Sewing patterns - anyone know where I can find one for.....

[Frostyfoxy]

Cowl neck

My mum has very kindly offered to make my wedding dress and so we have sourced some dresses I like bits of but not the whole thing and designed a fabulous dress that I love! However ideally I would like this type of top but I have no idea how to source a pattern for it.

Can anyone help and point me in the right direction?

(Sorry if this isn't the right place to post this!)

I think you'd be hard pushed to find a pattern like that. As you've designed your own you might be better off finding someone who is a pattern cutter to make a pattern for you? You could see if there are any pattern cutting courses near you and contact the tutor who could do it for you or suggest someone.

Hiya Frostyfoxy

I'm a fashion design student, and have done a whole module on cowl necks! I'd be happy to give you a few pointers,

The easiest thing to do would be to get someone to make the pattern for you, like NotMostPeople said, or, get a pattern for a dress with a similar bottom half, and alter the top half.
It might be worth finding a wedding dress shop that makes their own dresses, and asking them for a bit of help.

Thank you both very much! I hadn't thought of getting the pattern made for us! duh!

It is just the top bit that I am after as I want to change the bottom half of the dress shown.

Thank you both very much again - I'm off now to find a kindly pattern cutter!

You'll probably struggle to find a pattern for that as it's not exactly a true cowl neck. It looks to me more like they've gathered a big width of silk chiffon and draped it (one for the front and one for the back), securing it at the shoulders on front and back pattern pieces (probably by basting it before sewing the pieces together, at a wild stab). If you join The Sewing Forum and post in the wedding/formal dresses section, you'll get loads of help there.

I actually wouldn't think that would be a terribly hard top to replicate.

I have no input on how to make it, but wanted to say I think it'd be a gorgeous wedding dress!

Awww thanks Zillion!

I used to be a wedding dress designer and maker in another life (pre DC!) and if you go into places like John Lewis or Fabric land they usually have the names of local dressmakers that you could ring for advice. It is a beautiful dress and actually would be very easy to make a pattern for as it is basically a fitted dress with a draped pieced of fabric over the shoulders, so it shouldn't be a problem at all for an experienced pattern cutter.

Good luck!

Thank you Duchess!