This is “Carmen” a friend of mine that was getting married for the second time around.  She had never had a fancy wedding the first time so she wanted a gown that would have a detachable train.  She also wanted to wear a full cathedral length veil. 

This is my own pattern.  I took my friends measurements and then used my dressform to drape out the pattern in muslin.  After a few fittings with my friend wearing the muslin pattern, I began to cut into the real fabric.  I used Aloncon lace on top of a blush color heavy satin for the sheath main dress.  I made the front decolletage area, shoulders and arms which, was a one piece pattern with a back seam and underarm seam, out of english netting and topped with more Aloncon lace and a piece of embroidered lace at the neckline.

For the train, I used just the blush colored satin and edged it with Aloncon lace.  I also put the Aloncon lace going up the back of the train to the center and right below this framework of lace, I created a heart shaped cut-out and inserted a piece of english netting that I sewed clusters of pearls onto and framed it in Aloncon lace.  I also added a lace tipped large bow to the back of the detachable train.  I lined the bow with crinalin so it would stand up and mounted a short gathering of tulle under the bow to add extra volume.  I used approximately 20 yards of satin for the train alone – whew!  I made 8 different sections to give enough fullness to the back.  Then I had a problem of too much fullness at the waistline, so I made multiple darts to bring down the volume.  Working with heavy satin was a challenge, so I zig zagged over a piece of heavy fishing line and then pulled up the slack to get a really nice setting of gathers that I then top stitched to stay and placed a finishing binding over the raw edge.  On the underneath, I was able to mount several large hooks that would then hook onto the loops on the back of the gown.  On the underneath of the train, I carried the panels around to create a flat panel that laid against the back of the gown.  That way, no raw seams would ever been seen.

The hat was a purchased plain ivory satin hat that I added Aloncon lace completely over it and under the brim as well as lace and flowers under the right side of the brim.  The veil was made of ivory tulle in cathedral length (6′ past the end of the train) with a tulle bow at the back of the hat.

The entire gown, train and hat were lightly hand beaded with faux pearls and clear sequins wherever there was lace (months of work♥!!!) 

My friend absolutely loved her gown and had a beautiful wedding day!

By the way, I sewed the entire gown and veil with my mom’s Bernina that I had borrowed from her (she had purchased it as a refurbished machine years before).  She decided to let me keep it when she saw my creation.  Thanks Mom!

Launch Gallery