to make my own bridesmaid dress alterations even though I can't sew?

37 replies

curlyHedgehog · 26/05/2014 17:03

I'm bridesmaid for an old friend in two weeks, with another lady I don't really know. Bride has just given us our dresses as she wanted to choose them, I think she ordered them online so no chance to try on. When we tried them on both were too big, so bride told us to sort out getting them altered.

I'm a bit annoyed as I've already forked out £500 to stay in the country house that bride stipulated we need to be at for the wedding. I don't know any dress makers and have never used one, plus two weeks is sounds quite a short timescale. I'm thinking of using safety pins as the dress is too big round the top, then cutting a few inches off the length and trying an old sewing machine to take up the hem. It's satin material with a gauzy type net over the top.

Aibu to do this? I may look crap on the day but I doubt bride will notice...

OP posts:

mimishimmi · 26/05/2014 21:39

I'll go against the grain here and say that if you can't find a seamstress at a reasonable price (first priority) then you could try it yourself and learn by watching YouTube videos. With the hem, you would want to use a blind hemming foot. Is it a princess line dress (ie does it have 3 panels on front and back)? You don't want to just take in the side sin that case, you'd also have to take in the bustline seams a bit which would tighten up the chest for you. Pin and hand baste everything first.

Aeroflotgirl · 26/05/2014 23:25

The bride should be paying for alterations nit you, what a cheek. Toes I would have it professionally altered if you cannot sew.

craftysewer · 27/05/2014 01:36

If you are struggling to find a dress maker, why not ask in your local fabric shop or market stall? They usually know who is available in your area.

Doinmummy · 27/05/2014 01:45

You could take it to a bridal shop, they normally have a seamstress that they use. I would not try this myself and I'm not bad with a needle .

SconeRhymesWithGone · 27/05/2014 02:00

Don't do it yourself. I sew, but I would not try to alter a hem like the one you describe.

Bogeyface · 27/05/2014 02:41

Many seamstresses work from home for themselves, or will do "on the side" jobs. Go through the phone book, I bet you can find someone who will do it for you very quickly.

What you describe is an absolute no no for a novice, but a piece of piss for a pro. I speak from experience as someone who ruined a dress by thinking that the front hem would hang at the same length as the back hem, without taking into account boobs and bum!

Slutbucket · 27/05/2014 07:23

Don't do it. I'm an ok amateur but wouldn't dream of doing this.

WipsGlitter · 27/05/2014 07:30

Don't do the hem yourself. Get a price and tell the bride in an "is that ok?" way - making it clear she has to pay.

Is she a close friend?

NeverEndingRoad · 27/05/2014 07:33

Local dress makers aren't all that expensive. I had a dress taken in and up and it cost about £10. My own wedding dress, bridesmaids dress cost about £400 to make from scratch and it was good material that was bought. Two weeks should be plenty time too.

If you aren't confident please don't cut it. That is most likely to end in disaster. If you really need to do it yourself safety pins and wonderweb are you friends

NeverEndingRoad · 27/05/2014 07:33

If you aren't confident please don't cut it. That is most likely to end in disaster. If you really need to do it yourself safety pins and wonderweb are you friends

NeverEndingRoad · 27/05/2014 07:55

If you aren't confident please don't cut it. That is most likely to end in disaster. If you really need to do it yourself safety pins and wonderweb are you friends

NeverEndingRoad · 27/05/2014 07:56

Sorry no idea how I posted that 3 times

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