My DIY Wedding Dress Update

The benefit of having a Facebook-less and blog-less fiancé – I can share my DIY wedding dress progress! I finished the 2nd muslin – AKA practice – dress. I used McCall’s 7540 for my 1st muslin and even though it needed a laundry list of alterations, it was a great base pattern. Below are the changes I made from the 1st to the 2nd along iPhone photos comparing the two. I’m am so happy with the way it is turning out and I’m on track to finish with plenty of time to spare!

You can read about why I chose to make my wedding dress here.

1. Drafted a collar.

2. Fit the bodice and upper skirt – took in at the side seam, reshaped the armhole (to show off the tattoos and biceps), and curve the darts (I have a sway back thanks to years of gymnastics).

3. Eliminated horizontal seam on the skirt that was just below the knee. When I did this, I had to add godets to maintain the same sweep and be able to fit the pattern on 54” wide fabric. There are a total of 6 godets!

And those drag lines on the left side near the waist seam is not a fit error. It’s just from me leaning to the side when taking the photo. When I stand straight, they’re not there. 

I have a few fine tunes to make and then I’ll cut out the real fabric! On the final dress, the bodice will be guipure lace from Kelly Faetanini (shown in photos below) lined with sheer tricot. The skirt will be 4-ply silk lined with China silk. There will be an invisible zipper in the back with faux covered buttons and horse hair at the bottom hem so it doesn’t collapse in on itself. The faux buttons will be from my mom’s wedding dress, and I’m also using the fabric from the skirt portion to make a sash/belt.

The bodice will be sheer, and I’m planning on making a Madalynne X Simplicity 8229 underwire bra that will show through. I’ve made the 8229 plenty of times – too many times! – so I don’t need to fit it. I will make the 8229 once I finish sewing the dress.

The #1 question/comment I get – is it hard? Not really. When I worked at a tailor shop as a teenager, developing event dresses was my jam. I was a regular at Rex Fabrics in Miami. It’s not hard – it’s longggggg! I’m used to finishing projects in a day or a week. I can get through 5-10 bras in a day or two. So having a project on my sewing table for months – that’s what I’m not used to!

Stay tuned!