, Women's Petite, are the petite proportion versions of large sizes as opposed to regular. I think they start at 12WP and go up. I'm anywhere from a 14WP to a 16WP. ANYWAY, they are hard to find & if you do, they're either quite expensive(Talbot's) or maybe not exactly the quality you'd want(Jessica London). I was afraid I'd have to disassemble, even though that makes sense! I can see what you mean about assessing whether it would be worth the effort. Another question regarding the alterations you described....do you get a size bigger than you take to do the alterations? Or does the boxy type jacket in your size have enough fabric? Thanks again for your help.
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