Newest bridal gowns I will be recreating

This one is going to be a major rush. The bride is getting married on September 18th. I would like to get it done sooner in case of any last minute alterations. The dress is going to be ivory not as colored in the picture.

I will post the completed dress but doubt I will have time to post the progress of it! The next one I will have time to as she is ordering it almost a year before her wedding. The original dress came from a very cool vintage site called Posh Girl Vintage. She does not want the sequins in the bodice just the tulle. Actually it is netting but I am going to use tulle as netting is harsh on the skin.

Close up of front:

It's called pay attention when you cut!

I must have been daydreaming when I made my pixie dress. I completed the dress to find that I cut it wrong. Instead of the stretch being side to side it stretches up and down. I feel that I disappointed my customer because I promised it would ship this week along with a polka dot dress she ordered. I finished the polka dot dress today and if I didn't goof both would of shipped tomorrow.

The polka dot one has removable adjustable straps. It is so cute. Here is a picture of them both side by side. I have to wait for my fabric.com order to come to make the pixie dress over again. Live and learn I guess.

Picot Foot - A must have if you work with knits!

I just got this for my Brother machine and it is a must have for anyone that sews with knit fabrics. What a edge!

• Roll fabric edge and hem stitch at the same time
• Picot foot looks similar to narrow hemmer foot but is designed to create a shell look edge on lightweight fabric
• Groove on sole of foot has been specifically developed to match width of picot stitches for perfect stitch formation
• Groove on sole of foot allows stitches to feed evenly while being created and sewn

It is a pain to start but once you get the fabric lined up it isn't so bad. I practiced on some remnants before using it on the pixie dress I'm working on. I have a real nice finish to the skirt with this little tool. It only cost me $13.00 through Sew & Vac. Fast & reasonable shipping!

 

My advice on sewing with stretch knit and this foot is hold both ends of your fabric as you sew. I'm using a rayon right now that is really fussy and I found that even though the description says "groove on sole of foot allows stitches to easily feed" knit has a mind of it's own and strays.

Had some extra fabric to make a top.

So I had some extra fabric from The Marilyn Monroe dress. I made a cute little tank top. I have it listed but I just may keep it for myself.

Marilyn Monroe from movie Niagara

What a hot dress! I used a stretch knit fabric. It has a peek a boo bodice with removable ties for either a knotted look or bow look. The initial picture I had you couldn't tell that in the center of the front gathering there is a zipper. I found a huge picture and see the detail. How sexy is that? I used a vintage zipper just to give a little something old.

I didn't have a picture of the back so I did a semi low sexy back. I added some darts to give the back some shape. It has capped sleeves and on a person (mannequin has no arms to support it) is slightly off the shoulders. This dress will hug every curve!

Bodice Detail

Keira Knightley Inspired Dress

I have been really too busy to take pictures as most of my orders were rush orders including this one. I think this is one of the prettiest dresses I have made. The inspiration dress of Keira Knightley is actually not a dress but a tube top, sweater and skirt. The bride to be wanted a ruched bodice instead which I think looks better as well.

My customer is in love with the dress and it fit remarkably. I am so happy about it. It means a lot to me to do gowns and dresses for weddings. I get to be a small part in one of the happiest days of their lives.

The skirt is made up of five layers. Starting from the top to bottom, two layers of tulle, a layer of organza (gave the dress a little peek a boo simmer) the skirt itself, a lining with a built in ruffle petticoat that you do not see. 

The bodice is fully lined and underlined with boning all around. It is ruched in the bust area and the back. The side front and back are not ruched this gives a very slimming effect. Here are more pictures one without the bow.

Next three orders

For my next three orders I will be doing my p1xie dress, a remarkable Keira Knightley replication and Marilyn Monroe's hot fuchsia pink dress from the movie Niagara. Here are the pictures. Marilyn first. This is a picture of a cut out stand and my sketch.

This gown is going to be extraordinary! Keira Knightley is so pretty but too skinny. She wore this dress well though. I can't wait to get started! Changes to the design will be that the bodice is not shirred but ruched. This is going to be someones wedding dress. Keeping the beautiful blue. Hopefully she will let me share some pictures when it is completed!

Snow White complete

Here it is! Drum roll please...

I'm ready to ship this and hope she feels like a princess when she wears it. I sure did. I asked permission prior to posing in it & she was sweet enough to let me. Here is a picture of the back of the cape.

Watch out Disney there is a new Snow White coming to town!

Wow wow wow! It is almost completed now. I didn't expect my replacement fabric until tomorrow but got it today. I just need to hem the skirt and lining, hand stitch the waistband and put on a hook and eye to the skirt.

The bodice was a horrible experience. The fabric is so soft and beautiful but it is very unforgiving. I tried to put seam binding at the bottom to stiffen it up, but that only helped some what. I ended up putting boning at the bottom of the bodice as well. Gives it a nice shape. If I ever make this again I am going to use a premium cotton for the lining instead of your standard silky lining. I think it would helped stabilize the velvet without so much work.

Here it is with and without the cape.

I added some netting to the sleeves to give it some poof. It is fully lined so the scratchy netting won't hit the skin. The silk is wonderful but not stiff enough. No one wants to spend the day adjusting the sleeves to keep the poofiness.