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The Sew What’s New Archive

This archived content is from Mary Wilkins’ sewing and quilting message board “Sew What’s New,” which was retired in August 2007. It is being provided by “Sew What’s Up,” which serves as the new home for many members of “Sew What’s New.”
From: IsabelleB
Date: 12-05-2006, 10:59 AM (1 of 25)
Hi everyone!

I was wondering what kinds of fabric you ladies thought could be suitable for a winter wedding? The wedding will probably take place in Northern France (where it can get pretty cold).
This is for a very simple wedding - I wouldn't want to use anything too shiny...
I'm mostly used to sewing summer dresses, so I don't know much about possible fabrics for a winter gown.

Thank you for your help! :bluesmile:
Isabelle
Sewing blog: Kitty Couture
User: IsabelleB
Member since: 10-25-2006
Total posts: 265
From: MaryW
Date: 12-05-2006, 12:09 PM (2 of 25)
Hmm, sounds interesting. Do you know what type of dress or gown you will be wearing?
MaryW
owner/editor of Sew Whats New
User: MaryW
Member since: 06-23-2005
Total posts: 2542
From: Sancin
Date: 12-05-2006, 06:18 PM (3 of 25)
How about a white or off white velveteen in a princess line (simple) dress? I think fullish (can't recall name - type of flounce) sleeves. Some heavy silks also are not too shiney. Be sure to watch the nap lines.
*~*~*~* Nancy*~*~*~* " I try to take one day at a time - but sometimes several days attack me at once."
User: Sancin
Member since: 02-13-2005
Total posts: 895
From: Gaevren
Date: 12-05-2006, 07:33 PM (4 of 25)
My wedding dress was made of crepe...very lovely soft fabric, comfortable to wear, but it still had a nice sheen to it, though not as shiny as satin or some silks. It is a bit heavier than most fabrics people would think of for bridalwear but I loved it...it was cold where we were also!
User: Gaevren
Member since: 04-07-2006
Total posts: 9
From: Patty22
Date: 12-05-2006, 08:06 PM (5 of 25)
What about a creme colored wool crepe? It would be a fabric that would drape nicely. How about muffs to keep your hands warm rather than a bouquet?? (Just kidding with the last comment.)
Patty
User: Patty22
Member since: 03-29-2006
Total posts: 1194
From: paroper
Date: 12-05-2006, 08:08 PM (6 of 25)
I was thinking white or off-white rayon velvet (yum). Maybe a muff instead of flowers?
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: Chrysantha
Date: 12-06-2006, 12:07 AM (7 of 25)
Yeah...a beautiful velvet. (doesn't have to be white..)
Bolero jacket for before and after the ceremony (same velvet or maybe some lined lace....or embroidered velvet).
No veil...flowers in your hair. (french twist with flowers up the inside) or hair pulled back with flowers on one side or a circlet of flowers, ribbons down the back.
Simple earrings, pearl drops or small diamonds. Simple one pearl or one diamond necklace.
Chrys
User: Chrysantha
Member since: 09-06-2002
Total posts: 2414
From: VenusElaine
Date: 12-06-2006, 01:17 AM (8 of 25)
Just as natural fibers allow you to breathe in summer, they keep you warm in winter.
Think silk, wool (which many people think as heavy and thick, but does not have to be) or blends between these and linen or cotton.
If I were to marry again (and I am planning to take that plunge), no matter what the season, I would choose silk. It is the most versatile fabric available. There is a difference between fabric style (satin, jersey, jaquard, toile, moire, etc.) and fabric content. Any style of fabric can be woven from most any content. Silk can be woven into lining (china silk), lingerie (charmeuse), and any variety of outer fabric (duippioni, twill, chiffon, etc,)
The finest "longjohns" on the market are silk.

VenusElaine
"Always put as much effort into your marriage as you do into your wedding."
User: VenusElaine
Member since: 10-22-2005
Total posts: 126
From: MaryW
Date: 12-06-2006, 07:50 AM (9 of 25)
I knew a girl who made her velvet wedding dress. She just about cooked in it but it was absolutely stunning.
MaryW
owner/editor of Sew Whats New
User: MaryW
Member since: 06-23-2005
Total posts: 2542
From: Sancin
Date: 12-06-2006, 01:31 PM (10 of 25)
Mary - that's why I suggested velveteen as it is cotton. I wonder how the kings and queens of old managed? They seemed to wear a lot of silks and in general a lot of clothes/fabric at one time ..... and apparently didn't wash often.

I agree that silk in some form is always versatile and beautiful. My own wedding dress was silk - called peu de sua (?sp). It was heavy with a bit of a sheen and slub, but I haven't seen silk called that for years - probably another name for it now. The dress was not a flowing style so was interfaced giving it some shape and body. While I was married in the summer, I did wear the very simple dress for a number of years later in winter. I think, Isabelle, the style and drape of your dress will dictate the type of material you choose.
*~*~*~* Nancy*~*~*~* " I try to take one day at a time - but sometimes several days attack me at once."
User: Sancin
Member since: 02-13-2005
Total posts: 895
From: Patty22
Date: 12-06-2006, 02:22 PM (11 of 25)
Nancy......I was reading about your dress and I remember my mother making all kinds of formal wear out of the fabric (and I think she just liked to tell everyone what her dress was made of because it sounded very chic). It sparked my curiosity, so I looked it up in a book called Textiles in America:

"PADUASOY (padaway, pattisway, poudesoy)

A rich and heavy silk tabby with a self-colored pattern and usually brocaded. It was generally corded and was the heaviest of dress silks. Savary des Bruslons called it pout, or pou de soie: 'A strong, closely woven silk fabric of a quality between a gros-de-Naples and a gros-de-Tours.'

Sir William Pepperell (1696-1759) ordered from London at the time of his daughter's marriage, Silk to make a woman a full suit of clothes, the ground to be white padusoy and flowered with all sorts of coulers suitable for a young woman-another of white watered Taby and Gold Lace for trimming of it; 12 yards of Green Padusoy; thirteen yards of Lace. [Wharton, p. 203]."

The book continues with historical accounts and different spellings, including but not limited to: paddozway and Poult-de-soie (a late nineteenth-century corded silk, was made of silk and alpaca yarn and had a shiny surface.
Patty
User: Patty22
Member since: 03-29-2006
Total posts: 1194
From: Sancin
Date: 12-06-2006, 05:22 PM (12 of 25)
Patty - Thank you VERY much. I have searched not only every silk site I could find but also fine fabric shops whenever I travel. It is a wonderful fabric. I also had several embossed dresses as described that I made at the time. I wish I had saved them. I have taken my wedding dress apart hoping to do something with the silk. I think the soie is French for silk. The shop where I purchased my silks was anything but elegant being in a warehouse area and stacked floor to 10 foot ceiling with fabric bolts sticking out at any direction :shock:
*~*~*~* Nancy*~*~*~* " I try to take one day at a time - but sometimes several days attack me at once."
User: Sancin
Member since: 02-13-2005
Total posts: 895
From: mommydionne
Date: 12-06-2006, 08:47 PM (13 of 25)
A friend of mine had her winter gown made with a velvet bodice and white on white damask skirt, it was beautiful and she didn't freeze to death!
Jeanette
User: mommydionne
Member since: 01-08-2004
Total posts: 838
From: Mom of Six
Date: 12-06-2006, 10:23 PM (14 of 25)
Is this for the bride or as a guest? If you are the bride I think all suggestions have been good. If you are a guest you could use the same fabrics but different colors.
Barb
Happiness is having time to sew!!
User: Mom of Six
Member since: 11-03-2001
Total posts: 1115
From: IsabelleB
Date: 12-08-2006, 07:43 AM (15 of 25)
Wow, thank you so much! I was offline for a couple of days and what a treat I get on getting back on the boards! Thank you so much, ladies :smile:

I was considering that pattern: McCall 4380 (http://www.sewbridal.com/Patterns/4380/4380.html), possibly with the sleeves lengthened a bit, and no train.
Do you think that's a good idea?

Several of you are suggesting crepe... it seems to me that design would work well with crepe.
Velveteen sounds interesting too - and I really need to study all the different looks of silk...

BTW, I plan to make my dress in a pale lavender blue... This has been "our" colour all along our story :dave:

A muff sounds like a lovely idea too... Maybe even a special coat for the occasion? Or indeed, a bolero jacket...
Chrys, I loved your accessories suggestions. You are right, I wasn't planning on a veil. :bluewink:

Thank you heaps ladies for your suggestions, they're all so valuable. I'll be printing them out and take them with me when I go finger fabrics at the fabric store :bg: although I still have a bit of time (we plan to get married in a year). We want our wedding to be simple because neither of us are fond of "big" celebrations... The main thing is, I am a Christian but he is not - our wedding has to be equally meaningful for, and respectful of, both of us. :smile:
Isabelle
Sewing blog: Kitty Couture
User: IsabelleB
Member since: 10-25-2006
Total posts: 265
From: Sherri
Date: 12-08-2006, 02:44 PM (16 of 25)
c'est magnifique!!!

There that is the limit to my french. But I love that pattern.

Sher
My website
User: Sherri
Member since: 02-07-2001
Total posts: 357
From: plrlegal
Date: 12-08-2006, 03:22 PM (17 of 25)
I have a dark plum rayon micro velvet and it is so lightweight and drapey. I bought it to make Vogue V7108 out of for the Christmas holidays but due to the fact that I've had to remake one of the "wise men" costumes for our church musical, that plan is now on the back burner. However, the rayon micro velvet has an entirely different feel to it than regular weight velvet which I have also sewn with. The pattern you've chosen is gorgeous and I can envision it in a very lightweight silk wool that is also very drapey and has a wonderful hand to it.

Patsy
Patsy
User: plrlegal
Member since: 05-19-2001
Total posts: 318
From: mommydionne
Date: 12-08-2006, 03:40 PM (18 of 25)
mmmm a pale icy blue would look fabulous in that pattern, friends of mine had an interesting wedding a few years ago, she is muslim (from Iran) and he is christian (canadian) and they had a great minister who integrated several muslim traditions into the wedding, very nice!
Jeanette
User: mommydionne
Member since: 01-08-2004
Total posts: 838
From: Miss Spring
Date: 12-08-2006, 05:09 PM (19 of 25)
I love that pattern. The dress will be beautiful!

My cousin made her dress out of white velvet and it was gorgous but she did complain about baking her brains out....lol

Oh you have to show us pictures when your done!
User: Miss Spring
Member since: 05-03-2006
Total posts: 87
From: esrun3
Date: 12-08-2006, 09:28 PM (20 of 25)
That pattern is beautiful Isabelle. It would make a gorgeous wedding gown for you! wouldn't a lovely velveteen coat look nice with that pattern? And the muff would top it off.
Lyn
User: esrun3
Member since: 12-02-2004
Total posts: 2345
From: IsabelleB
Date: 12-09-2006, 03:31 AM (21 of 25)
Thank you! It is a great help to know that you find the pattern a good idea. Not so easy to decide this all on one's own - and I'm not used to making that kind of garment either. Ice blue sounds great, too!

Patsy, thank you for suggesting rayon micro velvet. I'll have to try and find that here. Silk wool sounds interesting too.
I couldn't find your pattern online though :nc:

Thank you all! :smile: So many ideas...
Isabelle
Sewing blog: Kitty Couture
User: IsabelleB
Member since: 10-25-2006
Total posts: 265
From: plrlegal
Date: 12-09-2006, 09:34 PM (22 of 25)
Sorry Isabelle the pattern number is www.voguepatterns.com #1708

Patsy
Patsy
User: plrlegal
Member since: 05-19-2001
Total posts: 318
From: IsabelleB
Date: 12-10-2006, 02:52 PM (23 of 25)
Thank you Patsy... What a classy outfit! Hope you manage to make it soon :smile:
Isabelle
Sewing blog: Kitty Couture
User: IsabelleB
Member since: 10-25-2006
Total posts: 265
From: DorothyL
Date: 12-10-2006, 09:08 PM (24 of 25)
Isabelle --
Remember -- we want to see the finished product!
We like wedding pictures.
Dorothy
User: DorothyL
Member since: 12-09-2002
Total posts: 3883
From: IsabelleB
Date: 12-18-2006, 06:36 AM (25 of 25)
I received the pattern (bought it from Ebay USA) and it is even more beautiful than on the Internet. This is exactly what I want and I'm thrilled to bits! :bg:

I'll probably be back with some more questions in a few months...
Dorothy, I'll make sure to share pictures too! :smile:
Isabelle
Sewing blog: Kitty Couture
User: IsabelleB
Member since: 10-25-2006
Total posts: 265
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