Replies

1. 
   Palady | Apr 04, 2009 07:28pm | #1

   Before doing any alteration, my inclination would be to contact the company selling it and presenting the issue.  Would say a replacement, or at least a credit for a later purchase, was in order.

   This might fail of course.  So in MO, the repair would require removing the neck band and replacing it.  Caveat of course is the need to use a coordinating or complimentary fabric which could be also used on the sleeve hems.

   nepa

1. 
   gogojojo | Apr 04, 2009 09:40pm | #2

   Thanks for answering; I had though about doing that as a last resort. It's too late to return it. I wonder how something like that happens...and how does it get past quality control!

1. 
   MaryinColorado | Apr 05, 2009 08:19pm | #3

   I'm thinking the fabric wasn't layed out properly for cutting.  How frustrating after spending extra and expecting quality!  Have you tried steaming it?  Sometimes a drycleaner can correct shrinking or stretching on a natural fabric garment, but it would likely come back during the next washing.

   You may be able to remove the neckline and serge finish it rather than replacing it with another fabric, or if it is long enough, take fabric from the hem to create a new neckband.  Mary

2. 
   Palady | Apr 05, 2009 09:14pm | #4

   >> ... how does it get past quality control! <<   

   Because the "controller" is less than attentive.  Or, the supervisor of the "controller" has an agenda and gets the message across to the "controller" to pass items to meet deadlines.

   I speak from information coming from my mother who did production first in childrens & then ladies fashion.  She also worked for a brief time in a facility making field jackets for the military. 

   If she took a "controller" to task for a behavior detrimental to the production, she had to be particularly observant of what the "controller" continued to do since items would be passed that should've been caught.   And yes, she had to fire some "controllers" but only after she had adequate documentaion as to dates & infractions. 

   nepa

   ETA - Mary's post of    >> ... the fabric wasn't layed out properly for cutting ... <<          is well said.  Again from my mother's input, the cutters may have been required to make cuts that compromised the end result of a fashion. 

    

    

   Edited 4/5/2009 2:18 pm ET by Palady

2. 
   Gloriasews | Apr 06, 2009 10:26am | #5

   Have you thought of continuing the fold all around the neck & attaching the original fold line behind (towards the inside of the T-shirt) & sewing it down to the seamline?  It would be worth a try, as long as it doesn't distort the neckline.  It would just make a narrower neck edge & could still look attractive.  This would be the easy fix, rather than removing the band & using another fabric as trim, although that idea is a very good & attractive fix, as well.  Just a thought.  Let us know what you decide to do & how it turned out.  Good luck!

   Gloria

3. 
   marymary | Apr 06, 2009 05:58pm | #6

   My solution may not be helpful for this particular Tee shirt, but I will tell you what I did to make an unwearable shirt into one I can wear.

   I particularly liked the color and the fabric of my Tee shirt, but the sleeves were uncomfortable - set too far out on my shoulder.  I turned it into a tank and used swimsuit fabric as the binding around the neck and armholes.  I cut the shirt to the desired finish size and then bound the edges with the swimsuit fabric.  Swimsuit fabric stretches in both directions, so it is easy to work with as a binding.  You do need to stretch it slightly around the greatest curves.  I attached it RS to RS, folded it over to the WS, and stitched in the ditch.  You don't have to finish the edge of the swimsuit fabric because it won't ravel.  Cut the binding 4xs the desired finished edge, plus 1/4" - 1/2" extra for the turn of the cloth.  It depends upon the thickness of the fabric.  I like to have extra rather than realized I don't have enough after I have done the first stitching.  You can always cut away the extra after you have sewn it down.

4. 
   sewslow67 | Apr 06, 2009 07:44pm | #7

   When I was teaching "Stretch and Sew" years ago, a student came in with a purchased t-shirt with the same problem as yours.  Normally, you don't want to remove the ribbing once it has been washed (and you never pre-shrink the ribbing when making your own garments).  However, in this case, there was nothing to lose.

   After removing the ribbing, shorten the length (using an appropriate ratio for ribbing to neck edge), divide both neck edge and ribbing into quarters, and pin.  Then, with t-shirt fabric on the bottom, carefully sew the ribbing back onto the neck edge ...stretching the ribbing gently as you sew.  Make sure that the edges line up as you sew.  Use a very narrow zig zag stitch, or serge if you have a serger.

   Steam gently with the seams facing toward the t-shirt.   Then edge stitch on the right side about 1/8 inch from the well in the seam.

   This process will make the ribbing lie flat and hug the neck.  Good luck, and feel free to ask if you have any more questions.

1. 
   gogojojo | Apr 07, 2009 04:46am | #8

   Thank you...genius idea!! I'm going to try this!

1. 
   sewslow67 | Apr 07, 2009 07:51am | #9

   You are most welcome.  Now then, if you want any specific information as to the exact ratio once you get the trim removed, send me a PM and I'll give you a hand with it.  I'm on my computer a lot during the day working, so it won't be a problem to take some time to help if you want or need it.

5. 
   Pattiann42 | Apr 07, 2009 05:46pm | #10

   Turn the shirt inside out, give the ribbing a shot of spray starch or sizing.  Press and save the time and effort it would take to try to fix something than may not be fixable.

   If this a screen printed shirt, you paid for the art and not a quality shirt.

    

    

   
   

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   Edited 4/7/2009 10:52 am ET by spicegirl1