Use Ribbon to Make a Dress Bigger

by Chickie W.U.

3 Materials

$10

1 Hour

Easy

Hello Readers. I found the most amazing dress. It was a maxi dress with the painting "The Wave" on it. I have always loved this painting. When I saw this dress at a thrift store I just grabbed it. I didn't check the fit I just knew I would work it out somehow. If it was too big I could alter it. What if it was too small? I have an easy way to make the dress bigger.

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All I need is some wide ribbon to make this dress bigger.

I started by cutting the side seams off the dress with sharp sewing scissors or shears. There was a seam on each side of the dress that went from the hem to the under arm and sleeve. I cut along the stitches of the seam. It is a lot of work to use a seam ripper for such a long seam. I just think it's easier to cut it away.

Next, I cut along the other side of that side seam. I just wanted to cut the stitches out. I didn't want to remove anything but those stitches.

Here is a look at the stitches of the seam after I cut it out of the dress. We need it out of the way.

I cut that side seam out from both sides of the dress. Now the dress is totally open on both sides.

I put the dress on the dress form to show the open sides better. I have a few yards of this beige ribbon that I am holding and I am going to sew it into the open sides to add more space in the dress.

I folded one end of the ribbon under twice and sewed that down.

I clipped the ribbon in place. You can see the folded end of the ribbon is up at the sleeve. The dress is inside out and the right sides are clipped together so all the new sewing will be hidden inside the dress.

I sewed the sides to the ribbon. I removed the clips as I sewed to get them out of the way. I used my serger but you could use a sewing machine as well.

Here is a look at the ribbon sew into the side of the dress. The ribbon added about 2 1/2 inches to each side. That should give me more breathing room.

My dress needed to be shorter so I cut off about 5 inches. Not everyone would need to shorten the length of the dress. I am fairly short so I am always hemming my clothes.