Tips to consider before you sew your own wedding dress:
Assess your Skills
Even if you’ve never sewn a wedding dress before, you should have some experience sewing seams, fitting garments to your body size and shape, and adding closures such as zippers. Be honest with yourself about your skills and willingness to take on a project that everyone will be looking at.
Note: If you’re considering sewing a dress to save money, but you hate to sew (or you’ve never sewn before), consider hunting for bargains instead. While sewing your own wedding dress can be rewarding, there are easier ways to save money.
Start Early
Give yourself plenty of time to complete the project. Sewing always goes more smoothly when you can set it aside when you get frustrated, and work on it when you’re in the mood.
Enlist Help
If you have friends or family who are willing to help sew, you’re in luck! If not, you may still need them for advice, encouragement, and (at times) honest opinions.
Pick a Pattern
All the major pattern companies (Simplicity, McCall’s, Butterick, Vogue) have wedding dress patterns. You can look at them online, or visit a fabric store to flip through the catalogs. You can also look online for specialty patterns, such as vintage and period dresses.
Style
Make sure the pattern you choose has the features you want:
- Sleeves - long, short, straps, off the shoulder, or strapless?
- Neckline - modest, sweetheart, scoop, v-neck, halter, or low-cut?
- Skirt - sheath, mermaid, A-line, or full ball gown?
- Length - floor-length, short and sassy, or with a long train?
- Extras - ruffles, bows, corset-style lacing, or plain and simple?
Sewing Level
Some dresses are easier to sew than others. In general, the more pieces it has, the more complicated it will be to sew (especially if you need to make size adjustments). Also, some dresses require extensive hand sewing for decorations. The pattern you choose should fit your level of sewing experience and the time you’re willing to spend on it.
Fabric Required
A flowing Renaissance-style dress or heavily gathered ballroom gown will require a lot more fabric than a simple sheath. Since bridal fabric can be expensive, make sure the materials you need will fit within your wedding dress budget.
Buying Fabric
Besides daydreaming, this is the fun part. Although you can buy fabric online, it’s easier to match colors in person, and you’ll want to see how it feels.
- Color - Even if you want “white,” you’ll find many different shades, with varying levels of yellow and blue.
- Thickness - If you can see your hand through one layer of the fabric, you’ll need to plan on extra fabric for a lining.
- Drape - Hold up some of the fabric to see how it hangs. Is it stiff, or softly flowing? Make sure it suits the type of dress you’re making.
- Price - Some bridal fabrics are a lot more expensive than others. However, you may save money if a fancy fabric means you don’t need to buy trim.
- Complimentary fabric and notions - If you want a satin gown with sheer sleeves, make sure you can find two fabrics that match. You should also buy any lace, trims, rosettes, buttons, or zippers you need at the same time.
Note: Before cutting into your special bridal fabric, you may want to test the pattern with muslin (cheap cotton) first. Although this takes extra time and money, it can be well worth the effort in helping you sew the wedding dress of your dreams.
