Who Sews Sue's Clothes?

[lizzardbits]

Help! After hours and hours of research, discussions, and whatnot, I have decided that it is far mor cost effective for me to sew my own wedding dress. I am still in LOVE with THEE (http://www.fashionsintime.com/html/tudor_wedding.html) dress, but i cannot find any patterns out there that come as close as i want it. And the gal that has the site where thee dress is at doesn't do patterns.

so after searching McCalls and Simplicity this style dress (http://www.mccallpattern.com/item/M4997.htm?tab=costumes&page=1) is what i found. I don't like the holes in the sleeves (looks like that is easily fixed) But it Doesn't feel *right* after those alterations.

I like the early elizabeathan times look, but without all the ruffles and do-dads. I LOVE the lace up the front look, like i am wearing my corset (http://costume.dm.net/custompat/index.html) on the outside, sexy and naughty. I want to show cleavage, but do not want to look slutty.

So, or should i say "sew", are any of you, or significant others, into sewing and feel like helping out a bride-to-be in her delemma? where do i find more patterns? best ways of altering patterns to fit my style? oh and where in god's green earth do i find REAL IVORY BROCADE???

ps, i know this prolly should be in the advice forum, but i thought more ppl would see it here :D:D:D

[Lilith]

I know this is nuts but have you looked on eBay???? I know there is a lady who has period style clothing and costumes on there. She may be able to hook you up.

[dicksbro]

Lizz, you're going to look absolutely terrific. Hope you'll take a picture of the dress after you make it and share it with us!

[Lilith]

http://stores.ebay.com/ArmStreets-old-ways

[Lilith]

http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?sofocus=bs&sbrftog=1&fstype=1&from=R10&satitle=medieval+dress&sacat=-1%26catref%3DC6&bs=Search&sargn=-1%26saslc%3D2&sadis=200&fpos=32303&ftrt=1&ftrv=1&saprclo=&saprchi=&fsop=1&fsoo=1

[BIBI]

I know a woman who wanted a unique wedding gown and so she went to night school and had all the help she needed designing and getting it put together.

As far as fabric.....ivory colored brocade sounds right up the alley of a fabric store that is high end and caters to designers, bridal and such. Some theatre companies hold auctions of their old costumes whereas you could maybe find the style you want and take it apart for the pattern.

Lizz I hope your an experienced seamtress for if not you are taking on a huge endevour.....one that will end up with you pulling your hair out.....try a local design school/college. Surely there is a local person who is a wonderful seamstress who can take your idea and turn it into reality. There you may find someone just waiting for you to create something with tastes such as yours.

Sometimes trying to be cost effective is not possible with such an undertaking as yours. Lots of luck.

[mayhem1978]

Spoke to lizz today about all this and she says:

thank you guys very much

Lil thanks for the sites will check those out later

Bibi - Dont worry i have my mother and a very good friend who will help me out with this Both are very good seamstresses and best friend has already made her maid of honour dress in 4 hours!!!

[wyndhy]

how special! you'll treasure it even more so. oo!, maybe your girl will even wear it someday. neat! i have not a good hand when it comes to sewing, just wanted to say, cool. :)

and if it turns out you can't find the right pattern, here's another idea in-line with lil's: i had a vintage (aka-used :p) dress from a bridal store (we had to ask--it wasn't something they really kept out in the open :rolleyes: ) it only cost a hundred bucks and two fittings.

[campingboy]

In my personal experience with seam stressing, if spray contact glue, staples, or duct tape do not work then it was not intended to be.

The dress should complement the radiance of the Bride. A wedding dress could also be called a memory dress. It will only be worn once, but every time you look at it memories will fill your mind. Part of those memories will be the stories that go into making or finding you perfect dress.

Enjoy, and your search.

[Cheyanne]

^^^^^Was a costumer in my former life.. lol I attended a lot of sci-fi conventions and there were lots of people into period clothing. I loved (still do) to sew and ended up sewing period costumes for people way back when.

Do you have a seamstress near you that you can show this 2nd pattern too? Many have the ability to alter patterns if they are close to another one that you like better.

After comparing the pictures side by side, it doesn't look to me to be too difficult to alter the McCall's pattern to resemble your first selection closer. Part of what is distracting you and the "feel right" is the fact that the overcoat portion of the 1st dress is more fitted and the drawing of the second dress is gathered at the waist. It also looks like the 2nd dress is actually one piece and the first dress is actually 2 pieces with the "corset" look being what I call the overcoat. The sleeves aren't a problem to change (taking the holes out) and is very easy to alter.

[LixyChick]

OMGoodness...I'm going "Advanced Post" to see all I type to this thread!

Look out hun...Help is on the way!

I'm looking at your original choice and your McCall's pattern choice and believe it or not there is not that much difference between "THEE" and the McCall's pattern. Matter of fact, it wouldn't surprise me if the McCall's pattern didn't include different options of the same style dress (though I didn't search the entire site).

*BEEP BEEP...backing the truck up here*

Liz...I used to work for a costume shop where I made numerous Renaissance dresses in my day. Combining satin brocade and velveteen (or mohair...longer nap) textiles takes patience and, if you are using a home machine, lots of pins! Just BE SURE to pin where the pin holes can't be seen (inside the seam allowance)...to sew as if you'll HAVE to take the stitches out so that it can be taken in over previous sew lines...and if at all possible, try it on "pinned" before you sew! That means the bodice separate from the skirt!

Inserting a zipper (easier access than the truely oldtime ways) will be one of the most difficult parts to this dress. You'll want an invisible zipper...one sewn in so that it can't be detected when the dress is on. And...you'll want it long enough to go past the waist. If your pattern doesn't include a zipper insertion...PLEASE talk to me and others that you know who have altered a pattern before trying this.

I don't even know your sewing experience! Tell me a bit about it...ok? You can PM me ANYTIME...and I'll get back to you ASAP! Post anything here too...cause I am glued to this thread till fruition!

P.S. Reconsider taking on this task if you can. You have so much to think about at this time and handling a project of this size might send you screaming! Pardon my frankness...I don't know your wedding date and you may have the time to handle this...but I am just trying to help in ANY WAY I CAN!!!!

Any question you have...I'll try to answer or I'll get the answer for you!

P.P.S. I now work in the upholstery business and see gorgeous brocade all the time. The costume shop I used to work for would get end bolts of mohair, brocade, satin and such from upholstery shops, for their gowns. Just a thought!

[PantyFanatic]

I can tell you EVERYTHING you ever need to know about sewing, Lizz. :D



























My advise is listen to every word that either of the two experts I know has to say.:) You’ve already heard opening remarks form one. If Lixy or SugarSprinkles can’t help you, it can’t be done with cloth.:rolleyes: (Call me if you want to make it out of metal ;) )

[Sugarsprinkles]

Thanks for the vote of confidence, PF, dear...........................but my sewing experience is limited to making clothes for my kids when they were young, and very simply items for myself and making quilt tops. I'm nowhere near the seamstress that Cheyanne or Lixy are/were.

[Steph]

I am glued to this thread till fruition!

Ahahahahahahaha, the puns! The puns!

I can't even hem my pants but I second whatever Lix says!

[lizzardbits]

Lilith~~I checked some of the dresses out at eBay and found some great alternatives, that are really reasonable at the buy it now prices, *IF* i choose not to make the dress. See here (http://cgi.ebay.com/SATIN-DRESS-Renaissance-Medieval-SILVER-Gown-CUSTOM-SZ_W0QQitemZ8362406142QQcategoryZ4156QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItem) one of the alternatives.

Dicksbro~~Thanks and I will post pics!

BIBI~~ great ideas about using old theatre costumes and contacting a local seamstress. As Mayhem said, my best friend sewed the first version of her bride's maid dress within 4 hours. (I think she was a little bit excited, LOL). There are theatre companies around her because i live near a huge college town, and I'll be calling around seeing if they have any old costumes for sale.

Wyndhy~~I thought of that too, since i can't wear my mom's wedding dress because it was borrowed from a friend. The only thing she has is her veil, and i ruined that when i played "bride" when i was a kid (naughty lil Lizz) I did find a dress that i kinda liked at a consignment shop, but it would have required extensive alterations, as it waas a spaghetti strapped dress and i love the longsleeve look. But as a thrift store junkie, i always have my eye out for wedding dresses and their fabric.

Campingboy~~ ROFL!! I know of someone whose wedding dress was held together by safety pins! EEP! ....and I HAVE used staples......temporarily (apologies to those here that CAN sew) I ran out of pins on a cosume that i was handsewing and saw the stapler and decided that it would work in a pinch. It did. and i staped it so that when they were removed, you couldn't tell...but then it was a black vampiress dress. As for the memory dress, i love that idea! The push, for me, to have it a Tudor or the like kind of dress is that I can wear it again. I was thinking that with a few alterations or additions, that it could be worn to Rennaisance Fests, or when i get my hiney around to it and join the SCA, SCA events. Why pay ALL that money to something only worn for a few hours?

Cheyanne~~Perhaps you could be my "local" seamstress that BIBI suggested that i have ? :D:D:D Since the pattern itself isn't to expensive, in the next week, i plan on buying it and having a look at the way the gathered skirt really looks like in the pattern. yeah you are right in that it is the skirt thing that doesn't feel right. from the pictures, it looks too bulky, and i am currently trying to loose some of my waist not add to it, lol! I plan on wearing some form of corset under the dress, but i just love the corset look on the outside of the dress, be it functional or not....mmmm sexy!:D

Lixy~~I was thinking about how my best friend did her first bride's maid dress. She had gotten some cheapie poly-blend fabric from the $1 bin at Wal-Fart...errr i mean wal-mart, and made it up basically to 1. test out her new sewing machine and 2. to see just what the dress would look like on her. I was thinking that we do the same for me. a mock up dress of sorts, that can be easily undone to work with. If we get a cheapie fake brocade, will that give us a real idea of what working with real brocade is like? I hafta say, the whole idea of "inserting zippers" scares me.....LMAO! Seriously, though, as easy as getting in and (Whoopie!) out of the wedding dress would be with a zipper, if my mom, my friend, or i were to mess up the zipper part, that is where ppls eyes would go whilst i am up in the front of the church. Plus, I want Mayhem to take his time "unwrapping his present". As far as experience in sewing, Home Ec about a gazillion years ago, but everything else, i hand sew, it is my mom and my friend that have the experience with sewing machines and surgers (sp) With Mayhem and i having to wait for the UK and US gov'ts to do their paperwork thing, the wedding could be anywhere from May to Aug....we won't know for a while. But, the wedding is going to be a simple, small, yet elegant affair. Prolly no more than 30-40 ppl, including children...so we really don't have a lot of details, do-dads, and frilly thing-a-ma-bobs to fret over (Whew, that really helps)..My biggest fret is the dresses, mine, my maid-of-honor, and my daughter's. Do you have any links to the suppliers of the fabrics that you use? What is a decent price per yard of brocade? best kind of thread to use? Thanks for being "glued to this thread till fruition!"

PF~~"(Call me if you want to make it out of metal )" Would that make me a "Tin Lizzy"??? :Model T Ford: <---my best Tin Lizzy Smile! Seriously, I was thinking that i want a thin metal crown, rather than a tiara or veil. see pic at bottom, only i won't be sporting a 'fro. i luvs ya, Father Cock!

Sugarsprinkles~~ Still anything you have found useful in your sewing endevors, that you may have thought "Gee, I wish someone woulda told me that!" I would be more than happy to hear!

Steph~~You're so Punny!

Thanks All, I "sew" appreciate your comments and suggestions! YAY! You peeps are GREAT!!!!! (((((PIXIES)))))

[BIBI]

Simplicity patterns are easy to work with and to alter and there is a nice one in the costume section if you gander over the their site.....

I am the daughter of a seamtress. She could look at something and take your measurements and sew it up in no time.....she made anything and everything. She excelled in making men's suits and wedding gowns.....She just loved doing it. Me???? I can sew up a storm and used to make all my clothes and kids clothes, drapes etc., but it was more like a hobby to me not a passion.

LMAO at invisible zippers.....couldn't figure out how to get a dress on my mom made me years ago.....she thought she was quite funny she did. I love pants with them......men don't know what to do when up against an invisible zipper!

Lizz it is too bad you dont live here. My city is fabric store heaven. We have a whole street dedicated to fabrics and bus tours from all over come here for the deals and different choices.

[lizzardbits]

I would lovvvvve to have your mother's talent of looking at something and sew it Maybe then all my clothes would fit me how i'd like them too, LOL

Do you have any links to the stores? would you care to PM them to me?

My friend's bride's maid dress is a Simplicity pattern, and there are a few things over there that have caught my eye. lol decisions decisions!

Thank you BIBI!

[BIBI]

http://www.reddawn.net/costume/costpat.htm

http://www.patternsoftime.com/index.html

http://www.simplicity.com

[PantyFanatic]

…I was thinking that i want a thin metal crown, rather than a tiara or veil. see pic at bottom,…
I’ve already been working on something like that for Steph. :D

I suppose I could take the spikes and screw off for you. :(

[lizzardbits]

I suppose I could ......screw off for you.

mmmm surrrrre use me as an exuse to screw off!


Great sites BIBI, they are now in my Wedding folder in my bookmarks!

[PantyFanatic]

mmmm surrrrre use me as an exuse to screw off!....!
EXACTLY what I had in mind. :D

[LixyChick]

OMG I wish I could jump through this puter and help more personally than just to type!

OK...no zippers then? I guess you'll be laced from front only?

The eBay dress you linked to looks to have elastic around the entire neckline. That can work if you don't mind the bulk under the cincher. It depends on the style of the pattern you pick as to if it can be altered to have elastic around the neckline. If it's going to be a tailored bodice without a zipper than all the elastic on the planet still won't allow ease of entry. It looks as though the dress in the pic is in one piece and not tailored. Nothing fancy to make it a period dress, except the sleeves, till you add the cincher. The dress then looks gathered at the waist and under the breasts to look tailored.

As BIBI said, Simplicity patterns are the easiest to work with. Pattern pieces can be interchanged and altered if the pieces are similar or you know enough about patterns to add/remove the what-nots.

Where to by brocade? As I said, I work for an upholsterer now and we are a subcontractor of the Knoll company. Not all our work comes from Knoll, but the majority does. If the client doesn't supply their own textile (COM=customer's own material) than Knoll has standard textiles for certain types of furniture for the client to choose from. When we recieve an order we are also alotted a near precise amount of fabric to cut from according to if we have to railroad a pattern to match up the lines, or if it isn't necessary to match (plain textile) then it is cut as it rolls off the roll. At rare times we end up with a bit more than we can use and we save these ends in case we need a re-cut. If we never use it, it is eventually sold in a bulk lot...with not many similar patterns or colors. The only thing we usually ever have extra of is leather due to scars, bug bites, manure burns and other flaws, and so we get additional leather which we have to return to Knoll if not used. I have no clue where they get their brocade, but I do know that the costume company I used to work for purchased some of the bulk lots that I mentioned and we had to sort through it and find pieces that would fit our patterns. It was the luck of the draw.

Surger, overlock, merrow...all the same thing. It's a machine that can cut off fabric (but doesn't have to) as it locks a stitch around the edge to prevent it from fraying. Some have 3 threads and the more industrial ones can have up to six threads, which put in a back-up stitch just behind the overlocked stitch. If the seam is going to be pressed open and the fabric is lightweight, white, sheer or velvet, I don't recommend surging the edges. Instead, use pinking shears when cutting the pieces to prevent the fraying. It'll lay flatter and be less visible because the stitches won't be there to make an impression on the right side after it is pressed.

Best kind of thread to use? WOW...I'm an industrial babe and haven't sewn a home project since my days of exotic costumes. Even after that, at the costume shop I worked for we used industrial machines which require a heavier thread than a home machine. The threads I am used to these days would be much too heavy for your machine or dress. I'm not really sure what's out on the market anymore. It'd be best to ask a more home based seamstress about that one hun. Sorry I can't help there.

I can't wait to see your final selection. Not only can I help you proceed better when I know exactly what you are contending with...but I am still so damn nosey...er...I mean curious!

[BIBI]

I just keep thinking about how heavy this dress is going to be and how warm you will get wearing it.....

As far as thread goes. It depends on the fabric used and when you buy your fabric ask what type is best....lots of different threads out there and not necessarily the most expensive will be the best for the fabric. If you find a good fabric store you usually find good staff that are more than qualified to assist you on what to buy.

[lizzardbits]

OK...no zippers then? I guess you'll be laced from front only? I am thinking that lace up is the best way to go.


I don't recommend surging the edges. Instead, use pinking shears when cutting the pieces to prevent the fraying. It'll lay flatter and be less visible because the stitches won't be there to make an impression on the right side after it is pressed. Thank you! Great suggestion! My best friend had a lot of problems with fraying when she sewed her dress. Thank you for your continued input and rapt attention! (((Lixy)))
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I just keep thinking about how heavy this dress is going to be and how warm you will get wearing it.....the way things are looking, it maybe a summer wedding, but the church does have air conditioning.

As far as thread goes. It depends on the fabric used and when you buy your fabric ask what type is best....lots of different threads out there and not necessarily the most expensive will be the best for the fabric. If you find a good fabric store you usually find good staff that are more than qualified to assist you on what to buy. Thank you, BIBI! (((BIBI)))