Altering My Biggest Wedding Dress Yet.... aka The Behemoth

Рет қаралды 38,811

Күн бұрын

Hello hello! Today (well.... last year. But you're watching it today) we will be altering the largest wedding dress I have yet to alter. This dress has it all.... Enjoy!
Music: Frédéric Chopin, Brigitte Engerer
3 Nocturnes, Op. 9: I. Larghetto (0:00)
3 Nocturnes, Op. 9: II. Andante (5:50)
3 Nocturnes, Op. 9: III. Allegretto (10:27)
Nocturne in E minor, Op. 72, No. 1 (16:59)
0:00 The dress I affectionately nicknamed “The Behemoth”
0:56 Hem
10:17 Bustle
11:11 Bodice
15:46 Steam
16:59 Heart
19:56 Finished Behemoth and Wedding Photos
20:52 How I spend my free time
Hem:
1. White tulle with silver sequins (Layer 11)
2. Adjusting pins for off white lace applique on champagne tulle (L12)
3. White organza with horsehair edge (L10)
4. White organza (L9)
5. L12, pinned
6. L11, pinned
7. L10, pinned
8. L9, pinned
9. White tulle (L8) and champagne tulle (L7), pinned together
10. Champagne organza (L6), pinned
11. White tulle (L5) and champagne tulle (L4), pinned together
12. Champagne organza (L3), pinned
13. White hard net crinoline layers (L2), topmost pinned. A champagne organza lining (L1) acts as a barrier between the crinoline and the wearer.
14. Cutting along press line on top layer of L2
15. Following cut line along top layer of L2 to cut the rest of L2 (you can see L1 poking out from beneath it)
16. L2 and L1 pinned, L1 was left longer so L2 wouldn’t rub against the bride’s legs
17. L3 pinned
18. L5 and L4 pinned, the two layers of tulle are pinned, pressed, and cut together
19. Pressing L5 and L4
20. Marking press line on L5 and L4 with pins, following the press line on L6 (top layer of tulle)
21. Cutting press line on L5 and L4, following the press line
22. L5 and L4, cut
23. Pressing L8 and L7
24. Cutting L8 and L7
25. Cutting L11
26. Layers 1-11, pinned (L11 shown)
27. Removing lace applique, L12
28. Lifting lace applique (L12) to correct hem length, using safety pins as a guide and securing in place with straight pins. Beads and sequins in the (eventual) path of the sewing machine needle are removed.
29. L12, pinned
30. Dress was so big it took up half of my parent’s entire dining room table- not enough room at my house to sew it!
31. Sewing pinned L1, first fold
32. Cutting L1
33. Sewing L1, second fold
34. Pressing L1
35. Sewing L3, first fold
36. Cutting L3
37. Sewing L3, second fold
38. Pressing L3
39. Sewing L6, first fold
40. Cutting L6
41. Sewing L6, second fold
42. Pressing L6
43. Sewing L10
44. Pressing L10
45. Sewing L12
46. Cutting excess material (L12)
Bustle:
47. Marking buttons (waistline) and loops (skirt) with safety pins (L12 and L11, bustled together as one)
48. Bustle: reinforcing top center button; 4 other off white pearl buttons were added at waistline
49. Bustle: lots of buttons and buttons that need sewn (safety pins) ((there were 49 buttons and loops total))
50. Tacking L5 and L4 together before sewing single loop
51. Threading loop twist through backer cut from champagne organza leftover from hem
52. Creating loop (L5 and L4)
53. Finished loop (L5 and L4)-- 1 of 49!
Bodice:
54. Sewing double cups together
55. Shortening strap
56. Taking in bust
57. Sewing in cups
58. Lining neck with a soft, nude fabric
Steaming:
59. Bodice, interior
60. L1
61. L3
62. L6
63. L8 and L7
64. L10 and L9
65. L12 and L11
66. Train
Heart:
67. Blanket stitch raw edge
68. Trim loose threads and clean up edge
69. Press
70. Sew to upper right skirt, just below waistline

Пікірлер: 38

@jacquelinea3358 Ай бұрын

What a monumental alteration! The bride must have been quite a bit shorter than whoever the original model was. 😊 But it is a very beautiful gown that I would have *loved* to wear. You did an outstanding job. Thank you for sharing your meticulous work. Brava 👍

@lumorales2321 2 күн бұрын

Well- I believe you are in the AMAZING business. Wow! What patience. What a beautiful gift! Blessings.

@neecy3946 Ай бұрын

you did a magnificent job on the alterations. 🤩

@janemurdock6988 Ай бұрын

Amazing and brave! Thank you.

@merrypruitt6732 29 күн бұрын

Crazy good skills, even the nice little heart, and Chopin to boot! Thank you😻

@mariagraziavinelli9657 9 күн бұрын

Beautiful😊

@katietomasello490 6 ай бұрын

Hi there I’m back. For those of you have never shortened from the waist it’s easier than you think. I often leave the skirt lining attached to the bodice. It can often be hemmed or adjusted without detaching it . And takes a lot of weight off of the dress to work on it. ** A tip… even if you’re not shortening from the waist removing the petticoat underneath leave a couple inches of fabric when you cut it away so it’s easier to reattach again. Can make it a lot easier to work on the dress. Once you release the zipper from the waist down, you’re good to go. And as mentioned give this a try on a dress that you no longer want or something from the secondhand store to practice on. If you’re not used to using a razor blade to rip this is a good time to give it a try. It’s much faster to rip. Of course you might still need your ripper or scissors to pull some of these gowns apart but you can’t believe how much faster it is. *** You definitely shouldn’t try this on a dress that matters for obvious reasons reason. Hope this info helps. Isn’t it amazing that we can help one another from across the country or any country for that matter!! ❤

@LeowomanJen70 Ай бұрын

Absolutely Lovely!

@maureentuohy8672 Ай бұрын

Stunning!❤

@patriciaschiro2659 6 ай бұрын

I was taught to take the dress apart at the waist and to recut the the top of the skirt that way you don’t need to redo the bottom. Then you reattach the skirt and ad the appliqué and beads back. This must have taken quite a while. You did a great job though.

@katietomasello490 6 ай бұрын

Yikes… I agree. I had 3 gowns last yr, all 10+ layers w/ embellished lace top layers. Still a pricey job, but cheaper for the client to take apart at the waist & pull the skirt up. It saves a tremendous amount of time as you mentioned. Beautiful job!! Well done!! P.S. I have had clients that were very detailed, particular (which isn’t a bad thing to know what you want) & had no problem with what ever time was involved & prepared for the bill. ** And for those seamster’s that feel awkward about charging. Remember that many of the brides spend $200.+ for “try-on hair & makeup & often twice that for the wed’g day & that’s not including the beautiful weaves & braiding that are more costly. Plus lashes, tan, mani-pedi. Lets face it wedg’s are expensive. Be fare of course. Never take advantage of a client simply because you can but don’t give away the farm on your labor.

@rachelpaintspoorly2111 6 ай бұрын

@patriciaschiro2659 I would actually love to learn how to take up dresses from the waist- both you and @katiemasello490 make good points about the time and the cost to hem from the bottom. At the national chain bridal store where I was taught, they wanted hems from the bottom (and charged a flat rate for each "difficulty level,") so that's how I learned. However, my manager would tell stories of (mostly) older seamstresses who had worked for her in the past disregarding said rule on particularly challenging projects.... Definitely something I plan on taking a crack at, one of these days. Probably on a thrifted dress first though, lol.

@rachelpaintspoorly2111 6 ай бұрын

@katietomasello490 I appreciate your insights on charging- I think most people who set prices for skilled labor, whether it be alterations, crafting, fine arts, or even the trades struggle with this in one way or another, especially in the beginning. Personally, I charge a flat rate upfront, based on the individual project and how much labor I think will go into it. That being said, the wedding dresses I do at this point are for friends and family and I knowingly price them under market value as I'm doing it as a favor/gift. When dealing with the public there's definitely a line we walk between over- and undercharging, which in my opinion is almost more difficult than the work itself!

@iheartbridalcouture5989 Ай бұрын

I was taught at a high end department store that had a bridal dept with attached alterations We were always told that doing a gown at the bottom hem was more accurate. I’ve run into some gowns that couldn’t be done at the waist because of the way they were constructed. You would lose fit and function I charge a lot more for at waist gowns. But I was taught to do it pretty much this way.

@vickieschlager4786 Ай бұрын

Beautiful dress!!

@luciw8348 25 күн бұрын

I enjoyed watching you do this! It is fun to watch someone do alterations on a gown the detail oriented way and not the “cheat way”. I totally cheat on my own projects but not on clients 😂 I don’t normally make it through these kind of videos because it gets hard for my perfectionist side to watch. You did a lovely job. I was taught to take hems from the bottom as well. I have never seen it done from the waist so now I need to go watch and see how it is done.

@rachelpaintspoorly2111 24 күн бұрын

Funny you should mention "cheating" on your own projects- I took the sides in on the dress I wore to this wedding and didn't bother to reclose the lining. It's still open and probably will be for all eternity. 😅

@emilydavidson275 Ай бұрын

Gorgeous work! Very labor intensive! Lovely result.

@kimmonroe8305 23 күн бұрын

What a stunning gown and what a fantastic job of altering, thank you for sharing.

@ladydutches7717 20 күн бұрын

I loved watching you alter that beautiful dress you did a wonderful job. I altered wedding dresses years back and I actually miss doing it. Thanks for bring back great memories for me. ❤❤❤

@jbcrawford229 Ай бұрын

Unbelievable! What an amazing job!

@karenclark9865 Ай бұрын

So well done! Amazing work!

@leisongivangomo4478 24 күн бұрын

Beautiful alteration!

@anitafmn8122 24 күн бұрын

You did an incredible job on that dress. Wow!

@xavisan6751 Ай бұрын

Wow❤

@daniellarivera-juvera8865 Ай бұрын

Beautiful job ❤❤❤

@janetrouse5917 Ай бұрын

You are talented to do what you did with this dress.

@toshmarie3499 Ай бұрын

MY THOUGHTS/OPINION ONLY 6:29 would it not have been easier 2 just 2 undo entire waist, cut few inches off, & re-sew back together. This looks way too difficult, time consuming, & alters look of applique design??? Edit: 8:54 nevermind... When she started sewing new hem, I didn't recall seeing da peachy/coral-ish/salmony color in skirt...when I rewound 2 beginning, I notice lacey part on waist too...so I guess my theory was not da best either! Edit 15:42 jus curious....does anyone know why all da additional nude backing??

@rachelpaintspoorly2111 Ай бұрын

Hi there! Thoughts/opinions are always welcome ^^ 6:29 Prior commenters suggested taking the dress up from the waist; I actually don't know how to do that! I was trained to hem from the bottom. It is something I'd like to learn in the future, however. 15:42 The additional nude backing is to protect the bride's skin from the mesh material rubbing against her neck. During her fitting her skin began turning red so I used leftover nude lining (I think from a swimsuit I made a couple years prior?) to line the "collar" of the dress. Hope this helps! Thanks for watching!

@laurettathomas3787 Ай бұрын

I would have taken it up at the waist so that the beautiful lace at the hem would have been saved

@rachelpaintspoorly2111 24 күн бұрын

You're not the first to suggest taking it up at the waist, something I actually don't know how to do- I was trained to hem from the bottom. After sewing all that lace back on though it's something I definitely want to learn. 😊