Did any of you make your own wedding dress?

[SomethingBlue]

I'm thinking about it -- I know what I want, and I made a very similar evening dress a few years ago, so I think it's within my capabilities. But I'm also really afraid of it looking crap, or of stressing myself out. I love the idea of it, but at the same time I'd like to feel confident that I'll look nice! If any of you did this, I'd love to hear about it.

[stealthsquiggle]

My friend did (twice ) - and she looked amazing. She made a beautiful plain long dress and matching jacket for wedding #2. Go for it - although you might want to line up some sewing friends to help out if you get to panic stations at any stage?

[mistlethrush]

Yes, my mother and I did most of it over a single weekend - including a mock up of the bodice to check it wasn't too low (it was) and that it was going to be possible to get it to fit correctly (it was). Was some years ago when everything in the shops was merangues and diamantes - not my ideal. I made silk roses for the sleeves and the back in colours that my florist matched in my bouquet.

One of the things that still makes me smile is remembering how my parents' dogs (now both deceased and still missed) carefully picked their way around the silk with the pattern pieces laid out on it - not stepping on it at all despite it being completely across the floor... whilst my current dog would probably plonk herself down in the middle quite happily.

[SomethingBlue]

Ah, this is encouraging! What scares me most is that I want a bias cut 1930s style, which is more liable to go wrong in the hands of an amateur. But the evening dress I did was fine, I just took it slowly. The friends thing is a good point though -- I imagine I'll need an extra body when fitting. I wish my mum lived nearer.

I have no dogs .

[mistlethrush]

Yes, extra pair of hands good for fitting - and my mother and I had identical sewing machines set up on opposite sides of the dining room table . If you've done it before, can't see why it should go wrong 2nd time - unless you change the sort of material you use - shiney, slippery is bound to be more difficult than something that has a bit less of a tendency to move - although, if worst comes to the worst, you can always tack all of eg the bodice seams which are likely to be the most difficult.

[SomethingBlue]

I feel pretty confident that I could make something fairly traditional in stiff silk -- it's definitely the slippery slidy bias thing that gives me extra wobbles! The dress I made before was from this Vogue pattern, so I reckon as long as I shop very carefully it might be OK. I may have to keep the Monsoon one in the bag as back up though!

On the plus side, whenever I try and buy fabric I notice that the ever-decreasing range available is dominated by bridal stuff. So that part may not be too bad.

[mistlethrush]

I went to London and am pretty sure that I got mine in this silk shop who were very helpful and pointed out a slightly heavier weight silk in the sort of thing that I wanted that would make up better and more easily than the one I originally found - they also had a huge range of plain silks which I chose from for the rose fabric. Got silk for waistcoats for DH and DF (different) too.

[rockinhippy]

Yes I made mine - the day before the wedding - though I'm probably not the kind of response you want as its my trade -

it used to be the norm though, most people made there own or had a family member or friend do it for them, so its nothing to be afraid of, though you are making it more difficult by going with a bias cut dress

fabrics cut on the bias behave in different ways even if they are very similar - the same fabric from a different production batch can even behave differently & there are rules on how best to sew bias too, so you need to really know what you are doing & your toile needs to be in the same fabric as your finished dress - from the same roll - or you risk it fitting differently

[mistlethrush]

I was sewing roses on the back on the night before mine.... Also

[rockinhippy]

I love that shop mistle its always been one of my favourites so I can highly recommend it too :)

[rockinhippy]

that makes me feel better mistle - I rushed my dress badly, it wasn't anything like as good as I can make for others - I even actually forgot some of the ribbon trims & was adding it on in the car on the way to reception - not the best advert for my work, but no one seemed to notice - haha

[rushofbloodtothefeet]

I made my sisters, but we are talking back in the Eighties and it featured unlikely amounts of broderie anglaise. She was also pregnant which caused me endless hassle trying to keep up with her expanding waistline. Was the only way she could get one in budget - no ebay back then!

[SomethingBlue]

Thanks for the silk shop tip, it looks good! I find this a much more exciting prospect than a bridal shop.

Rockinhippy, you've made me more nervous now -- maybe my last success was a fluke...

This is the pattern I fancy most at the moment, though with a higher back. I'm also not totally sold on the cowl. Hmm. I suppose if it all goes wrong, it'll have been a learning curve, and it's unlikely I'll end up naked. I'll have to be done a week before, because family will be turning up then. Eek!

[Indith]

I didn't as I can't sew but my mum made mine :). I think it stressed her out pretty badly but we live 2 and a hlf hours away, she was on holiday for a whole month until a couple of days before the wedding and I was pregnant and expaned so much over that month that she had to move all the buttons the night before the wedding. It was lovely though. Her neighbour teaches fashion at a local college and we were able to order some lovely embroidered silk through the college that we could never have afforded otherwise.

[SomethingBlue]

at Rockinhippy sewing in the car! I've done that on the way to a ball.

[rushofbloodtothefeet]

Oooh SomethingBlue that IS lovely, very classy and understated (and not a bit of broderie anglaise in sight!)

[SomethingBlue]

I could always add broderie anglaise! My first communion dress featured acres of it, probably enough to transfer to a dress for a grown woman.

I also love this pattern, though the construction is probably too complex for me. I wouldn't want sequin fabric, probably just a contrast between, e.g., matt and satin.

[rushofbloodtothefeet]

That's pretty too - but all those buttons would be a headache to get nicely lined up (not to mention making them)

[SomethingBlue]

Good point! I did my own buttons for a bridesmaid's dress when I was 15. The fact that I still remember it so vividly is a good reason not to do it again.

[nickelbabe]

I did!


(pics on my profile, i think)

it took me three months, including making the pattern and toiles etc.
(3 months not constant, but 2-3 hours per day on average)

[nickelbabe]

ooh, that Vogue one (V2965) is beautiful.

Would work well with satin or floaty silk.

or with crepe.

[rockinhippy]

They are both lovely, but am I right in thinking the 2nd one isn't bias - can't see it written anywhere??? -

if so you might find the 2nd one is actually easier than you think - & less to go wrong with the bias grain on the fabric, so you could toile it in something cheaper, even a fine calico.

don't let me put you off bias though, they do look great, its just a case of making sure the grain line runs right through the dress in one direction - this avoids opposing grains hitting each other, which can cause seams to twist/warp & also make sure you sew in one direction, both on toile & proper dress - again this avoids seam twisting & warping - its also advisable to cut a bi longer than you want it to finish, because bias patterns (should) work on allowing the fabric to "drop" into place & how much the drop will depend on the weave & weight of cloth IYSWIM

[nickelbabe]

also, i joined a sewing forum (or two...)for advice when I got stuck, or just general showing-offness....

this one
this was my weddign dress thread

[nickelbabe]

the 2nd one as in the one I just quoted?
yes, it is bias.
:)

[nickelbabe]

jsut looked at the 3rd one
wow! that one is stunning!

[rockinhippy]

Whoops I meant the 3rd one with the button back - I didn't see the first link so got my numbers muddled