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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
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From: Sew-Enchanting
Date: 04-14-2007, 08:54 PM (1 of 11)
How's that for a title?  I have a great gig for this summer, and the bride's gown is giving me pause, only because she has one leg shorter than the other. She is having a full length gown, similar to this, view B: http://www.sewingcentral.com/images/tv208.jpg with the long drape in the front, no train, no detachable bustle. Her left leg is about an inch and a quarter shorter than the right. She is planning to wear moderate heels, but will not wear one heel higher than the other because she finds it really hard to walk & balance (since she's used to having one leg shorter). I'm worried about the hem. If I make it even while she's standing (because she compensates for the shorter leg and can stand straight), it may be uneven as she's walking. If I make it even for while she's walking/dancing, it might be uneven for standing (like for formal portraits). She's not really concerned, she's come to terms with her handicap and says that the dress is beautiful no matter what. I just want to make sure the dress doesn't look uneven or messy on her special day. As an aside, it's a really fun dress to make - the bodice is borrowed mostly from a dress that Reese Witherspoon wore to awards a few years ago: http://blogs.indiewire.com/reverseshot/archives/1820_1351_WITHERSPOON_REESE_400.jpg and the bride is so tiny, the combination of the bodice & skirt really looks cute. I've missed you ladies! Our computer crashed and I lost all my bookmarks...'course, with being able to use them before, I never really looked at the URL, so I was lost for 4 months! One day, it just popped back into my head. Go figure. tia - Kris Kris
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User: Sew-Enchanting
Member since: 12-28-2005 Total posts: 53 
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From: AndreaSews
Date: 04-14-2007, 09:00 PM (2 of 11)
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One person's opinion (mine): Plan for movement. Most of her time will not be spent standing and smiling for a camera, but rather interacting with her groom and her guests. If she were uneasy with the difference, and I'm so glad that she is not, she'd ask her photographer to take seated portraits, and if her photographer has a head on his/her shoulders, s/he will take a lot of side/slant shots, which will show off the features of her gown better anyway. I vote for the bride to be comfortable throughout her day, and having a hem that works with her during movement sounds right to me. It's a more challenging hem to mark though, huh?
Andrea
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User: AndreaSews
Member since: 02-18-2005 Total posts: 1007 
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From: dianasiah
Date: 04-14-2007, 09:05 PM (3 of 11)
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Its really hard to decide, isnt it? There is certainly no right or wrong here.. The skirt needs to fall even when the bride is stationary.. During a dance or a walk, the bride swirls around and the hem is not that noticable.. And I would say.. Go with your instincts, because most times you will be right..
Feel free to browse...
http://dianasiah.etsy.com http://dianasiah.blogspot.com http://sosantiquesafe.com |
User: dianasiah
Member since: 10-20-2006 Total posts: 24 |
From: kirin1
Date: 04-16-2007, 06:38 PM (4 of 11)
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I would go for the movement! She will be moving around more than standing for sure! She seems ok with the difference and I would just hem it the same in front and taper towards the back. Good Luck. Kirin1 |
User: kirin1
Member since: 04-05-2007 Total posts: 13 |
From: IsabelleB
Date: 04-17-2007, 07:52 AM (5 of 11)
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I agree with Andrea and Kirin! Kris, you're going to make a beautiful gown - will you show us pictures when you're done?
Isabelle
Sewing blog: Kitty Couture |
User: IsabelleB
Member since: 10-25-2006 Total posts: 265 |
From: mommydionne
Date: 04-17-2007, 08:00 PM (6 of 11)
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I would actually go for the hem to be even when she is standing still, this would be much less obvious in photos (and trust me the photog will not be able to adjust for an uneven hem) and when one is moving no one looks at the hem of your dress but more towards your face. Another note is that then one has a leg length discrepancy there is a bit of lurch in the gait (but not always), so if you tried to make the hem even for that it actually would be technically impossible as she would sway towards one side and then the other, and therefore she would always look uneven, and be at risk for a fall. Not nice on your wedding day!! Most alterations are actually for an uneven hip not a leg length issue. you should check if this is part of the issue b/c this will change how you will place the skirt on the bodice, a full body muslin will be a must in this case. On another note she may be more comfortable walking with an ankle length gown rather than floor length, also a great way to show off a fabulous pair of shoes!! 
Jeanette
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User: mommydionne
Member since: 01-08-2004 Total posts: 838 
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From: Carol in ME
Date: 04-17-2007, 10:38 PM (7 of 11)
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Quite often folks with one leg longer than another do learn to stand so they appear straight and even. I once had a lady ask me to hem her trou so they would look right when she stood "straight" and when she didn't! I told her she'd need to pick one or the other. I doubt the photographer is going to shoot the pectures head on, it tends to make any bride look big. Aren't they usually shot sort of standing sideways, with heads turned toward the camera? I don't think this will be a problem at all. I suspect, too, that an experienced photographer has seen this situation before, and many others, and knows how to make all brides look beautiful. |
User: Carol in ME
Member since: 01-27-2003 Total posts: 105 |
From: mommydionne
Date: 04-19-2007, 09:03 PM (8 of 11)
 My photographer shot us head on! but seriously, Carol how did she really expect you to hem her pants like that, 
Jeanette
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User: mommydionne
Member since: 01-08-2004 Total posts: 838
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From: Sew-Enchanting
Date: 04-21-2007, 11:05 PM (9 of 11)
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What a week! Holy cow! Anyway - I didn't mean to be away for this long. I met with her last Sunday and she agreed with me that the standing would probably be the best way to hem. She balances on her shorter leg and her longer leg always angles out, but the skirt will cover that. As mommydionne mentioned - she does have a lurch to her walk, and she isn't worried about it, everyone knows she has the leg issue, but of course, wants it to look nice. I told her I'd pin it and we'd play around with it a little bit so she could see how it was going to look. She told me to stop losing sleep over it. Her hips are even - all measurements pointed to that darn leg.  I've worked the muslin out already - but I'm excited about putting it all together. It's truly a unique dress. Thanks for the help! Carol, it's too funny that you had someone want a hem like that...as if it would be possible...? I swear, some people think we can work miracles. One of the bridesmaids was at the meeting with the bride on Sunday (I'm also making the bridesmaids' dresses) and she says "Can't you just split the hem difference so it looks good all the time?" She didn't quite understand that all that would accomplish was that it would be uneven in BOTH cases. Yee haW! Just some more fun in a day in the life... ha! Kris
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User: Sew-Enchanting
Member since: 12-28-2005 Total posts: 53
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From: mommydionne
Date: 04-22-2007, 08:26 PM (10 of 11)
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well it sounds like your bride is the type everyone would want to sew for!! I love the don't lose any sleep line!! keep busy! Jeanette
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User: mommydionne
Member since: 01-08-2004 Total posts: 838
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From: Carol in ME
Date: 04-24-2007, 11:26 PM (11 of 11)
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everyone knows she has the leg issue, This week, at the part-time job I have at a bridal shop, I had the pleasure of waiting on a very funny, sarcastic family. One was getting married, her sisters were her attendants, and Mother was there. They were all rather slim women, and varied somewhat over the amount of acceptance of this fact. Bride had push-up bra cups added to her dress. She asked her mother if "they" looked natural. Her mother said, "Of course they do dear, to anyone who doesn't know you." |
User: Carol in ME
Member since: 01-27-2003 Total posts: 105 |
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