Replies

1. 
   sewchris703 | Oct 19, 2008 07:32am | #1

   Drapery chain?

   Chris

2. 
   damascusannie | Oct 19, 2008 05:50pm | #2

   This may sound a bit off the wall, but to be doubly-safe, make her a chemise and bloomers to wear under the dress as well. Better safe than sorry.

3. 
   CostumerVal | Oct 21, 2008 03:21am | #3

   I agree with the bloomers. You can make tiny sacks of scrap fabric and and put a coin or washer in them and stitch them to the seam allowances. Be advised that some washers will rust and damage the dress.

4. 
   jatman | Oct 21, 2008 11:55am | #4

   Hi Aylaray,

   I remember (eons ago) when I got baptized I wore sort of a choir robe type thing that the church provided.  The pastor warned us that the first few steps into the water the hem would sit on top of the water but that it would sink down into the water pretty quickly after the first couple of steps.  He was right - but I was happy to have had that warning.  I think the robe only had a folded over hem (and by folded over I believe it was folded about 3 or 4 times to make it heavy).  Once it sopped up the water it sunk like a stone.  I'm not sure what kind of fabric you're using but you'll also want to make sure not to dry it using fabric sheets as the sheets sort of make fabrics slightly water repellent and that won't help the fabric to sink down into the water.

   JT

5. 
   starzoe | Oct 21, 2008 09:01pm | #5

   Large metal washers can be sewn into the hem - or just attached temporarily.....if hubby is a handyman and has a stash.

6. 
   Teaf5 | Oct 31, 2008 11:47pm | #6

   Instead of a metal drapery hem chain, try those lovely "pearls by the yard" sold in the bead/craft section of the fabric store in a small canister. For a few dollars, you get a few yards of plastic beads on a string that you can cut to length; the plastic won't rust and won't be terribly heavy once wet, either. Plus, when the fabric is wet, the beautiful beads will show through the gown hem and add a beautiful touch of embellishment.

1. 
   ThreadKoe | Nov 01, 2008 01:49am | #7

   Teaf, you are brilliant!  Will have to make note of that for future reference.  Cathy

2. 
   aylaray | Nov 01, 2008 02:09am | #8

   Thanks!

1. 
   Josefly | Nov 01, 2008 09:39pm | #9

   I love the idea of the beads. Just make sure the beads don't themselves float. I just tested a string of plastic beads, and they didn't readily sink - I had to force them down, but they stayed down once pushed.

2. 
   mygaley | Nov 02, 2008 06:32am | #10

   If her dress is white or some other light color, be sure to check for show-through when it's wet. Once I used fishing weights and safety pins to hold a darling girl's dress down.