Welcome to 2024! and a neckline hack for the Cris Wood Sews "start here" top

‪@kerrygirl2003‬ recently requested some help on lowering the neckline on the Cris Wood Sews "Start here" top so here it is! Two methods for getting a little more room in the neck. As always links are below and, also as always, I thank you so much for being here!
my measurements for reference:
Height 5'3"
weight 138 LB
bust 38"
waist 34"
hips 39"
My last video (mentioned in opening)
• using elastic to alter...
Burda pants video with knee dart hack
• Rundholz-style knee da...
Cris Wood Sews webshop
criswoodsews.com
Sew Much Sewing Leonie dress video
• 3 recent makes of mine...
Liam patterns Leonie dress
rubynz.com/products/leonie-pa...
my Ko-Fi
ko-fi.com/thebigsewalong93302
my instagram
/ therealbigsewalong

[@robyn3349]

Thank you, Gini! I love your hacks! That pleat! +++

[@thebigsewalong]

😃😃😃

[@christinebush3343]

Yay, you’re back! 🤗

[@thebigsewalong]

🤗

[@judithritner9696]

Hi Gini, it is sooo good to see you🤗. This was an awesome video. I love all the different ways you “hacked” the dress/top. I have two rtw slip/oversized sleeveless tunic pieces that are just way too big around the bottom. I used your elastic idea on one and I love it! Now I will wear it. The second one I had added some darts at the hem, but it still isn’t enough, so I will add elastic to it also. Thank you, thank you, for such helpful ideas. I don’t remember which of your videos was the one where you showed us how to extend the back curve for my rounded bottom😏. I’m going to try to find it, I really like a couple of the slimmer legged TG pants patterns, but I really need that extra curve for them to fit comfortably. I have some white super wide wale cords that I thrifted. They are a very large size, perfect for remaking them. I think there is enough fabric to make the legs from the Elope pattern. They will be a perfect winter pant to go with my brighter colors. It’s so fun to be modifying things so that I can enjoy them. I wasn’t sure about the zero waste top, but with all the hacks you have provided I am excited to see what I can make. Thank you again for your inspiring videos. 😘❤️

[@thebigsewalong]

thank you Judith!! so good to hear from you. I'm super excited that you tried the elastic at the bottom of your tunic! and your white cords sound AMAZING! Let me know how they turn out. 🤗

[@sewmuchsewing]

🙋‍♀️ Hi Gini, I love the tuck you put in the front of this tunic. You always have such great tips and innovations... I'm storing them all up and will bust them out when the moment/garment id right 😀. Im looking forward to seeing your Leonie Dress, im sure it will be 100 times more successfull than mine 🤭.

[@thebigsewalong]

Well, not so sure it was much more successful Catherine, all improvements were due to your help!

[@pamelawilkinson177]

Happy New Year!! Missed you!

[@thebigsewalong]

thank you Pamela and happy new year to you too!🤗

[@BethS-LA]

Nice tutorial Gini, thx!!! The plaid with front pleat looks great---good idea. Glad you had a nice break - Welcome back :)

[@thebigsewalong]

thank you Beth!

[@bluegrassdreams2seams510]

Great tips! I think I printed this off before Christmas. I love your different versions. Quick easy makes! Thank you!

[@thebigsewalong]

🤗🤗🤗

[@kerrygirl2003]

Thank you for taking the time to answer my question ❤ This tutorial is perfect, and I love both options. Happy New Year and happy sewing 🧵

[@thebigsewalong]

you are so welcome! I had a lot of fun coming up with ideas! 🤗

[@charlottemccaig578]

So glad to see you!

[@thebigsewalong]

thank you Charlotte !🤗

[@abundantlyinspired]

Happy New Year🎉❤I love your gorgeous glasses!! Did you get them online? Thanks for the tutorials!

[@thebigsewalong]

HI abundant!! no I didn't get them on line but they are by a French company called Lafont (www.lafont.com) they have a store locator on their site and you may find one there that's online 🤗

[@abundantlyinspired]

@@thebigsewalong Thank you!! ❤️

[@redkbikerider]

Welcome back and Happy and Healthy 2024 to you too! 2 more awesome tutorials both of which are right up my alley! Having very narrow shoulders slash neck tops just don't work well on me. Having only 8.5" between bra straps slash neck tops put my fairly substantial (36H) bra straps on display. The cowl neck option is fabulous as I could narrow the opening across my shoulders and still be able to get my head through and perhaps add a bit of volume to the front to accommodate the 'girls' while adding a teeny bit of drama to a relatively plain dress. If I were to add darts to the hem do you have a suggestion as to how long they might be? I have 2 beautiful ready-made linen slash neck tops I rarely wear that are too wide--any thoughts on how to alter narrower after something is sewn up? I had considered inverted box pleats with hand stitching but wonder if there are more options out there?

[@thebigsewalong]

How long your darts are kind of depends on how much room you have. For a top or tunic I'd probably try about 4" if it's a dress they can be much longer it will really depend on where you want the end point to be. I usually shoot for just below the knee. I like the idea of the box pleats but also maybe jut taper in the side seams? I'll give it a think and see what else I can come up with. 🤗

[@rosey_ie]

Funny - the neckline is always my problem with CW Sews’ patterns 🙁 I LOVE the look of the envelope dress, but the sides and back of the neck sit really oddly on me, and I can’t figure out how to amend the pattern to work. I was so disappointed, I thought it was going to be a real one-and-done pattern for me.

[@thebigsewalong]

I think that''s a common issue with the envelope dress. I've played around with different ways of changing the neckline on it but, so far, nothing that works really well. Thanks for watching Rosey

[@rosey_ie]

@@thebigsewalong I didn’t know that! Gosh, I’m so relieved to hear I’m not the only one with this fitting issue 😅

[@tonialewis8228]

Did you get your Black glasses from Peepers ? Toni

[@thebigsewalong]

Hi Toni! I got them from my local ophthalmologist but they are from a company called LaFont and you can probably find them somewhere near you www.lafont.com