Oct
5
Wedding Gowns - yet again!
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We went “wedding dress shopping” yesterday. A grandmother, 2 mom’s, 3 sisters and a best friend. A menagerie one might say!
We wanted to get an idea of what looks good on Daughter #2 AKA Bride #3- Micaela. Honestly- everything looked gorgeous on her! She did find 2 styles that she loved, and will be going with one of them for me to design. *sigh* I was hoping to get away with no beading, however the style she picked has major- mindblowing beading on the straps, front and back bodice. The dress will have a ruched bodice, with a tank styled back and straps. So far I am leaning towards morphing these Vogue patterns to try to get the right look. 
One thing that is great about my daughters is their totally independent styles. Kate’s wedding gown was more traditional - lace and ruching, with a cathedral length veil. Erica is going for a more classic shape, very form-fitting with a bird cage veil- and maybe a bolero jacket with a high collar. Vintage without screaming vintage. Micaela’s dress will be fluid and just a titch bohemian, with beading and lots of silk crepe georgette. Each girl chose the perfect style for themselves!
This shopping expedition took us to Mississauga, and Markham (essentially Toronto for those who do not know Ontario well). We visited 2 different stores with markedly different experiences. The first bridal store was Pearl. They only carry a few lines- but OH what lines they are! I often don’t like wedding dresses, but I loved every single one of these. All of the dresses were silk - which made the dresses look and feel so luxurious. We were there for the trunk show for Platinum of Pricilla of Boston. The salespeople had as much fun as we did, and made Micaela feel very special. Oh yes- the prices were very special too!
We were not so impressed with the second one. Perhaps it was our experience and not indicitive of the shop in general, so I will not mention the name. The building was not very inviting, and the sales staff made us feel like herded cattle. “I like plain- I hope you like plain too” were practically the first words out of the sales lady’s mouth. That and ordering Kate off of the seating so that the women “over 40″ could sit down! Micaela had to strip down to her underwear right in front of us all- good thing she didn’t have any tattoos to hide from me! The dresses were all crammed together - and there must have been a couple of hundred of them. I’m not sure how one finds what they are looking for as we were vocally discouraged from looking at any ourselves. We had to rely on what this elderly Italian lady intuitively thought would suit our Mic. We did have a laugh after though as we all obediently did what we were told- sat down and minded our manners!
What different ways of doing business- from exclusive and couture to stockyard crowding! It was an enjoyable, productive day however, as Micaela got to try on the gown of her dreams, discard it and choose an amazing design, and Erica saw some details that will make her gown even more special.
Today’s Postscript… You all know my daughters, but I don’t think you have ever met my sisters- singly we are strong, well educated, and independent women- together we can conquer the world! Looking at this photo reminds me that I still need to review that MOB dress!! 
Sep
13
Wedding dress progress - at last!
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EEk- If you posted a comment in the last few days and are a titch miffed that I erased it - whoops sorry!! I have been hit by a boatload of spam comments and I think I went a bit overboard spamming them! Sorry and please be reassured that I adore comments- unless they come from John*1* or anything to do with certain member enlargement devices!!
cb
This weekend I finally got some work done on Miss Erica’s dress. FYI- we are using Vogue 2931 for the basic shape. The bodice will be completly different, but we liked the style of everything from under the bodice down.
Emily of All Sewn Up is using the same pattern for her wedding dress. It will be interesting to watch what we each come up with.
Erica’s dress will have a form fitting silhouette flaring out starting out just above the knees with an empire style bodice, and free formed shirring on the bodice. The dress will be floor length with a detachable train. I really like the idea of a detachable train. Lots of impact in the church and for photo’s, but practicality for movement and dancing afterwards.
Fitting was remarkabley easy. This girl of mine is tiny! 5″10 and not 120 lbs. I cut out a 6 and had to take the dress in at almost every seam about 1/2 an inch! That and add about 4 inches to the length. Other than that the fit is dreamy.
We discovered today- okay I discovered- that my baby girl is deformed! Her hips are noticeably different in shape! One side has a nice gently curve- and the other does not! Since I fitted her mockup on her inside out, I am going to have to be verryyy careful that I place the pattern pieces correctly on the silk!
It does look lovely on her though. I think it is starting to be what she is envisioning.
For the mock up I am using Polyester Poie de Soie. I got a bolt of it for $20 at a garage sale!!!! At that same garage sale I scooped a huge industrial sized roll of tracing paper for 5 dollars. It will ast me a lifetime, I’m sure.
NOTICE TO MR DENIS
Spoiler pictures ahead - abort reading this blog
I repeat - go play with your Wii !!
So it is back to ye olde sewing machine for some fit finesse and a redrafting of the bodice, which, in my opinion, sucks. And my opinion counts here!
A question for y’all- I think I am going to do only a partial inner corset. One that just encompasses the empire bodice. I am really afraid that lines are going to show under the dress.
The pros- no lines. natch!
The cons- Erica is tiny. Like 5′10 and under 120 lbs. None of that is bosom! And not an ounce of fat. Keeping the baby tight enough to stay up without a waist stay may be dubious.
So what would you do??
Moving on to other dresses…
Bridesmaid dresses are on a slow burner. I think that I have concrete ideas for Kate and Leah. Lauren is a bit more difficult - I have the concept in my head but have not been able to make it work yet. I am trying to talk Micaela into some thing like this Badgely Mishka dress - which I adore. I could make it work using this Butterick pattern and some alterations, but really it has to be what she wants, not what I want.
See girls - I am learning! But Mic really- what do you think?
Even though this wedding is not until next May, I really want to get most of the work done early. I do have Micaela’s dress and wedding to think about too you know!
Today’s postscript…
I never take pics of myself. Quite honestly I hate photos of me-the girls got their photogenics (damm is that a word??!!) from their dad! Last night I quite liked what I was wearing when I went out with some friends to go Line Dancing. Line Dancing??!! Yup Line Dancing. It was fun! So here I am- with not one Couturesmith item on! 
Jun
13
Finally starting Vogue 1048
Filed Under Rucci dress, sewing, wedding dress | 10 Comments
The quick and dirty muslins have been adjusted and revamped. (Just to let you know if you are attempting this dress- I had to do alterations on 9 pattern pieces. That was not including the lining which I still have to alter. Oh my goodness- and I thought this was a nice “simple” dress!)
Tonight I finally had an evening alone and at home.
Perfect, I thought to myself. An hour or two and this baby will be cut out and ready to sew…That was at 7pm. It is now past midnight and I am still not done! I know why this dress is rated advanced- your brain has to be at an advanced stage of atropy to think it is easy!!
Pattern pieces- 28
Number of pieces needing underlining - 11
Total number of pieces one needs to cut out -I think 60
60!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
To add insult to injury, I got bored with all the cutting and handbasting underlining to fabric and thought I would run a few pieces through the machine.
Umm…
UMMMMM…
My machine- a Husky which has not given me even one hiccup in 5 or so years of running continuously, won’t go. Hey, I sound like a petulant 5 year old- “won’t go”!!! I really hope the electrical storms that went though yesterday did not affect it.
I’m too tired to look at it anymore tonight…tomorrow is another day.
Today’s postscript…
We are starting to think about a wedding dress for Daughter #1 - Erica. She has given me these inspiration pictures. The bodice is what we are really trying to create. I think! It is actually a double bodice. There is the regular bodice, then a shirred or pleated layer over top. Finding a suitable base pattern may prove impossible. Thank goodness I have 11 months 10 months.
May
31
"The Wedding Dress" an update
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I am honestly getting somewhere on The Dress! I thought I would update - but this is more of an “how I started” update- does that make it a prequel?
I found this photo of Kate while we were fabric shopping in Toronto. While it is not the fabric we ended up going with - it gives a good idea of where we want to go.
Here is the start of our “design (divine???!!!) inspiration wall. Note the lovely teal and lime green wall. I say it adds to the designer feel!
annnd some of the pattern design changes I made. 
We reshaped the bodice front to a sweetheart neckline, and the bodice back to incorporate a lower gradually curved lace up back instead of a straight across zip/button back. I really must visit Kate’s friend Laura to examine her lace up back for spacing reccomendations.
The bodice turned out FABULOUS!!!!!
Cotton batiste covering with a cotton flannel underlining. I forgot to count the boning - I used a combination of rigaline (too lazy to check the spelling!) and some metal spriral boning. I think there are 11 or 13 pieces altogether. It fit like a dream the first time around!
And now the crinoline. I was making one however it was not “poufy enough”- kate’s words. I gave in and bought one off of Ebay. We decided to go with the Extra Full one - why, I will never know! I think we were thinking vendors would “cheat” on their idea of full- but they did not! It came in a teensy tiny bag. Already we have soaked and straightened it 3 times - it may take a few more tries to get it wrinkle free! I am going to add some length. Even though Kate is not tall, it is about 4 inches too short and I remember someone (on Pattern review?) mentioning that if the crinoline is not long enough, the fashion fabric tends to swoop under when walking.
Oh yes - here is the crinoline.. 
Whew- enough for now. Tempting you …..I have the fabric sewn, and the seams almost seamfinished. You can see it later!
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