Formal Dress Alteration?

[jessm]

Well, after 8 months of waiting, I'm sailing in 17 days on the Carnival Valor! I'm driving everyone around me crazy with my daily countdown!

I found a great formal dress at Ross for super cheap, so I bought it. The only problem is that I am short (5'1'') and even with 3 inch heals, the dress drags on the ground. I don't want to be tripping over myself all night, but I really don't want to pay a lot of money to have it altered b/c I NEVER dress up, and it will probably be YEARS until I have a chance to wear the dress again.

So...I have a couple options. I could hem it myself, still make it a little long to hide the homemade hem....or, I heard there was some sort of fabric hemming tape? Has anyone ever used this?

The dress is a sort of fake satiny fabric in a metalic blue. What do you think I should do?

[CA Cruiser]

A couple years ago I also found a great dress at Ross but one of the zipper seams was undone and a tailor wanted $12, more than half I paid. I went back to Ross and they gave me $5 more off. The tailor did a great job and I have worn it a couple of times. Ask around, maybe a friend might be able to hem it for you. You might be surprised how soon you'll wear it again. Have a great time.

[LisaK]

find yourself a good seamstress- quickly you are running short of time, it shouldn't cost a lot to hem a dress and the results will be professional. Do you have a relative who sews?
the product you are talking about is a webbing called "Stichwitchery" its ok, i am not sure that you could use it on a satiny fabric as you have to iron it on with a super hot iron, and if you don't get a perfect smooth line it will pucker.

[cozzette1]

I would try the iron on tape. Try it first on small patch in a less noticable place, like the side and see if it hurts the satin. If no tthat is the way to go, also, and I know it sounds tacky, but some duct tape works as well, in an emergency
Cozzette

[katlady]

I would pay to have the dress hemmed. I'm also 5'1 and had to get a dress altered. Look at it this way a lot of formal dresses can cost upwards of $150 if you mess up the hem then you will have to start the search over again and your time has value to.

[Cruuuzer]

Please do not use Stitch Witchery. It is really unreliable and will not work on certain fabrics. You don't want the temporary hem to fall out in the middle of your formal night!

[Donna]

I've used the tape a lot, just make sure you make the hem even, depending on how much you need to shorten it, you may have to carefully cut some fabric off. Be sure to cover it with a wet cloth and re-wet it if needed. It can be done, just be careful.