I’m making a wedding dress with a very long train. I have observed that bridal shops incorporate a hanging loop somewhere toward the bottom of the train, so the bride can hang the train on the hanger so it doesn’t drag on the ground when it is hung up. Does anyone know if I make the loop on the straight grain or the bias? Do I just use a ribbon? Also, when making hanging straps attached to the side seams, waist area, do I use ribbon or fabric tube straps? Do I make the length of the torso hanging straps just slightly less than the length from the waist to the shoulder, (so as to prevent stretching on the shoulder)?
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Replies
I woulde use grosgrain ribbon for the hanging strap on the train. You want it to be strong. For the hangar straps, most commercial gowns use fabric tubes. They are easier to turn if the fabric strip is cut on the bias.
Marijo
Thank you for your help. I'll get on it.
grosgrain ribbon, satin ribbon, or twill tape will be fine. Every wedding gown i've worked on had twill tape or satin ribbon. The loop serves another purpose, as well. After the ceremony, but before the reception, is often when pictures are taken. the loop is big enough to slip over the hand, so the bride can have some control over the gown when she has to manuever around for the pictures. It can be slipped off her wrist for those shots where it is spread in front of her feet.
Thank you. Your response also answers the question of how to manage the dress/train when getting into the car. etc.
I just saw your question and decided to look at my daughter's wedding dress, which I did not make (much to everyone's surprise), because I found a Moonlight dress, with the tags STILL on it, at Goodwill for $75. This dress sold for $2400 on the Moonlight website!! Talk about being at the right place at the right time!! The girl who brought it in said she hoped whoever bought it had better luck than she. It is a size 6 and fits my daughter as if it were custom made for her. I bought this dress before she even had a boyfriend!! I figured I could sell it on eBay if she didn't like it or if she never got married (highly unlikely). Anyhow, it is VERY well made and it has ¼" satin ribbon on the train, 14" long (7" folded over), and it also has satin ribbon on each side sewn under the armholes. They do prevent stretching, as the dress is very heavy. It is all silk (even the lining), with beads and sequins on the bodice and the bottom of the skirt and the entire train. It is absolutely the most beautiful dress I've ever seen. Linda
Thank you for your help and how wonderful for you and your daughter that you found such a beautiful dress at such a special price.
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