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.

no, you're right, it doesn't say bias, but it looks like it is.

if you look at the picture where she's got her hand on her hip, the fabric looks diagonal.
but then, the drape of the skirt back looks straight.

no, i've decided - if it were bias, then it wouldn't need to be cut how it is - the cut on bias would be triangular, and it's more narrow then flare.

I could imagine tackling the one with the sequin fabric (although with you on the not necessarily sequins - eg that silk shop had wonderful embroidered silks which wouldn't necessarily hang right for the skirt but would look stunning for that bodice - then have something plainer for the skirt). The buttons they've used are not the covered ones - but tbh there aren't that many on there (I sewed more roses on mine than that lol!)(and those were bias strips, seamed, turned inside out, then made into roses - which look a lot more like roses than any of the normal silk flower roses I see in shops or on patters)(a big rose took about 30mins to make up once strip was finished and ironed....)

rockinhippy - when I was a bridesmaid (aged about 3, I think), my mother and grandmother hemmed my dress in the car on the way to the church

Just looked at the yardage on that pattern - it's not going to be a cheap option, is it? [disclaimer - I bought the first dress I tried on, for the princely sum of £300, and was entirely happy, so I am possibly not normal....]

I agree with it not been too bad on cover buttons too, I've tackled far worse - I do think it would suite small round pearl buttons & perhaps even pearl seed beads scattered across the back/yoke panels to compliment them though, would look more classy than sequins.

I've only just noticed the panel diagram below nicklebabe- though bias patterns don't have to be triangular as such, the shape tends to be dictated by the cloth intended for - I do think it would be easier than the bias styles to get the fit right though - unless you are a standard vogue size & use same cloth intended for of couse

rockinhippy - when I was a bridesmaid (aged about 3, I think), my mother and grandmother hemmed my dress in the car on the way to the church -

I'm starting to think thats all quite normal - lol - I remember my Aunt doing the same with my cousins bridesmaids dress

I did nearly thirty years ago, on my mother's old sewing machine, Again it was a bit of a rush, everything - license, venue, dress etc etc,had to be arranged in 3 weeks. It was cream silk with a sort of inserted lace bit at the top, and a frill at the bottom. It was veeeeeery 70's in style

My advice would be have a go, it is really nice to be able to make your own dress, but give yourself plenty of time, so you don't get into a mad panic, kick the sewing machine and shriek I don't want to marry him any more
get too stressed.

rockin - i know, but it's more likely that it's straight if it doesn't have that sway that bias panels have. :)

talking of cost, my dress was all silk dupion (apart from a cotton interlining) and the fabric cost about £115 altogether (that includes notions, threads, and interfacing)
I have got loads left over, though, but that's mainly because I had to buy complete metres and the shapes were odd.

sorry nickelbabe but thats not actually right, it CAN be that way of course, but in my (vast) experience bias panels that are straight are far easier to put together, so a good pattern is more likely to be that way - I'm speaking from the professional corner with over 25 yrs experience as designer/pattern cutter, both at corture end & high st, so honestly, without wanting to sound flash, I really DO know what I am talking about

Ooh, just catching up after no internet last night. Thanks for all the new thoughts. Nickel, your dress is lovely and definitely a change from the bridal shop conventions -- good job!

The bias debate is v. interesting -- I am now totally lost though about the conclusions! I'm going to head out at lunchtime and see if they've got the patterns in stock in my town, that should yield more information. Rockinhippy, I'm v glad to have a pro on this thread!

rockin I know it can be - I was just trying to think of the simpliity of the lines, that was all.
I'm not explaining it very well, but I do trust that you know what you're on about - I'll just hide back under my rock

thanks Blue :)

(i think i meant that the panels look more fitted)

So which one is easier ?

PS Kurri, a wise warning -- already this morning DP asked me what I was worrying about, when I was lost in thoughts of pattern amendments...

dunno.

anything that's cut on the bias can be tricky, as the fabric tends to be more slippery.
I had a couple of friends at college who hatd cutting/sewing on the bias because it was tricky to get a straight stitch line.
I don't mind either way.
I also knew someone who used to spray the seams with hairspray before sewing (but I would not recommend that on posh fabric in case it leaves a mark )
If you are going to sew the bias one, it's well worth practising, practising, practising with fabric that feels and handles the same as the fabric your proper one will be made from.

Looking at the two pictures, the one I would feel able to have a go at is the one with the buttons down the back. The other one looks scary - and I would be worried about the potential for some of the panels at the front to hang asquew, or one side not to hang the same as the other, just due to the way the fabric goes - but I might be wrong.

Don't worry Nickel :) you don't have to hide under your rock I just didn't want something blue to get the wrong info on how a good bias pattern should look - anyway I do understand it can be difficult at times to be clear with this sort of thing in posts

blue INHO the last one (sequin back cloth) would be the easiest to cut/put together as its not bias ( I like that one best anyway so might be biased - but if you do go for bias just keep the rules I posted above in mind & also try & get a pattern with straighter sides on the skirt IYSWIM - this will be easier to keep "true" under the machine -if they are a more "flippy out" shape then theres more to distort - not impossible, but not the easiest - & keep posting on here, or new thread if you get stuck

Oh - and you've said that you don't want such a low back anyway... so you'd have to amend the pattern of the backless one fairly significantly - and you're not sure about the cowl either - although I can see why you've picked that one.

I like the 3rd one best too.
It's just stunning.

at being 'biased'. I'll undertake some tentative investigation! I can't work out how the size 8 needs 17m of lining though .

no, i don't get that either!
my dress used about 5 metres of lining.

Mistle, I think the pattern with the cowl is more 'me' somehow, and the back construction is quite simple so not too bad to alter. After my last adventure in bias cutting, I enjoyed tweaking it to get a perfect fit so I felt like the dress showed me off, rather than vice versa, if that doesn't sound too narcissistic. There's just something magical about a well fitting bias-cut dress for me, I love them, so the more I think about it the more I think I'll find it hard to give up that idea. Patterns seem oddly thin on the ground though. I would consider using the same pattern as my evening dress again, because I know it works well for me, but I'm not sure I want straps for my wedding dress, and altering the bodice to that extent might be too big a headache.

Just had a look at the lining costing & yes you are right, it does sound a lot though they have listed 44" lining (115cm) I can only presume its because the pattern pieces are awkward shapes to slot together on fabric that narrow - if you can find lining at 150 width, which should be pretty easy, then you can use the dress costing on that width as a guide - though if you poke around the net & shops such as fabricland & e-bay you should be able to pick up lining very cheaply if you aren't too fussy - it is lining after all, no-one is going to see it

I would consider using the same pattern as my evening dress again, because I know it works well for me, but I'm not sure I want straps for my wedding dress, and altering the bodice to that extent might be too big a headache

I agree with bias looking great, one of my favourite cuts too - if you do want to use a pattern you know & trust then it might be possible to box clever & do away with the straps by attaching it to an undergarment IYSWIM - buying a strapless well fitting bra or corsette & attaching to that would give you a strapless dress without too much hassel - do remember to use fabric of a very similar weight & bias drop though - by that I mean when you cut a square, measure diagonally, pick it up by its bias corner & give it a good shake - it should stretch - check how much it stretches against the cloth you originally used - good cloth shops should give you sample to do this with