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From: taniwi
Date: 02-14-2006, 10:06 PM (1 of 6)
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My senior (high school) art class is beginning a new unit, inspired by Project Runway. We are to individually design and make a wedding dress, which we will present in some sort of fashion show (hopefully). I have my dress sketched out and since it's not like the classic wedding gowns that have layer upon layer of fabric and are really fancy, I'm posting here (also because I have very basic sewing skills). My design so far is basically a simple dress that comes to a couple inches above the knee and is sleeveless. I know that I am going to run by Wal-mart or Joann Fabrics to get a few dress patterns and alter those to fit my design. My main issue is, what sort of fabrics would I use? Would I simply use a normal cotton fabric and line it? And if so, what sort of material is used for lining? Also, are there any specific thread weights I should keep an eye out for? If I want to be the one to model my dress, what sort of things should I keep in mind when measuring and making my dress? Actually, what are the main things to know for measuring? Should I keep it to things like the bust, waist, hips and possibly torso length? Do you have any tips for how to cut and sew using a pattern? Do I simply use stick pins and follow the edge of the pattern and cut and sew around that? Thanks for any information, Taniwi |
User: taniwi
Member since: 02-14-2006 Total posts: 5 |
From: paroper
Date: 02-15-2006, 12:30 AM (2 of 6)
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Go to Mccall.com or Simplicity.com. Go into the McCalls or Simplicity catalog and then do a search on measurments or sizing. One of them should tell you how to measure the body. If you don't have sleeves, you don't need to worry about a sleeve measurement. If you aren't doing pants, you don't have to worry about those measurments. Following the directions that tell you how to measure, have someone measure you in the thinnest thing you own. A body suit, slip, whatever will work. You want the thinnest thing you own to be worn for your measurments. Tell them to make sure the tape is flat against your body and straight and they cannot put their finger or thumb under the tape. It must be flat to the body. When you are measured, stand straight, looking straight ahead (this is always the hardest part), and let them take care of the measurments. When they measure your bust, drop your ams to your side in normal position. People want to hold their arms out and that changes the bust measurment because of the location of those muscles (pecs). Your DRESS SIZE is NOT your pattern size. Don't worry about what the pattern size may be...it is not important. I've sewn a ton of size 12 patterns for people who wore size 6. Patterns just fit differently! No, it is not likely that you will find a wedding dress made of cotton. Most are made of satins or other evening gown fabric. You "might" find one made of crepe but I don't think you'll ever walk into a bridal shop and ask to see the cotton wedding dresses. If you have a Hancock, Joanne's, Hobby Lobby or some private fabric shop in your area, go there and ask them to help you. There are times when you can find "fancies" in Wal Mart and you can look there, it is really hard to know what they might have at any given time. Since this is a school project, you may be able to find a reasonably priced fabric for your project, it sounds like you probably won't (necessarily) need a lot. You can use the back of the pattern envelope for a guess about how much you will need but bear in mind that changes in the pattern may also mean more fabric...just depends on what you plan to do. Good news. If you plan to do a veil, the tuille is cheap and you don't have to hem it! pam
Bernina 200e, Artista V5 Designer Plus, Explorations, Magic Box, Bernina 2000DE & 335 Bernette Serger, Bernina 1530 Sewing Machine, Bernina 1300 DC Overlock (with coverstitch) |
User: paroper
Member since: 02-03-2004 Total posts: 3775 |
From: taniwi
Date: 02-15-2006, 09:05 AM (3 of 6)
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Wow, thank you! I will definitely look into the different types of fabrics that Walmart, Joann and the other fabric stores have, hopefully I'll find one that will be best suited for my project. I'm going to go bookmark Mccall and Simplicity before I head off to school now. Thank you again! Taniwi |
User: taniwi
Member since: 02-14-2006 Total posts: 5 |
From: MaryW
Date: 02-15-2006, 10:07 AM (4 of 6)
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Hi and welcome Taniwi. Sounds like a very interesting project. I would love to hear your progress.
MaryW
owner/editor of Sew Whats New |
User: MaryW
Member since: 06-23-2005 Total posts: 2542 
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From: Sparky
Date: 02-15-2006, 11:48 AM (5 of 6)
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The only problem I see is that the traditional wedding fabrics like satins and so forth can be expensive! You'll have to consider how much you want to spend on this project. Of course you'll want to get a good grade, but ... will you wear the dress again? If this is something you will wear for a spring semi-formal or something you might want to go ahead and spend a bit more. But if you'll wear it for your fashion show and never again, you might want to "cheat" on the fabric. When I was in Catholic high school (back when dinosaurs roamed the Earth) my Spanish teacher decided we should put on a Christmas pagent and we should all wear the lovely gowns people wore back in her home in Puerto Rico. These, as she described them, were like choir robes, and were made of satin with the tops elaborately beaded and sequined in gorgeous designs. Sounds great, but do you know how much all those yards of satin would cost? Not to mention the hours and hours it would have taken to apply all those (also expensive) sequins? I'm sure the people who owned the real ones, and wore them year after year, found them worth the cost, but for our little pagent ... um, no. "Sister Maria Teresa, meet Mr. Reality." We used nylon lining fabric for the robes. Not nearly as grand as the satin, but it was shiny and looked pretty good from a distance. There are plenty of fabrics out there that are NOT what you'd want for your real wedding dress - they wouldn't hold up as well, and just aren't as rich looking - but they might do fine for your project. On the other hand, sometimes you can find very nice fabrics on sale. And a short dress wouldn't take that many yards. Also, some fabrics are pretty hard to work with. Ask the people in the store for advice. And you will probably get better advice in JoAnn's or Hancock Fabric than in Wal-Mart. Since you are a beginner, look for a very simple pattern. Often you can find things that say "super simple" or "super quick." The easier the pattern, the clearer the directions will probably be, since these are intended for beginners. The patterns will have suggestions on the back of the package for what fabrics they are suited for. But you might take a look at fabrics first, and get your inspiration there, then start looking for patterns. GOOD LUCK! This could be a lot of fun. Sparky
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User: Sparky
Member since: 03-13-2005 Total posts: 94 |
From: paroper
Date: 02-15-2006, 12:36 PM (6 of 6)
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You could purchase poly satin (washable) at most Hancocks stores for about 7.00 a yard. A sleeveless sheath dress shouldn't take more than a couple of yards, probably more like 1 1/2, depending on the size of the person. There would be other suitable fabrics, like Jaquards at places like Joanne's and Hancocks that might be as little as 3.98 a yard...I've had some brought to me from the sale tables for as little as 1.66 a yard...of couse, color is part of the issue and you might not find a suitable clean white fabric on the sale table. Crepe, I would think should run between 4-7 a yard. Shantung would be a lovely fabric and it runs 7.98 at Hancocks. Keep in mind though that you're going to have to line the garment AND probably wear a slip to keep it from being see-though, esp on stage. White is notorious for being see though. (***You might want to consider a traditional off-white instead?) You'll also have to keep in mind that if the dress is very short you may not want to go too near the edge of the stage either because people will be looking up at you. Lining could cost another $4 or so a yard. pam
Bernina 200e, Artista V5 Designer Plus, Explorations, Magic Box, Bernina 2000DE & 335 Bernette Serger, Bernina 1530 Sewing Machine, Bernina 1300 DC Overlock (with coverstitch) |
User: paroper
Member since: 02-03-2004 Total posts: 3775 |
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