So, I mentioned I’m working on a wedding dress.
It has been a fun process…and quite a process. Eliot was only three weeks old when I accepted the request to custom design and sew this gown by an old friend, Katie. I think Dave thought I was a little off my rocker, but it has been the most fabulous experience (sans the whole finger issue 
I loved the chance to start from scratch, and will be finishing it up this week. I realized it would make one REALLY long post, so I’ve decided to divide it into pieces and post them separately. Here’s the first installment: design and sketch.
Katie and I went back and forth about design ideas. I found my desktop covered with snipped screen shots of the many things I saw that could be incorporated into a dress that felt like Katie. There were a few elements she knew she wanted for sure: tea length, pin tucks, and lace. Other than that, she wanted simple, comfortable, and fun.
Finally, we had assembled some great ideas, so I sketched out a couple to visualize as a whole dress. Mind you, I’m no artist. I used these cool fashion body forms as templates on which to draw the dress ideas. We toyed with a possible gathered side seam. I thought a butterflied sleeve might be cool.
I tried puffed sleeves, straight sleeves. We looked at a little shorter or a little longer. I thought a knot at the waistband could be a fun detail.
There was a fleeting thought of a faux wrap bodice. Then there was the question of side or back zipper. All just details. Fun, important details.
After reviewing all of the ideas, Katie and I chatted about those that felt like they worked best together, and THE DRESS was born. It would be a cream silk de chine dress with three quarter sleeves and tea length hemline, both finished with two layers of vintage cotton lace. A simple, smooth v-neckline in front and back, with diagonal flaring darts at the bust and a side zip would complete the bodice. Beige piping would line the fitted waistband, upon which a second, skinny piped band would lie, tied into a knot to one side. And, of course, the length of the skirt would be detailed with pin tucks.
Stay tuned for the next phase: pattern making…
One Comment
What fun — scary, terrifying, pressure-cooker fun, but fun nevertheless, you warrior seamstress, you! Reminds me of when my mom copied a Vera Wang wedding gown for my little sister. I was in the dressing room at the Nieman Marcus bridal salon with her, taking picture of the inside and outside details of the dress, while the sales lady was hovering outside trying to figure out what the heck we were doing.
Your sketch looks lovely. Best wishes, and please post lots of photos along the way!