My husband and I have been invited to a black-tie wedding on New Year’s Eve. Since I have so much time to work on the dress before the event, I figured I would go out on a limb a bit with my dress. If it does not work out, I have plenty of fabric to knock together an LBD.
This is a big project, so I’m planning on doing construction updates like I did with my embellished jacket. Here’s the first one.
I have not made much progress yet. The kids started school last Thursday. The first week of school is always as much work for me as it is for them. Around the middle of this week, I hope to have a bit more time for sewing.
As you can see in the photos, the bodice is sheer with a lattice effect. The sheer is silk tulle, and the lattice is silk ombre devore. The skirt will be the ombre fabric. So far, I have embellished most of the front bodice piece.
Here’s my silk tulle bodice piece with the first 2 strips of fabric in place. On the table next to the front piece, you can see the fabric that I made the strips from. This is also the fabric I will use to make the skirt.
Bodice front with the next 2 strips pinned in place
Rolling in Cloth 
22 Comments
Really looking forward to watching this progress. Just wondering how have you done the seams on silk tulle, they look very fine?
I can’t wait to see what else comes of this dress. It’s looking unique and beautiful already.
Oh, this is going to be good!
What an interesting start. I look forward to watching it progress.
This is going to be fun to watch come together! I always get so inspired by your “long” projects. Thanks for sharing all of the details!
This is looking beautiful already. I look forward to the next instalment…
Interesting start. Are you hand stitching the strips?
No. I’m machine stitching using silk thread.
Will follow along with interest! I loved your posts on the jacket, and this will be great to watch as you bring it to fruition!
That is going to be amazing! I will be reading with interest.
What a wonderful project. Can’t wait to watch it become more and more fabulous.
Elizabeth here, still can’t change my name on this comment box. I love this already. What are you going to wear under this sheer bodice?
thanks! I’m still auditioning fabrics for the underlay.
Claudine – I always love what you do and can’t wait for the unveiling of your magnificent dress. Can you give a little more description of the fabric, e.g., did you dye the fabric or did you purchase as shown?
Thanks! I purchased the fabric as-is. You will see better photos of it in subsequent posts.
This is promising to be sensational! You have the coolest ideas 🙂
Wow those colours are fantastic against the sheer black.
That’s going to look awesome. How did you do those strips, are they just two rectangles sewn right sides together and then turned out?
Sort of. I took 1″ crossgrain strips, folded them in half right sides together, stitched the raw edge with a 1/8″ seam allowance, turned the tube, soaked it in water, and pressed the wet strips with the seam running down the middle. When I sewed the strips on, the side with the seam was the wrong side.
Thanks for letting me know! Why did you soak it with water, is this so they’ll be flatter once your press them?
I soak the strips in water to produce steam while pressing. I don’t use a steam iron. If I’m pressing something small, I soak it. If I’m pressing something larger, I spray it with water. Occasionally I’ll use a damp press cloth if that seems like the right thing to do.
Ok that makes sense now, thank you!
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[…] had a comment on my previous formalwear post asking how I did the seams on the tulle. Here’s a tutorial on how I’m doing the seams […]