March 24, 2010
The Very BIG Project
My daughter started a project, a very BIG project, one in which I was overwhelmed for her. Well now I am overwhelmed for myself as I take on this project. I am not even sure where to begin…which scares me even more. She wants to make her own prom dress. She has an idea in mind and we have looked at many dresses online and she has picked some that she likes, but in those choices are my fears. I have a fear that I wont be able to complete it, or that it wont be what she likes. If there’s one thing that I don’t want to do, it would be letting my daughter down. Being some what of a beginning sewer, I am not skilled in the ways of tulle. She went out and bought a whole bolt of tulle, yes a whole bolt! Who buys a whole bolt of tulle? Apparently my daughter does. Wow! Any helpful ideas on how to accomplish this task, please share them!
Here is a dress she likes. It was created by a local artist Sonia Kasparian, of Urchin Design. She sells her beautiful dresses at Flutter, a store in Portland, Or. We have visited this store many times and drooled over the amazing work she does.
It certainly is beautiful. I have been searching for wedding gowns or prom dresses with beaded detail for the bodice.
Now I know our creation wont be this spectacular but something close would suffice.
Any help or suggestions are welcome! Please, I really would love to hear your thoughts.
Filed under Help, I want to make this! by Deanna
Comments on The Very BIG Project »
Wow! This dress is beautiful! Can’t wait to see your finished product. Check out this book:
http://thedomesticdiva.wordpress.com/2008/04/28/how-to-make-a-childs-pettiskirt-video-instructions/
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1561584975/ref=oss_product
It is fun with some great tips on not-your-typical projects. It also has some info on underskirts that I found helpful.
I wonder if it will be easier to make a skirt and corset type bodice as two separate pieces to avoid stitching the skirt to it. It looks like the fullness starts at the hip line to avoid bulk around the waist area, so I suppose you could make an a-line shape skirt from the waist to the hips and then stitch the full top skirt and an underskirt (or underskirts) to the hip line. I usually do 3 times the width for fuller ruffles. It also looks like the top skirt is longer and then gathered (or folded) and attached to the underskirt in random spots.
Here is another link for a pettiskirt. It is for a child, but you never know
I like cutting tulle on the floor with a rotary cutter.
That’s just my 5 cents
Good luck!
Thanks so much Kate for advice and the links, it really is helpful.
Hey there I have done this… it’s tedious but so worth the result. You are really good at upcycling stuff, so go onto ebay or craigslist and look for a formal dress for cheap that has the bodice already done and then add the tulle skirt after deconstructing. I see really amazing beaded dress in thrift stores but the skirts are ugly or out of date etc. I can’t wait to see what you make!
Wow! That IS a huge project! But you two can do it, I know you can. I really like Gabrielle’s advice. A consignment store may even have a more modern dress with a more suitable bodice.
I agree with Gabrielle about finding an old formal dress or wedding dress to use for the bodice. Imagine a late 80s/early 90s dresses without the puffy sleeves and tiers of ruffles- basically a sweetheart neckline, v front, and amazing detail. I have had really good success painting in a watercolor style with fabric dye to get specific details to “pop”, e.g. a cluster pink flowers or a few details of lace. It takes time and patience but much less than recreating the details and internal construction of these dresses.
Also, I have taken the lace and beading detail from the bottoms and trains to make additional detail on the bodice, if needed, as well as the flap of clutch and headband as a coordinating accessories.
Wow! How very ambitious! I look forward to hearing how it turned out. I just started sewing and just finished a dress for my little girl. Maybe in 15 years I’ll be able to tackle something like this! How cool for her to be able to go into her prom with a handmade dress! One she made herself! Good Luck!
Sending some PEAR love your way!
Hello, there! I just found a link for your site on Joy the Baker’s site. I’m so glad to have discovered you! Your things are lovely. You’ve got a great eye. I join the others in looking forward to seeing your version of this amazing dress. And, I do have a very small bit of wisdom to share. I have an aunt who is a master seamstress. When she was making my 1990 wedding dress, (a huge meringue of a dress with full sleeves, sweetheart neckline, full skirt and beading galore!) she handed me a bottle of Aleene’s fabric glue and a bag of pearls and told me to start gluing them to the lace that would adorn the train and bodice. She said it was a waste of time to sew beads. It was an enormous time saver, and twenty years later, the pearls and sequins are all still in place. Best of luck!
Thank you Lissi for your helpful ideas! I will pick up some of Aleenes glue, I didn’t think glue would hold the pearls and sequins for a long time. I am excited now, cause sewing each piece would be a pain. Thanks again!