2-piece dress complements Victorian wedding gown
Q. My great-granddaughter is getting married this winter and is wearing my Victorian wedding gown. Please help us with bridesmaids gowns that would also have a Victorian flair and still be very young-looking. The wedding is an afternoon affair and not too formal.
Loretta G.
A. For a young-looking gown that can be dressed up or down, I suggest a two-piece such as Vogue 8324, sized 6-20. The blouse would be lovely in a sheer georgette or silk, a fabric that gathers and drapes beautifully. The skirt can vary according to the choice of each girl -- almost any style skirt would be perfect. For a winter wedding, a soft velvet taffeta or a blend of fibers would work well. It is a very beautiful Victorian-type blouse and should be perfect to blend with the bride's gown. Remember, two-piece gowns flatter everyone and have much longer wearability!
Q. My favorite dress has a wide, square neckline. When I wear it, the front gapes down and won't stay nice and flat. Is there a cure for this?
Jane E.
A. When the neckline is a perfect square and cut rather low, you can attach a quarter-inch strip of elastic by hand to each of the corners of the wrong side of the fabric. Slip the two loose ends of the elastic to the back and mark where the two ends meet. Don't pull the elastic too tight. Apply a small hook and eye to each end of the elastic and hook it to itself before you pull your dress all the way down. This will keep this very flattering neckline smooth and flat and next to your body.
Q. I'm so afraid that when I make a garment it will look homemade. Can you give me a few tips to avoid this?
Lauren M.
A. I few obvious errors can easily be avoided. One of the first dead giveaways is when the facings peek out from the wrong side of the garment. Another is when the ends of a collar curl up instead of roll over smoothly.
Other mistakes are choosing fabrics that are not suitable for the design of the garment or choosing a pattern that is too difficult for you to cope with -- try simple patterns and progress slowly.
If you look at expensive gowns, you will usually see that the designs are quite simple. The fabrics tell the expensive story!
Helpful sewing hint
Each week, a reader wins a prize for sending in a helpful sewing hint. This week's winner is Mary Glenn of Rio Rancho, N.M. She will receive a collection of 100 hand-sewing needles from England. From the finest of fabrics to the heaviest, you will have the right needle at hand! Her tip: "Whenever I purchase a ready-made garment, I immediately sew the extra button that is included to the inside seam. It's there when I need it, and it avoids trying to match a button."
© 2007, Cowles Syndicate Inc.