Sewing my gown: refashioning my Granny's 1949 wedding dress into mine

I've just started to focusing on my own gown (after finishing both bridesmaids' dresses), so I thought I'd share a little bit about it here, though I primarily post updates on FehrTrade.com (my sewing/fashion site).

I've been sewing for about 6-7 years now I suppose and am entirely self-taught, but I've made everything from cocktail dresses to jeans to swimsuits to bras to fur coats and everything in between, so it was only natural that I'd sew my wedding dress, too. So all the better when my Granny gave me her dress from 1949 and told me I must cut it up and "don't you dare be precious about it"! Which is good, because the silk is in amazing condition, but the high neck and long sleeves are pretty old-fashioned (in a frumpy way), and besides, it's a 30" bust! If I lost my boobs altogether, my ribcage still wouldn't fit into it!

So I'm essentially taking apart the entire bodice and resewing it using those pieces, plus stealing some from the ample 3 foot train if I need to, then reattaching the skirt.

And I think I've settled on a bodice pattern I really like, though I'm going to be adding a second strap as I love asymmetry but not really the one shoulder thing.



I could babble on for ages here about it, but frankly, I already did that on my site and you all might get bored, so I'll just use this thread to keep you updated over the next two months.

Love it. I wish you could sew me some clothes. Nothing store bought ever fits me!

Love the design! Had a read of fehrtrade and I'm really excited to see your neighbour wearing it, if she can get into it,  the fabric alone sounds gorgeous and will be fun to see the design!

Squirrellypoo, I read on your page that you were having trouble with something in Portuguese? I'm a native speaker, and my mum used to sew, so I might be able to give you a better translation if you want!

Wow, that's beautiful.  You're right, the silk looks, from the pictures, in wonderful condition.  I bet it'll be gorgeous. 

Squirrellypoo, I read on your page that you were having trouble with something in Portuguese? I'm a native speaker, and my mum used to sew, so I might be able to give you a better translation if you want!

Oh thanks, that's really nice of you! I actually sorted out what I needed to know when I started playing with the pattern pieces (I was mostly translating the piece names while I was trying to get my head around where everything went). If I come across anything new, though, I'll send you a PM, thanks!

Oh, and you might enjoy the blog of this Portuguese sewer, she's amazing!! She's the one who introduced me to Manequim magazine in the first place and it's SO hard to get ahold of outside of Brazil without buying a whole subscription...

I love what you're doing, SP!  Something old and new in one. I am envious of those with craft skills - it's totally indispensable. 

WOW. I love the direction you are going in with the bodice. Very cool, and a stylish update to such a beautiful dress. Sounds like fun... I can't even darn a sock, much less do anything else with needle and thread, so I envy you! 

Awesome!!

I too am a bit crap at sewing

I can barely knit a scarf.  Heh.

I can barely knit a scarf.  Heh.

I can't even sew on a button! 

I can't even sew on a button! 

I used to not know how to do this until a friend of mine sat down with me and taught me.  I had myriad shirts and pants around my flat that I never wore due to them missing buttons...

I can barely knit a scarf.  Heh.

My sister keeps threatening to give me for xmas a scarf she's been knitting for about 3 years, it's THAT horribly made! Luckily I don't think she'll ever finish it - yay!

I grabbed my tiny neighbour Kate this weekend, who not only FIT into Granny's dress (Respect!!) but graciously allowed me to take photos of her wearing it so I can have some nice Before shots for my gown.







There's more photos on my site if you need a vintage dressporn pickmeup.

Oh wow!!