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ballroom dance costumes

Carol_T | Posted in The Archives on

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Does anyone know a site or book with helpful hints on construction? Please feel free to e-mail any tidbits of information you have. I sew quite a bit, but I don’t have any experience with this. I am dealing with a case of “riding up” on a close-fitting knit dress. I’m afraid the only solution is to tack the dress to a panty-girdle to hold it down. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

Replies

  1. jane_viers | | #1

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    Instead of tacking to a girdle, if the item rides up mainly from the waist, sew an inner elastic waistband that hooks on the inside. I could be that the movement of the upper body is what is pulling the dress upward, and this, as standard "evening gown" foundation method should take care of that.

    1. Tammie_Domek | | #2

      *As a ballroom dancer, I can tell you that all dance costumes have matching panties sewn into the costume in some way. The general idea is that the dress pattern is cut horizontally at the waistline, then panties and skirt are attached. If you don't have enough fabric to alter the dress in this way, sew the panties and attach them, with tabs, to buttons sewn in the side seams at waist level. Good luck!

      1. Tammie_Domek | | #3

        *I have a student who is looking for patterns specifically for ballroom dance dresses. I would use a regular pattern and alter it, but she doesn't want to do this. Does anyone know where she could find patterns for dance dresses?

        1. Karen_Vesk | | #4

          *Dress weights sewn into the hem may also help weigh the dress down a bit. I sometimes use drapery weights in hems. Drapery weights resemble the old-fashioned chains that used to keep your cat from stealing the bath-tub plug (in MY household, anyway).

          1. Lee_Ann | | #5

            *Hi Tammie,I get my ballgown patterns from http://www.tothenines.comI've sewn a few ballgowns now, they're lots of fun. My cats and I love spending the 5 hours it takes to hand-sew the 10 yards of boa to the hemlines ha ha. I've never used weights in a hemline, just rigelene, horsehair braid, or fishing line.Remember that any weights or embellishments you use on the hem may hit your partner when you spin. Always do a dress rehearsal before the comp.For tight costumes, I wear 'slippery' (i.e. expensive silk) nylons to help keep the dress from riding up. I haven't attached panties to costumes, but do wear matching ones. Not nude colored - judges may have heart failure thinking you don't have anything on under there.

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