That's why it's important to have lots of good measurements (honest measurements if they are done by a 2nd person)!! I am in the process of sewing a custom dress for someone far away, and there will be only one fitting in person. Her mother has experience in measuring the girl, so I can trust the measurements will be true. The 2 good things-the dress won't be needed until fall; the girl is almost 18 and has slowed down in her growth (I hope, but if not, it's a small 'fix').

Annabel, that is a beautiful dress!!! It is such a pretty color! You have lost so much weight!! I hope we will see more pictures, esp from your competition!

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Skate@Delaware
Ah, show skating!!! I do it for the glitter!

Well done only putting 5 lbs back on while you were injured! That's marvellous. I don't sew well enough to make good costumes - I have made a couple, but they weren't very successful, alas. Keep that dress in your mind as motivation - I did, and it worked! Difficulty is, I've got it now - and I'd still like to lose another 10-15 lbs.... oh well.....

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Mrs Redboots
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I love my computer because my friends live in it!
Ice dancers have lovely big curves!

I used to get to skate one morning a week before work, and I loved it. (So did my supervisor--I was never cranky on those days. )

Over the summer, I'm going to switch my schedule around some so I can skate some mornings (Garner and Cary will be doing skate camps then) I'm starting with two days a week and hope to work up to three by the end of June. If it goes well, and no NHL next fall, I may just consider keeping it that way. I'm so looking forward to morning skates again--even if they will be at the ungodly hour of 6:30 am.

Mine are nothing fancy, and by trial and error, I'm finding out what works and what doesn't. I'm not sure why so many dresses have the dropped waistline--all that does is really emphasize my belly.

Tell me about it! My Tango dress, which I posted a picture of me wearing on another thread, does that.... I saw myself on video last year and swore "Never again!"

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Mrs Redboots
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I love my computer because my friends live in it!
Ice dancers have lovely big curves!

The dropped waistline works very well on females who don't have much in the way of definition between waist and hips (and tummy).

On those of us well endowed with the latter, a slightly curved seam with the sides being at or just a tad below the waist seems to work best. Taking the seam almost straight across will actually emphasize the size of the hips.

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American Waltz... Once, Twice, ???? ...

Q: How many coaches does it take to fix Jen's Dance Intro-3 Problems
A: 5 and counting...

I have no definition between my waist and hips. Measured, it's only about a 4 inch difference. However, I do have a belly.

I use a KwikSew for my straight skirt, and the waist sits at about my belly button. I never wear anything that high on my waist in normal clothes, but it looks a lot better on me than the curved waist. The curved seam fits around my belly and "frames" it. I've tried dropping the straight waist seam, and it doesn't look as nice, so I keep modifying the tops, and adding the same skirt/panty combination to the bottom.

I recently bought a Specialty Sportswear pattern--with the most straight waist seam they offered. I'll be trying that one some time later this year. I'll just have to wait and see how it fits.

Okay, now I kind of am starting to freak out. I STILL hadn't gotten the fabric samples (which she said she'd send last Wed.), and now the website doesn't come up but you get an error message that says it's exceeded its bandwidth. I sent her an email last night asking for a timeline, for when I could expect to see things (swatches, sketch, etc.) so I'd be aware of her intended schedule--& she hasn't answered that.

If she's having trouble w/ the site that's one thing, but her email is an aol account so I'm sure she's getting her messages. What do I do????? I'm kind of stuck now--probably too late to go to anyone else to have something made, plus I've already given her a deposit. I may have to pull an old test dress out of the closet, worst case, but then I don't want this dress at all, since it's specifically for this competition & program & I don't need a $200.00 test dress! I'd call her, but since the site is down I can't get a phone number.

don't panic • don't panic • don't panic • don't panic • don't panic • don't panic • don't panic • don't panic • don't panic • don't panic • don't panic • don't panic • don't panic • don't panic • don't panic • don't panic • don't panic • don't panic •

Did you call her from a cell phone? If so, you can get her number from the call logs... Just a thought...

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Cheers,
jazzpants

11-04-2006: Shredded "Pre-Bronze FS for Life" Club Membership card!!!
Silver Moves is the next "Mission Impossible"
(Dare I try for Championship Adult Gold someday???)

Thank you for the support, you guys!!!

I feel really bad for you and wish that I could help. All I can say is keep on trying but start making alternative arrangements. If you don't get the dress for when you need it then I really think that you should get your deposit back. It might be a good idea to start getting some legal advice as well, you don't have to do anything just yet but it may help to get the wheels ready to get into motion! If you want I can try and get onto the website for her number as, if it is a traffic problem, I may be able to get in when things are quieter (I'm in the UK).

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The best whisper is a click

I really like KwikSew patterns and they are easy to modify. Haven't tried Specialty Sportswear. Just got some Jalie to try. I'm looking at some KwikSew either empire waisted or something with princess seams-that actually might be more attractive for us curvy women. I also prefer a flatter skirt and adjusting the length to an attractive level. And monochromatic schemes...

All I can say-keep practicing with sewing these things because you will get better. I've been sewing for a long time (ok, 20+ years) and most of it self-taught with lots of trial and error (boy, you should see some of my mistakes!). Lots of my beginning stuff was done with just a zig-zag machine.

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Skate@Delaware
Ah, show skating!!! I do it for the glitter!

I also have a couple of Jalies--haven't tried them yet, either.

I have the KwikSew empire waist that isn't the camisole top. It's really comfortable, but not as flattering as I'd like to imagine. (nothing is, really) I used it for my competition dress last year. I'd love to find something with princess seaming.

I've also been sewing for a long time, since I was in elementary school--more years than I will admit to--at least off and on. I just got a serger last fall, so my first dresses were also zigzagged. I'm getting a new sewing machine this fall, so I can retire my 18-year old Singer that drops stitches.

I made a dress for my daughter this past spring-stretch velvet (dark lavender) with matching meshy skirt with glitter flecks. I don't know how to put pictures up or I would...

This was my "test" dress-I was learning how to do an inset skirt. So I took lots of notes and learned lots! So for all my sewing experience, I still have a lot to learn!

By the way, I bought extra fabric and had to do 2 bodices because I screwed up.....

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Skate@Delaware
Ah, show skating!!! I do it for the glitter!

I made a dress for a girl in 4 days because her custom dressmaker stopped answering emails and phone calls, and they had contracted with the dressmaker months in advance. I don't think it's the same one that you have, but it's very similar. I knew a couple of weeks beforehand that there were problems with the dressmaker and started talking up the skater about what she wanted, since I skated with her, so the construction itself was 4 days with three fittings and even some adjustments the day of the competition. I didn't charge extra for rush because they were so stressed and I was annoyed that the sort-of famous dressmaker gave all custom dressmakers a bad rep by disappearing.

About Kwik sew, the good news is that every pattern is based on the same sloper. If you're a M or L in one dress, it's the same for all and then you can mix and match pieces together quite easily. For those that like a princess line, look at KS swimsuit 2139, and think about putting a skirt on that, like the one from 3331 and sleeves of your choice from another pattern.

Enough about sewing! My fingers are crossed for phoenix!

Phoenix -- How is the dress coming? Any news yet?

Thank you! I got photos of fabric to choose from on Saturday, which I very promptly did. I really like what she found........now we wait for sketches. On the website it says it takes about 5 business days to ship, which means she should be shipping it out on Monday--yeah, doubt that will happen. But maybe she'll FedEx it or something.

She's promised I'll have it in time to skate in before the competition--I asked to have it on the 13th. I'm keeping my fingers crossed!!!! (What else can I do? Nothing!) Keep a good hope for me--if it truly does arrive I'll put a picture up so you can see what all the fuss was about!

Phoenix,
Do you know anyone in your local area that makes dresses? I'm just thinking for the next time round...in my old club, several skaters used to have their dresses custom made (I did this a few times too), and they were made by a few reputable people in town, where she would measure you herself and whatnot. I think there are too many risky things going on when someone over the 'net makes it.

Maybe you could ask around your club and find out if anyone knows of a person where you live that makes skating dresses for the future. Or even if you can find a basic skating pattern, do a dress sketch, and give it to someone who knows how to sew well, that is also an idea (I've done that before too). Good luck!

One step closer!

I was just thinking of you and was going to as how things were. Nothing like taking it to the wire

Fingers crossed that it moves a bit more quickly now

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The best whisper is a click

I once "automated" a bridal buying department for one of the major retail chains. It was more reorganizing their tickler file by wedding date than computerization, although we did introduce email between the buyer and the suppliers.

They told me that most brides lie about the wedding date by up to six weeks, to ensure they get the gown in time. I remember when I worked the phones as part of my analysis. One Thursday, a call came in from a store associate who said (in a very quiet, perky voice): "The bride is here, the wedding's on Saturday. She doesn't look too upset, but her lawyer looks pretty grumpy!"

I guess instead of telling them when you NEED it by, you have to tell them when you WANT the dress to be ready.

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Okay, I can't stand it anymore--I'm going to call her. I need to hear from her own lips that it will be here in time to try it on, skate in it, and have it altered if necessary.

My dress was ready and I skated in it today. It took this girl (a college student) about a week to make it from scratch in between whatever else she was doing. It feels great and my coach just suggested I have her take it in a little more so it's more fitted through the middle. I don't leave for oberstdorf until Tuesday evening, so that should be enough time, I hope! I can always skate in it the way it is, but it would be nice to make the changes.

Phoenix, I hope yours works out. Definitely skate in it beforehand to make sure everything feels good!

Pat

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August 22, back on the ice!

Hi Phoenix - just bumping the thread up again to find out whether you got your dress yet?

Ahh, yes, the continuing saga! I was waiting to have the final final, but I can tell you so far...........

Dress arrived yesterday. It is very pretty! It doesn't fit! Very loose around the waist, the fabric actually sags. & the back stands away from the small of my back so I look fat...... So I (LUCKILY!!) found a seamstress & she's taking some big princess seamed darts in the front, which should take care of it. (crosses fingers.....) The lady who made it said mine & one other are the only dresses she's made that have had fit problems....... whatever. It will be finished in time for my competition (one week from today!!), and I like it a lot, so (still crossing fingers) all's well that ends well.

But I've 100% decided I'll never do this long distance again! This has been way too much stress & then to not have it right & have to pay for more alterations, which we would have had time for if the designer had jumped on the project more quickly.

How do I post a photo? I don't have a picture of me in it, but I have pics of it laid out flat.

You can post pictures through this link:
http://www.imageshack.us/