prom dress alteration

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prom dress alteration

New postby Shellymoon on Sun Mar 13, 2011 5:41 pm

The good news: We finally got a prom dress! It's this one:
http://www.newyorkdress.com/Dave_and_Johnny/5680.html

The bad news: DD wants straps.

The good news: I have to cut about four inches off the bottom to hem it, so there will be enough fabric to make two straps.

My question: The straps don't have to do a lot of heavy lifting. The dress is a lightweight chiffon and DD is average in the bust. She just wants them for look. They will be spaghetti straps. So, I was thinking I would make a two layer strap, with the underlining, and the chiffon showing on the outside. Does that make sense?

Has anyone else ever done this? I've done it for a wedding dress, but we used a coordinating lace. I want this to look like it was a natural part of the dress.

I've made lots of spaghetti straps for other stuff though and am guessing this can't be much different.

On the other hand, I might chicken out and call Leighanna and ask her to do it for me!

My dd has her three best friends and they're out shopping for shoes to go with the dress right now. Wish me luck!
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Re: prom dress alteration

New postby MartySews2 on Sun Mar 13, 2011 7:33 pm

I would get some crystal straps or a string of crystal beads & use that on the dress as it would tie in with the bodice. Just my thought.
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Re: prom dress alteration

New postby DorothyL on Mon Mar 14, 2011 6:25 am

Beautiful dress. What color did she get. That teal is beautiful.
If it was me, and I had the option I'd call Leahanna, but I'm just lazy that way.
I do like Marty's idea too.

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Re: prom dress alteration

New postby LeapFrog Libby on Mon Mar 14, 2011 4:30 pm

Good Luck, I love spaghetti straps, but I never have any luck making them.. I did make some one time with my tube turners that turned out very well. But only that once, and I really sweated blood doing them.. Most of my other attempts ended up in the trash....
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Re: prom dress alteration

New postby bridesmom on Mon Mar 14, 2011 9:08 pm

I like Marty's idea! But if you were careful you could do spaghetti straps with a tube turner. Gorgeous dress though!
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Re: prom dress alteration

New postby Shellymoon on Wed Mar 16, 2011 7:55 pm

Thanks for the suggestions everyone!
She got the teal dress and it looks gorgeous on her. And the BF is a redhead, so he'll look nice with the green, too.

The dress is more of an evening gown, rather than a traditional poufy prom dress. I'm hoping she'll be able to use it for formal occasions throughout college, too.

Not sure she'd go for the extra bling straps, but we could go see what's out there. There are a lot of places to get that kind of stuff where I live.

I have the tube turners and have made spaghetti straps a lot, just never one that was two layers. I would not even attempt it without the tube turners.

But, I think I will call Leighanna tomorrow and see if I can get in her between the brides next week. My time seems to be sprouting wings and disappearing lately and I don't want to be up the night before doing this.

I'll put a picture up post prom.
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Re: prom dress alteration

New postby Sewing Lady on Thu Mar 17, 2011 12:54 pm

Hi everyone. Just stopped by to say HI:). Have been very busy. Chiffon or organza covered straps are very difficult to do. Sometimes, you just need to make them a little thicker than normal. I use a very long dull upholstery needle to turn them.
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