5 Simple Tips for Sewing your own Handmade Wedding Dress
Are you thinking of sewing your own wedding dress? There is no more special dress than the dress that you wear for your wedding, especially if you make it yourself! Sewing your own wedding dress gives you the opportunity to create your own customized dress that will fit you perfectly and have all unique details that you want. The Joelle Dress sewing pattern can be made as a wedding dress and is perfect if you are looking for a simple, minimalist dress that is easy to wear and easy to sew. Here are my five top tips for making your own Joelle wedding dress!
1. Allow plenty of time
As every seamstress knows, making a dress takes time(!!!) but making a dress as special as a wedding dress takes extra time. The Joelle Dress is a quick make, but when you are sewing your own wedding dress, it’s important to take the time to make sure that the fit is perfect so that you feel totally confident when you are wearing it. And also to allow enough time to experiment with different ideas, so that you can add any extra intricate details to make your handmade wedding dress totally your own.
2. Make a toile
I always recommend making a toile when you are trying a new pattern, but it's especially important when you are making your own wedding dress. A toile (or muslin) is a initial mock-up of your garment made in calico or cheap fabric, so that you can check the fit of your pattern and make any alterations before you cut into your final fabric. Try to use a fabric for your toile that has similar weight and feel to your final fabric so you can get a good idea of how it will fit. The toile will let you check the fit of your wedding dress and also means you can practise the techniques for making it. If you need to make any fit adjustments, then make another toile and keep going until the fit is perfect! Take a look at my Joelle Dress fit tutorials here in case you need any fitting help. It may seem like a time consuming process to make one or more toiles, but it is worth it in the end to get the perfect fit for your handmade wedding dress!
3. Choosing your fabric
The Joelle Dress has a simple minimalist feel, and for a wedding dress like this silk satin or silk crepe would work beautifully. Silk satin has a luminous sheen that adds a luxurious and rich feel. It suits wedding dresses with clean and subtle lines. Silk crepe has a pristine drape and looks stunning on its own without the need for added detailing. Both these fabrics would work well with an elegant, chic gown like the Joelle Dress. And if you would like to use an sustainable fabric for your wedding dress, then take a look at my list of Ethical Fabric Suppliers here.
4. Make the gown your own
Sewing your own wedding dress gives you the opportunity to add your own details and finishes. The Joelle Dress has a zip at the back and straps that are wide enough to cover your bra straps. Add your own details to your handmade wedding dress by changing the zip to covered buttons with handmade rouleax loops which gives a lovely detail when the wedding dress is seen from behind. You could also narrow the straps to create delicate spaghetti straps or add a lace overlay to make your wedding dress truly your own.
5. Enjoy the process!
A handmade wedding dress is a dress that is made with love! Sewing your own wedding dress is a special journey that can be fun, creative and a great learning curve. So the most important tip of all is to enjoy making your wedding dress, so that it's an experience you can treasure as much as your wedding day!