Yes, you can alter a knit sweater dress, particularly when it comes to adjusting its size. One effective method for altering knitted garments, like sweater dresses, is a technique known as professional blocking.
How Knit Sweater Dresses Can Be Altered
Unlike woven fabrics which are typically altered by cutting and sewing, knitted fabrics have a unique structure that allows for shaping and resizing through wetting, stretching, and drying (blocking).
A key method for adjusting the size of a knit sweater dress is blocking:
- Professional Blocking: This process involves wetting the garment and carefully shaping or stretching it to the desired dimensions before allowing it to dry.
- Permanent Adjustment: According to textile experts, professional blocking is a method that creates a permanent adjustment that will endure through future wearing and cleaning cycles.
- Increasing Size: If your knit sweater dress feels a bit snug or needs a few extra inches for a proper fit, blocking can be used to enlarge it.
- Extent of Alteration: It's possible to block a knitted garment to make it bigger, potentially adding up to 2 inches to its dimensions. The exact amount of stretch achievable depends significantly on the type of yarn used in the dress.
This technique is particularly useful for knitwear that fits a little too tightly but doesn't require complex structural changes like altering necklines or sleeves through sewing (which can be more challenging with knits).
What Professional Blocking Can Do
- Increases the overall size or specific sections of the garment.
- Adds up to 2 inches to dimensions (depending on yarn).
- Creates a lasting, permanent size adjustment.
- Improves drape and smooths out stitches.
While blocking is effective for size adjustments and shaping, complex alterations like adding or removing fabric sections are often more difficult and may require specialized skills when working with knitted materials. For significant structural changes beyond size adjustment through blocking, consulting a tailor experienced in handling knitwear is recommended.
