Making my own wedding dress

redsunglasses

Keep us updated in how you are doing Katy!

Evil_Olive

I do see where ModgePodge is coming from, and it's good to bear that in mind and have a Plan B to fall back on, but I still think that if the dress is simple enough, the fabric chosen easy to work with and your patience levels high, you can do this with a tutors help.

The very first dress I ever made I made from a used 1960s pattern I'd bought in a charity shop for 5p. I taught myself how to sew using this pattern and the Simplicity Sewing Book (a basic how-to for making clothes from patterns - also a 1960s edition from a charity shop - 28p)

It was a simple, short, pull-over, skim fitting, sleeveless shift dress with bust darts. I used a crisp, sturdy, plain woven cotton and, just by going really slowly and carefully and following the step by step instructions in the book slavishly, I not only made a perfectly fitting dress with good quality workmanship but even managed to alter the size and design of the pattern, add extra darts at the waist to make it more tight fitting, facings at neck and armholes and a back zip! The dress fit like a glove and was much better finished than anything in the shops - definitely didn't look 'home-made'.

I've not thought about it from that day to this, but reading this thread made me remember it, and I realise now that it was probably an awesome achievement for a 13/14 year old, but it was definitely not skill, or experience - this was my very first dressmaking project remember, it was just doing everything step by step very carefully and slowly, reading the instructions and taking the time to really understand each process before attempting it.

Anyone can do that - If I did it on my own - you can definitely do it with the help of a tutor

And I second the request for pictures

Wellyboots6

Alright, I agree to pictures but only if it turns out OK!

I have been given instructions to go and try on lots of dresses at the weekend and get lots of photos of me in them at different angles.

I am also to go and start hunting for material to fall in love with, either curtains, charity shop wedding dresses etc.

Forgot to say as well, as the tutor is so excited about helping me do it, she is not going to charge me for helping! She is charging me a small hourly rate for using the sewing machine, but that is it! If I can pull this off, it is going to be even more MSE than I had hoped!

redsunglasses

Hi Katy, How exciting! If you are in or near London check out Goldhawk Rd for a massive selection!

pawsies

The best part is you can have german shepherd hair incorporated as standard

You can't even buy that in a wedding shop

Wellyboots6

Part of the reason for making it and storing it in the shop is to keep the dogs away from it! I can well imagine what would happen if I went out to work and left them alone with it

Wellyboots6

I spotted a gorgeous dress in a charity shop today, the exact colour I wanted to add accents to my wedding dress. It's a lovely emerald green silk dress.
The only problem is, it fits me
I am not going to be able to cut it up to use on my wedding dress now, as I actually want to be able to wear it!

Back to the hunt for fabric to use!