Modest Makeovers
Why spend your time in a pretty outfit constantly concerned about how your neckline is sitting? Here you'll find some ideas to help keep necklines modest.
Help, my neckline gapes! I have found that some well placed pieces of elastic really help avoid any gape in a square neckline in particular, it can work on other neckline shapes, only the elastic would need to be just the right length: too long and it won't really help the gape, too short and it will pull the neckline out of shape. The red lines in the picture on the right indicate the elastic placement which works really well on a square neckline: I used two pieces of narrow round hat elastic, for each I tied a knot in both ends, stitched one end to the inside corner of the neckline and stitched the other end to the side-seam below the armhole. The length of the elastic is key. The elastic needs to be slightly shorter than the distance it covers, when standing up straight in the dress, the elastic should be slightly stretched, but shouldn't distort the neckline. With any forward movement of the shoulders, the dress front will be limited in it's movement by the backwards pull of the elastic. This elastic placement is shown by the yellow lines on my wedding dress picture on the right. The second thing I did on my wedding dress (and have done on some round-necked costumes) is elastic in a casing along the front - this elastic placement shown by the red line on my wedding dress picture on the right. I used a narrow flat elastic for this. With a dress which has lining you can create an elastic casing around the top edge of the front of the dress. To do this, sew a line 1cm from the edge starting from one shoulder, around the front, to the other shoulder (or just across the frond of a square neckline) You then need access into each end of the tunnel you've created between your lining fabric and your main fabric (you may have to unpick a few stitches or make a slit in the lining to get into the tunnel/casing) and thread 8or 9cm wide elastic through and secure each end in place. For narrower elastic, make a narrower casing. Elastic is easiest to thread through if attached to a safety pin to help guide it through the casing. This purple top on the right shows elastic in casing. The elastic is attached at each end but the fabric casing is able to slide along the elastic as needed. In this example there is excess fabric which creates gathers, but on a neckline which already fits and sits flat when standing straight, the elastic should be slightly stretched, but shouldn't wrinkle up the neckline (when wearing it standing up straight) With any forward movement of the shoulders, the tension of the elastic should pull in any excess in the neckline which would otherwise gape. Tutorial for this casing here.
Tucks to fix neckline gapeIf the front of the dress gapes even when standing up straight the elastic will cause gathers, in this case, if you would rather pleats than gathers in the neckline to take up excess, this can also be done.
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Many are the ways to make marvelous modesty makeovers
Neckline Fillers
Search on Ebay or Amazon for Cami Secret or modesty panel for these great little neackline fillers. Something similar is easily made for yourself too.
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Tutorial Here showing another way to fill in a low neckline. I've never gone to the fuss of making a paper pattern for my fill-ins, I just pin on the piece of fabric while wearing the top, trim to fit and sew in place.
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Reconstruction
Below Left: before picture - a strapless gown. Below Right: after significant alterations the result - a lovely dress.
Read how it was done Here
Read how it was done Here
Fichu or Shawl
There is a small kind of shawl or scarf known historically as a fichu. Crochet and knitting patterns for such a thing can be found on ravlery.com. Or use a triangle of lace or light weight fabric to drape over or under the gown's neckline.