figment | (no subject)

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:

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

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

I also vote yes to continue the beading.

That's beautiful!

Oh, that's fabulous. Good work!

Absolutely beautiful!

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

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.

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.

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

Beautiful! Job well done!

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

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!)

Wow!

*applause*

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.

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

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

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

Thank you!

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...

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...

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

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

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

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!

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.

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.

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

Thank you! :-)

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

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

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

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.

Edited 2009-06-21 18:20 (UTC)

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

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

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. ^_^

WOW!!! Now I understand.

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

That is weird!

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