To think I can make my own wedding dress?

[nastymrsvicar]

...when I've never even used a sewing machine before?

The facts:

• wedding is in over a year's time so I've got time to learn
• I refuse to pay something like £1000 for a dress I will wear for max 4 hours but have not been able to find anything suitable in the shops (see below).
• I don't want a huge Kate Middleton-esque creation, as it is not a big grand wedding. I want it to be a day dress with a little something extra in ivory silk.

I've just bought a sewing machine on a whim, so that's one step taken. I now need to practice using it and to find a pattern for the dress...

So am I insane? Has anyone else done this? Will I just end up collapsing in a small heap and reaching for my credit card?

Any tips would be much appreciated!

I've got this book - it has all the patterns in the back so you can get them printed out big and you don't need to pay extra for them. It also takes you through all the patterns step by step - might be worth a look? Lots of simple dress patterns in it, might suit you.

Yes you can.
You'll get lots of help on here too.
But I'd ask yourself why you want to. If it's to save money - don't do it as there are lots of options that other posters have given you.

If it's for the love of it and the glow of satisfaction in your achievement, then definitely go for it.

If it's part of the process of learning to sew, think about having a back up plan for if you get fed up. Also, you can learn to sew and not make a wedding dress iyswim.

YANBU to want to learn to sew, but YABU to think that a wedding dress is a good project for a novice.

As others have said, fitting a dress to your figure is very difficult if you're not a standard size and shape. There's a book called Fit For Real People that really helps with identifying and resolving fit issues, but the adjustments you'll need to make will vary between patterns.

Also, silk is very expensive and very difficult to work with, especially the lightweight stuff, and the cost can really build up. You often can't pin pattern pieces to it without causing snags and holes so you need to use weights instead (washers from the hardware store are great for this), and even then it's best to use a self-healing cutting mat and a rotary cutter (neither of which is cheap) because the pieces are likely to shift and distort if you try to cut them like a more robust fabric. You'll also want to use proper silk thread made from long fibres (in case you want to dye the dress after the wedding - normal thread won't absorb dye in the same way as the fabric), which is tricky to find and also pricey. Then you need to factor in the cost of replacing your needle regularly to avoid snagging the fabric, and possibly also buying tissue paper to sew through if the silk keeps snagging or bunching up.

However, if you're prepared to put in the time to make a few basic garments first and accept that costs for making your dress will probably spiral, that's great!

A couple of tips:

• Make a toile/"muslin" out of a fabric that is as similar as possible to the silk. It should have the same weight, density, and hand (drape/stiffness).
• There's a company called Colette which recently brought out an excellent sewing handbook for beginners (available on Amazon). It has about 5 free patterns in it, including one which is designed for silk (a top) and also two dresses. AFAIK it teaches you about following patterns, making different kinds of seams, identifying and resolving common fitting issues, and using good technique. If I were you, I'd definitely buy it and work through it before committing to making a wedding dress!
• Definitely find an experienced relative/friend/tutor to guide you through the early stages - it will save you much time, money, and frustration.
• Sewing blogs are awesome.

Dont know if anyone has mentioned but YouTube may help?

Thanks for all the advice, I really appreciate it - even the more realistic/negative advice! I know a girl who makes her own dresses and she has said she will help me/give advice, which I think I will need especially with fitting. My mother also used to make her own clothes although hasn't for ages now, so she may be able to help.

I would happily just go and buy a normal (i.e. not white) dress from a shop but my fiance is really keen for me to wear something more bridal and I don't want to disappoint him as it's his wedding day too (obviously).

As I want to learn dressmaking anyway, I'm going to go on a course and start on easier projects. If I don't think I'm up to it about 4 months before the wedding, I'll go to a local dressmaker I think.

Does anyone know about The Thrifty Stitcher courses in Stoke Newington? They look good from the website...

there are lots of patterns for bridal dresses too - Vogue patterns

I made mine, second marriage and I couldn't find anything I liked it the shops.!!!
I was experienced at dressmaking but still found it a challenge working with such fine (and expensive) fabric - I made a dummy first in plain cotton lining as a trial run.

I think it's a lot to take on if you've never made anything before - have you found a pattern you like, could you get a local dressmaker to make it for you?

It's not impossible but it could quite a challenge.............good luck!

I was going to say "YANBU if you have experience in dressmaking and are confident you have the right skills" But you havent so YABU! I wouldnt dream of doing it and I have been making clothes for years, mainly because of the cost of the fabric potentially being lost if I cocked it up!

My sis made her own wedding dress and it turned out fab. She had previous experience with sewing curtains so could sew in a straight line but had never attempted anything like this before. However I wouldn't attempt it. A dressmaker may be cheaper than you think if you buy the material and the pattern is fairly simple. Although I love the idea of going on to make your own everyday clothes, an unfulfilled ambition of mine too!

I made my own wedding dress. How easy it is depends on the pattern you choose. Mine was boned which was the biggest faff, but I'd been making dresses for myself for years so I could cope with it. My sister wanted to make her own and had never used a machine before. She turned up on my doorstep the day before her wedding in tears because she'd made a complete hash of it.

I think the key is whether or not you're a practical person. The patterns are pretty straight forward. You can google terms you don't understand. My sister's problem was that she isn't a handy person so it was always going to end in disaster.

Make at least one practice one and go on a course. Silk and chiffon are tricky and expensive to muck up.
Perhaps invest in a walking foot as it helps to prevent the fabric slipping about.

I'd say it's possible to make your own dress as long as it's within your capabilities and you have someone to help fit it. It helps if you do a practice dress as you go to know the pattern and then you can adjust it rather than attempt to adjust the dress.

You don't HAVE to use expensive fabric though. Satin is cheaper than silk so a possible alternative?
Also, my mum made me a dress once, it was a plain ivory linen but she put an organza type fabric over the top and it looks amazing. It had little pink roses embroidered onto it, then a pink ribbon around the waist.

Def do a course, they'll be able to show you how to adapt it to fit. When making a special dress it's wise to make it in calico first to practice and get the fit. Then you don't ruin the most expensive part, your fabric. I toyed with idea and picked up some vintage vogue patterns but with not much time and a six month old it wasn't gonna happen. Good luck!

Westie oh no :(

It is exactly that scenario that put me off making mine, I just couldnt risk it. That must have been awful for her, what did she wear in the end?

She wore her dress. I had to unpick the whole thing and we started all over again. She did a lot of the sewing too, but this time under instruction from me. Between us we got done in the end. I'd offered to help her all along but she was adamant she could do it herself until the day before when she realised she couldn't.

Oh poor thing, pride really isnt a good idea with something like that is it? Glad you got it sorted, must have been a long night though!

Brilliant . Really admire your determination .

It's a great skill to have ....

So I think it's worth a go

BUT agree with the others .....you would have to make I would say Two wearable items first ....say a simple sleeveless box top . And a simple summer dress out of cotton .

This would allow you to gain the skills required to tackle a big project .

I would be very nervous about making a silk dress .....difficult to work with . Difficult to sew and unforgiving if sewing not perfect

So I would look at other alternatives ....to silk

Good luck

Have a go! You've got lots of time to find out if you've got the skills and to have a plan B if not.

I made mine, it was a full-on Princess Di with three tiers of ruffle at the back...so much hemming! A friend helped me with the bodice, as others have said, it's verybhard to fit yourself.

Good luck!

The first thing Jenni from The Great British Sewing Bee made was her wedding dress!

Can I add to the fabric advice?

Dont put organza over a plain underlay. It can look fantastic but it is and absolute bitch to sew! Even using tissue paper between layers it was a nightmare, I hand sewed it in the end which took days (and it was a dress for an 8 year old, would take years for a wedding gown!). I would suggest a good quality 100% cotton underdress with an overlay of cotton lace (very vintage looking too) as there isnt the slip factor that you get with silk, organza, satin, silk/nylon lace etc. Or a nice thick brocade/taffeta although they are not so forgiving if you make a mistake.

Oh and cricket pads ruin silk organza bridesmaids dresses!

Fortunately, the game of cricket didn't breakout until after the pictures.

Do it! I am learning to sew, I am a year in and finally getting more confident. I made this 18th century pattern for my mother in law's art history ball last month, and a christening style gown the other day for a friend's baby. I recommend the light cotton Swiss dot fabric... It was a dream to sew and so pretty, would make a lovely casual wedding gown...

The dress here was a lot more simple than I thought it would be and really similar to my actual wedding gown that we paid thousands for. It cost about $150 in fabric.

Sorry but I think it is unwise. You will likely become frustrated, disappointed and run out of time.

Ask around and find someone who comes reccommended to make it for you.

I'm not against you making your own, a friend actually did this. But you are not an experienced sewer.

I had my dress made by a dressmaker - she charged £120. Altogether my dress cost about £300, but £80 of that was the pattern (it was a vintage in, bought online). The dressmaker did a great job and it was money well spent. My SIL made her own dress and looked amazing, but I just don't have the skills so thought better to stay on the safe side.

Whether you decide to make your own or not, I would definitely do the night class - I haven't got round to doing one yet, but it's a skill I'd love to have.

Good luck whatever you decide to do!