x-no-archive:yes dragonlady
wrote:

In article ,
wrote:

I'm not sure if this is the right newsgroup for this, but maybe someone here
will be able to help me. My daughter is going to a new school this year
that requires uniforms, in her case grey slacks or grey plaid skirt. The
skirts have pleats, and as my daughter is on the short side for her age,
hers is far too long! I don't have much sewing experience, but I was
wondering if this would be possible to hem myself? Or is it absolutely
necessary that I take it in someplace to have it altered? If I can do this
myself, how do I make sure the pleats don't end up all funny?

I'm sorry if this seems like a stupid question, but I don't want her to get
teased or beaten up because of her clothes.


Unless you know how to sew, I wouldn't start with hemming pleats. Some
of the stores that sell school uniforms have alterations staff
available; many dry cleaners also have people who do alterations. Or
just look for a seamstress.

It isn't that hemming a pleated skirt is that tricky -- it isn't much
different from any other kind of skirt, it's just that you have to press
the pleats just right afterwards, and if you get any of the hem bulky in
any way, the pleats won't lay flat again.

Without seeing it, my thought would be to take it up in the waist
rather than at the hem. You might just be able to roll the waist band
over a couple of times (or once), especially if the blouse doesn't
have to tuck in.

Alternately, are you sure you couldn't buy a smaller size which would
be shorter?

My dd#2 who has to wear a uniform much prefers to wear pants rather
than the skirt part of the uniform. And pants are much easier to
alter and/or hem than skirts are.

grandma Rosalie