Sewing a wedding gown isn’t like other sewing other garments. Bridal gowns involve a greater level of detail and planning. If your dream is to make your own wedding dress, or you want to make one for someone else, then follow these simple tips for bridal sewing.
Btw, if you haven’t read, Sewing Garments With Quilting Cotton, check it out soon.
Pick the Right Style and Pattern
Before anything else, you need a clear vision of what the dress should like. This means knowing what kind of silhouette you prefer, choosing the neckline, sleeves or no sleeves, a train – the details are endless.
Decide exactly how you want the gown to look before purchasing or sewing anything. Gather ideas by trying on dresses at bridal shops. Once you know the design, set about planning the gown’s construction.
Study the Pattern Before Committing To It
You can use a pattern but study it carefully before committing to it. You’ll want the pattern to take care of all those painstaking details you selected in the planning phase.
You can search for patterns in fabric stores or go for indie patterns you find online. Don’t rule out mixing patterns, either. One might have your perfect bodice while another has the skirt you’re searching for.
Choosing Your Fabric
Just as essential as planning the design and selecting the pattern is choosing the fabric. There are many options for special occasion gowns, from satin to chiffon to taffeta to charmeuse.
Do your research and find out which fabrics are typically best suited to your design. How do you want your wedding dress to drape? Do you want some shine?
Consider the difference between fabrics with natural and man-made fibers as well. Natural fiber fabrics can be more expensive, breathe better, and wrinkle more.
Researching Your Colors
The color of your gown should go along with your decisions on design and fabric. You don’t have to stick with pure white since there are numerous shades of white and off-white available.
Keep in mind the undercasting color – is it a blue-based, pink-based, or yellow-based white? You might also go for a pastel, champagne, or ecru. Ultimately, find what works best with your skin tone, and what is available in the fabric you select.
Make A Muslin Mockup
Fit is everything when it comes to a wedding gown! Before cutting into your expensive bridal fabric, make a muslin with some cheap fabric. It adds an extra step to the process, but it could save you costly fitting mistakes later. You can easily sew, re-sew, and cut your mockup to your needs, ensuring the fit is perfect.
Sewing Techniques to Consider
In the construction of the dress, there are some technical sewing aspects to consider. One of these is the back of the dress. You may want to use a zipper but worry about hiding it well enough.
If there is enough ornamentation, the zipper could go easily undetectable. You might also be able to put in the zipper on the side of the dress instead, depending on the overall design. Sew as much of the gown by hand as you can.
Know How to Match Seams to Fabric
It raises the quality of the dress and gives you more control when working with your fabric. Consider using French seams as well, especially if dealing with sheer fabrics. Additionally, if you want the dress to look fuller, you can add crinoline or horsehair braid hems.
Keep Your Work Area and Tools Clean
A few last-minute tips for sewing a wedding gown – keep your bridal fabric clean, by never allowing food or drinks near your sewing area. Give yourself plenty of time to sew a gown – usually several months.
Make sure your iron is always clean to avoid stains. And brush up on your sewing techniques before you start, a little more practice can’t hurt!
Making a wedding dress can seem daunting but it doesn’t have to be. The most important thing to do when sewing a bridal gown is to plan. Prepare, and stay on track – you’ll have your one-of-kind, hand-sewn dress in no time.