Constructing Cameron’s Sheer Silk Skirt
All the pieces of Cameron’s wedding overdress were cut, so it was finally time to start stitching! I started the construction process with the skirt portion, which includes a long train. Since the custom printed silk was so beautifully slippery and sheer, I added a tissue paper backing marked with my stitching lines. This would help keep […]
Creative Cutting for Cameron
When you sew one-of-a-kind, there is no instruction booklet. You most often brainstorm and create plans for each step of the process as you go. Once Cameron’s custom printed fabric was pressed and ready to roll, I started playing around with the layout of the flowers compared to her custom drafted pattern pieces. The “sprinkled” […]
Brooks Ann in the Huffington Post and Love to Sew Podcast!
Ok ok… I know I said I’d be back to blogging about Cameron’s wedding dress after the intermission, but this week I unexpectedly ended up all over the internet! Most notably the Huffington Post and the Love To Sew Podcast. The Huffington Post Last week, I was contacted by the Huffington Post for my permission […]
Cameron’s Intermission: After the Mockup, but Before the Dress
After our second mockup fitting, Cameron and I finally decided on the images and layout for the custom printed fabric for her custom made wedding overdress. Based on digital and printed samples from Red Canary Fabric Print Studio, I placed the order for our sheer silk gardenia fabric! So exciting! While our fabric order was processing, I […]
“Learning Curves” in Seamwork Magazine
A quick post to share an article I wrote in this month’s issue of Seamwork Magazine! It’s called “Learning Curves: A Guide to Bias Binding”. I discuss the principles of bias, how to make your own couture-quality bias tape, and how to add double fold bias tape to a curved edge without getting a wonky […]
Cameron’s Corrections and Fitting Smiles
Once Cameron left the studio after her first mockup fitting, I began preparing for her second mockup fitting! The mockup process is my favorite part of the custom sewing process. Though many home sewists skip this step or stop at one, multiple mockups are my jam! I love working everything out before starting the actual […]
Cameron’s First Mockup Fitting!
With the designing, the patternmaking, and the mockup construction complete, I invited Cameron (and her beautiful mom) to my studio for her first mockup fitting! A mockup is a test dress made of inexpensive materials so that we are completely free to play around making fit and design changes. Making a mockup means you never […]
Constructing Cameron’s Mockup
After I drafted her custom pattern (and went on a little a custom fabric designing trip), I was ready to cut and construct the mockup version of Cameron’s custom wedding overdress! The overdress would ultimately be a handcrafted from a lightweight sheer silk fabric (with custom printed flowers!) with satin bias edging. For my mockup […]
Custom Printed Fabric for Cameron’s Custom Wedding Dress
After completing the first draft of Cameron’s custom overdress pattern, I shifted my focus to fabric. Though I love shopping at Mulberry Silks for bridal fabrics, sometimes my brides have very specific visions that simply can’t be found in a small boutique store. Or anywhere for that matter… Cameron’s custom wedding dress design features a floral […]
