(no subject)

[figment]

I just finished my wedding dress, just over a month before the wedding. Woo!

You can see the whole set on flickr, or click through for
I designed what I wanted, based the overall shape of the dress on what flattered my figure most from the crazy dress-trying-on experience. I used a commercial pattern from the 80s for the short dress (which is also the bodice) and invented my own pattern, pretty much, for the overskirt - the long white part with the blue train. The lighter blue material with the swirls is actually two layers of material, a blue silk dupioni (visible without an overlay on the sash and on my DF's vest) with a sheer white embroidered material over it. The white is just silk dupioni.

The full dress, from the front:

Back view:

Without the overskirt, and a closer view of the bodice:

Close up of the beading:

Thanks to Becky who showed me how to do this without going insane. It didn't take me all that long. Think I should continue the beading up the shoulder straps?
The crinoline:

If I ever say I'm going to make a crinoline again, tie me up and remind me how much this sucked. 24 yards of netting sewn to 24 yards of satin bias tape; then sewn into a loop, gathered and sewn (other side) to 12 yards of netting; that gathered and sewn to 6 yards of silk; that gathered and sewn to 3 yards of silk; that gathered and sewn to waistband. Agh.

My handsome fiance in his suit, which I did not make, showing off his vest, which I did make:

Comments

[sithlet.livejournal.com]

Oooooh, that is very pretty! I vote yes for continuing the beading.

[birdfigment.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I think time will be the deciding factor on the beading...

[lexinatrix.livejournal.com]

Wow, nice! I like the "back interest" on the dress.

I also vote yes to continue the beading.

[birdfigment.livejournal.com]

Thank you! It came out better than I was expecting.

[cakmpls.livejournal.com]

That's beautiful!

[birdfigment.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[talkswithwind]

Oh, that's fabulous. Good work!

[birdfigment.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[sioneva.livejournal.com]

Absolutely beautiful!

A definite yes on continuing the beading, if you can stand it ;)

[birdfigment.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I think the question of beading will be answered by how much time I have on my hands after our move in a little over a week...

[maatnofret.livejournal.com]

Just as you are in awe of knitting, I am in awe of anyone who can sew anything and have it fit. I can cut things out and work a sewing machine, but tailoring? Not so much. I'll have to take that up sometime when I have my own space.

[birdfigment.livejournal.com]

Thank you! It helps to have a little room to spread out. I have never done this much draping and muslin-making as for this ensemble...

[lollygirlie1.livejournal.com]

This is beyond gorgeous. Oddityman totally approves of the color, too! :) I'm so jealous of your sewing ability! I, too, vote to continue the beading.

[birdfigment.livejournal.com]

Thank you! It's 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration... if I have time post-move and post-CON, I probably will continue the beading.

[jenx.livejournal.com]

Gorgeous!!! If you can continue the beading without going insane, DO IT.

[birdfigment.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I think it won't drive me crazy, but I might not have time. We'll see!

[eiregirl.livejournal.com]

Beautiful! Job well done!

I would say that if you have the time, and patience, to continue with the beading.

[birdfigment.livejournal.com]

Thank you very much! The beading - it's all about the time at this point... we'll see!

[bohemianrapsody.livejournal.com]

Pretty! Great color blue I love the back! Very regal. I'd like to see the beading continued as well (I can only imagine the time it takes!)

[birdfigment.livejournal.com]

Thank you! The beading was not as killer time-consuming as I had feared once I learned a slightly better technique... but it still depends on how much time I have between move, Con, & wedding. We'll see!

[daedala.livejournal.com]

Wow!

[birdfigment.livejournal.com]

Thanks!
I think I envy you your TwinFit dressform. I had the weirdest experience with mine, where I set it to my measurements, fit the outer dress to it, which worked great, fit the lining to it, which worked great, and then when I attached the lining to the dress - from then on it fit ME perfectly but would not fit on the dress form at all. (I had to shrink the form down for these pictures.) So weird.

[daedala.livejournal.com]

That is weird!

You're more than welcome to try the dressform when you are back in town!

[windelina.livejournal.com]

*applause*

[birdfigment.livejournal.com]

Thank you! You are the mistress of sewing amazing dresses... All of those ruffles on that cancan outfit must have been killer!
I'm sure you can appreciate how now, I feel like I can at least somewhat look forward to the wedding, instead of just being stressed.

[gunn.livejournal.com]

Beautiful. I love how the color and shape work together in such jaw-dropping ways. The spill of water into the train- gaping! Amazing, Beth.

[birdfigment.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much. I lucked out; it turned out better than I had expected!

[cloudscudding.livejournal.com]

Beautiful. You're going to look amazing (and talented, at the same time!).

[birdfigment.livejournal.com]

Thank you! :-)

[ethel.livejournal.com]

It's absolutely gorgeous! And I throw my hat in with the "continue with the beading" crowd.

[birdfigment.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[nicholay.livejournal.com]

So beautiful!! I'm in awe of you.

[birdfigment.livejournal.com]

Thanks! It came out better than I was thinking it would...

[fayde.livejournal.com]

HOLY COW!!! That is one of the most beautiful dresses I have ever seen. You are going to look amazing!!

Dr. X says "copycat" about your making your fiance a vest since I made of for Dr. X. But I think that great minds think a like and Joe looks amazing as well.

[birdfigment.livejournal.com]

Thank you thank you! And I think great minds do think alike sometimes... and ours too!

[pants-of-doom.livejournal.com]

That's so beautiful! You did an amazing job.

[kittenmint.livejournal.com]

WOW! That is a fantastic job!! LOVE IT!! Super creative and gorgeous colors! And I love your 'transformation' from wedding to reception - super clever!

To answer your question, do not take the beading up the straps. Right now it is a nice emphasis, but much more and you will hit the "tacky" stage. You might want to consider a necklace with the same beads (not necessarily the same design/stitch/weave), and/or a hair piece of some sort with the same beading to tie it all together. I was also thinking that some of those beads on the inside of the round buckle on the darker blue sash would also tie it all together.

By the way, I love the double layer on the blue with white swirls. It gives you a lovely texture and shine. ^_^

[whitefox77.livejournal.com]

WOW!!! Now I understand.

[drakenfly.livejournal.com]

B and I were wed in blue. It is so nice to see non-white wedding dresses. It is a gorgeous dress.