Hello All!
I have learned ALOT about creating my own garb, and in the past year I have made vast improvement on my skills. Now I am put to the test.
I want to take my sister in law's wedding dress and convert it to a court dress. Here is a picture of it so you can get an idea:
(http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q119/BigCutie20/me/dress1.jpg)
(http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q119/BigCutie20/me/dress2.jpg)
Now a couple of notes:
This is a A lined dress, but I do have a hoopskirt, which makes it fuller just like a court dress would look like.
There is no seperation from the bodice part of the dress to the bottom, it is all one full dress
the bodice part does have some bead work done on it
The color is ivory, and as you can see this is a strapless dress
Now what i wish to do with this is turn it into a court dress. I plan on getting velvet royal blue fabric to do the dress in, with black and silver trim, (at least thats what I am hoping)
I have sort of a plan, to work on the skirt part first, basically add the trim to the fabric i am going to get, pleat the back a little, and then sew it onto the skirt
The top part, i would do the same way, add trim and design, then sew it to the bodice, but have at least a 2 inch trim on the bottom to cover the seam from the skirt to the bodice that i will make
But if you have any suggestions PLEASE give them to me :) I will be very thankful. You all have helped me so much in the past :)
What a great idea!! I am curious to see any suggestions as well.. I just happen to have a wedding dress collecting dust in my basement, that I just don't know what to do with.... :P
well I was supposed to do this last year, just never had the time. i do plan to work on it this year :)
Wow, what a great idea! (as women everywhere raid their attics and basements for their wedding dresses) I haven't looked at mine since I boxed it up. Please keep us updated on your progress :)
Funny enough my first royal own was my wedding dress. Yay for themed weddings. That is a great idea. Are you going to use the dress as the pattern or build on top of the wedding dress. I'm a little confused.
Quote from: LadyStitch on August 11, 2008, 04:31:49 PM
Funny enough my first royal own was my wedding dress. Yay for themed weddings. That is a great idea. Are you going to use the dress as the pattern or build on top of the wedding dress. I'm a little confused.
I am going to build on top of the dress :) I love the way it fits and the color ( a light ivory) and in my head i think it will look great lol
Rather than building on the dress, I'd take the dress apart. Cut out the front of the skirt to make a forepart (you can attach that to muslin to make a fuller skirt to go over the hoops. This way, with the blue velvet over it, you will only see the forepart). Take the rest of the fabric to make false undersleeves and use as a base trim (you can put lace over it so that you have a basic white satin with lace on top of it, edging the blue velvet). Although the dress may fit nicely for a modern silhouette, the best way to make it Renaissance is to just take it apart and to put it into the patterns used during the Renaissance. You might even have enough fabric to make a lovely satin Elizabethan corset.
i do think that by taking the dress apart it would be a bit difficult especially for my skill level, i have learned alot but i am no expert lol.
so i figured if i built over the dress (because i do have a hoopskirt which makes the dress puff out) it will probably be much easier for me
In order to make the dress look anything like the 16th century (aka Renaissance), you'll have to take it apart and use it for fabric. If you are "building" over it, you'll need a pattern for a bodice and overskirt (at least the bodice). Typically, an overgown without sleeves for a noble dress is about 5~6 yards of fabric. Most of that yardage goes into the skirt.
If you are willing to make the overdress, using a pattern, out of the blue velvet, taking the wedding dress apart will be very simple. The forepart is nothing more than a gigantic triangle for the front of the dress. If you want, use the noblewoman's sewing pattern you have and place the skirt front down on top of the wedding dress skirt to cut it out. The false undersleeves are just big, half circles with a strap at the top to secure them to your arm.
I honestly think you'll be happier longer if you take the dress apart to make it look like a 16th century noblewoman's gown rather than wearing your modern wedding dress to the Renaissance festival. You'll feel more in place and look amazing in a well done gown. If you don't have a sewing pattern yet, I'd try for the Simplicity Elizabethan one. It has decent directions and excellent lines.
Ok I am willing to try, but this is definitely going to put my skills to the test
I'm with Isabella on this one, mainly b/c it's almost always easier to start from scratch and make something new, than it is to try and rebuild something. You made a lot of things for the first time last year--this will be a great chance for you to show how much you've learned!
I would start by planning the finished product--what do you want your new gown to look like? If you need inspiration, Sempstress has a neat little design tool called "Dial-a-Dress" (http://www.sempstress.org/tools/dialadress.shtml) that you might want to check out.
The pattern that Isabella recommended is Simplicity 3782 (http://www.simplicity.com/dv1_v4.cfm?design=3782).
***
All that said, you might look into other periods besides the English high Renaissance. Many of the earlier Italian fashions, for instance, are quite a bit easier to construct. Check out websites like Festive Attyre (http://www.festiveattyre.com/), Kat's Purple Files (http://katerina.purplefiles.net/), and Florentine Persona (http://www.florentine-persona.com/) for inspiration and techniques.
Good luck!
thank you so much for the advice.
i do know how i want the dress to look, ive drawn it out
its just a matter of working on it.
the simplicity pattern that you both suggested (isabella and gem) that is almost exactly how imagined the dress, the layout is exact, but the colors will be different of course
My newest gown was made from most of the wedding dress. I had silk that matched the wedding skirt and sleeve parts so I made a new period bodice and cut up the sleeves for trim.
(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y255/syrilla/My%20costumes/wedwhitegown.jpg)
Good Luck
oh wow that is a beautiful dress!
at this point i am still waiting for my check to come in so i can get my fabric and such
i cant do anything with no money or no fabric lol
Syrilla, that dress is amazing! Im still in awe about it
OK everyone, i got the fabric! I am sooooo happy, i found it at the last minute just when i was losing hope on finding the perfect fabric that i imagined for my dress! i was in the fabric store with my friend jumping up and down with excitement
my friend is sewing glass pearls onto my snood, i found the perfect headband that i adore and love. i have the perfect fabric for my sleeves. and the trim almost made me cry lol
i cannot wait to start working on this (as soon as i get out of bed)
to track my progress, visit my dress diary
http://mydressdiary.wordpress.com
Quote from: LadySeasan on August 11, 2008, 02:56:14 PM
Now what i wish to do with this is turn it into a court dress. I plan on getting velvet royal blue fabric to do the dress in, with black and silver trim, (at least thats what I am hoping)
But if you have any suggestions PLEASE give them to me :) I will be very thankful. You all have helped me so much in the past :)
Okay,
Firstly: Making a Court Gown I would make this H/A by using this gown as the kirtle.
A) Are you smaller than your sister?
Because the bodice needs to be reworked and if you are smaller than your sister, with your PoB on then you can have more fabric to adjust.
B) If you are not then use some of the fabric you have in your train to finish the shoulders of your gown.
C) I would then bead the forepart of your gown, also ask about if anyone you know has an embroidery machine or you want to hand embroider the front of the Kirtle. Many foreparts and sleeves were white, you can fudge with ivory, and they were embellished with; Gold and Silver spangles, embroidery, you can either purchase or make your own cording and add this to the kirtle. You can use the train for your sleeves and embellish them as well.
Overgown or Gown
Now that you have a wondrous kirtle? You can now think of a grand gown! It would look smashing like this ;
(http://englishhistory.net/tudor/relative/maryqosbiographyblack.jpg)
This is a gown in the french fashion
(http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/images/h2/h2_32.100.66.jpg)
Here is a gown with the forepart done only in the white
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:KatharinavonMedici.jpg)
Marie De Medici with tons of embellishments on her gown.
(http://www.costumes.org/history/greatwomen/10340_24.jpg)
Here is one, that I think will have a white interior kirtle with sleeves.
(http://www.costumes.org/HISTORY/renaissance/boehn/marystuart.jpg)
here is one I am wanting to make, it is a lovely gown.
(http://[img]http://www.costumes.org/HISTORY/quicherat/Portraitduneprinesse.JPG)[/img]
Okay so here is my last one! I think this would look awesome!
So I think you could make a complete kirtle, or a forepart with matching sleeves with that gown and I think it would look smashing!
Good Luck
Cilean
I can't wait to see your progress! :D
well me and my sister in law are the same size so the dress fits perfectly
I just worked on the overskirt ( i suppose this is the correct term) and tomorrow I will be working on the bodice part. i will post pictures soon, just when i was about to post pictures tonight, my cameras batteries died, and then my cell phone died, so i had nooooo camera, lol
but i will be posting updates and such, here as well as my dress diary
mydressdiary.wordpress.com :)
i stabbed my finger :(
Quote from: LadySeasan on August 16, 2008, 05:26:18 AM
i stabbed my finger :(
It's the cry of seamstresses everywhere: OUCH! Don't bleed on the fabric! Don't bleed on the fabric!!" :D
I bleed at least once for each gown I make. Figure it's just the sewing gods demanding their sacrifice.
Good luck on the gown transformation!
Quote from: Margaret on August 16, 2008, 06:16:53 AM
Quote from: LadySeasan on August 16, 2008, 05:26:18 AM
i stabbed my finger :(
It's the cry of seamstresses everywhere: OUCH! Don't bleed on the fabric! Don't bleed on the fabric!!" :D
I bleed at least once for each gown I make. Figure it's just the sewing gods demanding their sacrifice.
Good luck on the gown transformation!
thanks for the luck :)
yeah my finger still hurts, lol. i stabbed it with the needle, and then i was using a glue gun, and touched the hot glue on the same finger -so now its a blister :(
im going to be working on finishing the under part for the foreskirt (please someone correct my terminology lol) and begin working on the bodice.
once that is done i will make my a pouch, fan, parasol holder, and decorate my basket
ooh my i found the perfect brooch at walmart, i squealed when my friend showed it to me :) i cant wait to post pictures (later on today)
here is my progress so far
a picture of the fabric, and the fabric with the trim-this is the foreskirt
(http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q119/BigCutie20/Renaissance%20Dress%20Diary/dressstuff021.jpg)
and
(http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q119/BigCutie20/Renaissance%20Dress%20Diary/dressstuff022.jpg)
this fabric will be used for that triangle looking part of the skirt :) and the middle panel of the bodice
(http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q119/BigCutie20/Renaissance%20Dress%20Diary/dressstuff019.jpg)
and this will be the headband that will be attached to my snood( i love pearls)
the front of the bodice will have this lovely pearl brooch with draped pearls from side to side and the snood will have pearls sewn in
(http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q119/BigCutie20/Renaissance%20Dress%20Diary/dressstuff020.jpg)
Looks like you have a great start. If you are using part of the wedding gown bodice don't forget to change or add good boning!
As to the bleeding, in most costume shops that I have worked in, bleeding onto a costume is considered good luck to the wearer. (As long as you can get it out, and it doesn't show! hehe) BTW, if you get blood on the fabric, spit on it and rub lightly. Sound gross but it will come out.
thank you :)
my first reaction was some bad words then spitting, but the fabric is a dark navy blue, so it didnt show up anyway, ive had a very interesting time so far working on this dress :)
especially me and the sewing machine. i always have the damnedest time trying to get the thread going once i put the bobbin in, the thread keeps breaking :(
update: dress is 98% done, since i dont have a dress form, i need my friend to come over while i put the dress on and just tidy some things
here are some pictures!
so here i am modeling the dress without anything being attached nor wearing the hoopskirt, at this point i have yet to add my shoulder rolls and sleeves
(http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q119/BigCutie20/Renaissance%20Dress%20Diary/renfairdress001.jpg)
here is an upclose of the bodice with my brooch and pearls draped
(http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q119/BigCutie20/Renaissance%20Dress%20Diary/renfairdress007.jpg)
the shoulder rolls and sleeves were added last night, i still have yet to take pictures, but once i have everything completed, ill take a picture of the whole outfit
i am so proud of this dress, its my first big project that i planned out and took time working on! I just hope to get better from here :)
its looking awesome!
The skirt looks lovely. Are you going to point the front of the bodice?
Quote from: isabelladangelo on August 21, 2008, 06:44:15 AM
The skirt looks lovely. Are you going to point the front of the bodice?
ok that is something that i wanted to do, but im not sure how to do it at this point, being that i added the trim and dont have any extra, but i realized i wanted it pointed after i had everything together
so im not sure how to cut it but still use the fabric that is already on there
i do agree that it will look much better with a pointed bodice
Try fishing through your scraps there might be a piece that would work to make a nice point for the bodice...
It still looks fabbo!
Either try via scraps (piecing is period) to get a point in the front or make it into an Italian gown (high bust) and add a guard (more of the blue?) to the bottom.
i did find some scraps, well actually a big scrap, so as we speak my friend and i are working on making it into a point
if anyone is going to the mdrf i will be there!
if not ill post pictures tomorrow