I didn’t actually learn to sew until I signed up for fashion design school at age 21. While there, I learned to make patterns and drape but my sewing skills were pretty atrocious and they sort of just sped through the one sewing class we took there.. I remember sending my projects to the dry cleaner to have them put in the zippers and buttonholes.
Cute, but but my sewing was not nearly advanced enough to make a wedding dress!
Which brings me to my story for today….
In fact, it was the first time doing many of these techniques for me.
Here are a few photos below of the sewing project that I feel turned me into a real seamstress.
In looking back, it probably wasn’t a good idea to take this kind of chance in making something I wasn’t confident in, especially on such a special day as a wedding.
I guess ignorance is bliss!
You can do anything after completing such a gorgeous creation with so much love.
B.
Thank you!
absolutely gorgeous, and the back is so lovely (important in a wedding dress)
WOW!! that’s great! to do a wedding dress is something really great!
Wow. Just, WOW! you did a phenomenally good job making this dress. It’s outstanding!
Now, that was really jumping in at the deep end, Justine. You obviously like a steep learning curve. The dress is stunning and a credit to you.
I was there in December 2010. Your post gives me the interest and courage to blog the construction of my own baby’s April 2011 outfits. Your work produced lovely results. The bride was positively radiant and beautiful in your creation!
For my own “biggest challenge,” the marriage ceremony outfit was three pieces, inspired by Sabrina’s ball gown Audrey Hepburn wore in “Sabrina:” sleeveless column dress, detached train and bolero. THANK GOD for the W.W.Web!!!! A bolero found in an Etsy shop was the inspiration for the one I made. Everything was made from silk: taffeta underlay, dupioni, and lined with charmeuse. It was a dream working with silk, but that first cut made we sweat bullets! This ensemble required four months of my life.
Our favorite dress was the Going Away dress. The $1,200 French inspiration for that was achieved with dupioni leftovers, and fourteen yards of tulle. This dress was done in 24 hours. Haha!
Agreed: ignorance is bliss!
I would love to see this Kelley!
SOOOOOOOOO pretty!!! Awesome story, too!!! Just what I need to read as I head on into my first sewing pt job at a cute little fabric store! Thanks! 🙂
Good luck at the new job, Vanessa!
Really nice. I love the back of that wedding dress. I laughed when I read that you didn’t really learn how to sew until you went to design school – I signed up at a French university and couldn’t speak a word of french!!!! Man, the leaps of faith you take when you are 18!
Holy smokes, that’s incredible! I kind of dream about being able to do something like that one day, but it just seems too far out of my league. Maybe I’ll try it someday . . . and I’ll come to you with my questions 😉
Justine!!! THis is soooo amazing!!!!
That dress is SO beautiful! You did such a wonderful job. I really love it because it has such lovely details with a simple, flattering silhouette. The buttons down the back and the pleated sash are just perfect. I have yet to gather the courage to attempt something like a wedding dress. Good on you for trying something so new and challenging!
my mom and I made my wedding dress five yers ago! We used a designer dress as inspiration too. It turned out fabulous, and I loved the process, even hand beading the lace!
You did a wonderful job! I would have been horrified! Really pretty
Wow, this is one of the most beautiful wedding dress I have ever seen!