Alterations

I'm wrapping up on the 50's dress and it is coming out rather well. However, as with most things, there were some minor alterations that needed to be done so the dress fit well. Things like shortening the waist were done during construction, but after the fitting, we found that the waist was now too wide. Also the shoulders were too high, or rather there was too much fabric between the bust point and the shoulders, so the shoulders needed to be lifted.

In general, I don't mind doing alterations, but I prefer having several fittings as I go so I can get them taken care of before I have done a bunch of hand sewing to give the garment a finished look. Most of the time, to do the alterations correctly, you have to go back under that which you had just sealed via hand sewing. And since I hate hand sewing, it just bothers me to have to do that. Whenever I go back to seal it up by hand the second time, the stitches are no where near as pretty as they were the first time around. I'm also of the mind that it's better to do it right the first time. Unfortunately, that is nigh impossible to do with sewing. In fact, I would say if you made something and got a perfect fit straight off of the machine and pattern then you are either one of the lucky few with the "ideal" body shape (ideal as defined by the pattern company anyway), or  you just had some dumb luck.
When making clothes and costumes for oneself, it is easier to get lucky because you can use a body double or a sloper that matches your shape. It's not so easy when making something for someone else and you don't have those things. Maybe next time I make something for someone, I'll make a sloper first for them so I can better alter the pattern before hand, rather than make changes after the fact.

Making changes after the fact is precisely why I do not alter ready to wear garments. It's too much hassle that I, personally do not have the patience for. I'd rather pay someone to do it for me. Silly considering I could do it myself, but if it would take the fun out of the hobby for me, I'd rather not. Which further solidifies the saintliness of my mother in my mind. She did not just do alterations, but she altered beaded gowns.

So... Alterations: necessary evil, but easier with multiple fittings and/or body double/sloper.