A Custom Dress: See the Design Process

I would love to show you my process for making a custom dress. My daughter is an opera singer and so she requires gowns for performances about once per year. Eventually she will have enoough of a collection that she might not need them so often but we’re building her closet at the moment.

The year she has a recital in April and she described the dress she wants. I did a rough sketch of what I thought she meant and luckily she liked it.

This is it. a green dress with princess seams and very full sleeves that fall all the way to the floor.

When she was home for Christmas break I made a muslin to fit her perfectly. A muslin is a fitted garment that is used to then make a pattern that is the perfect size for the client.

The front of the bodice fit beautifully but the back needed to have some fabric removed from the princess seams and the back. When I make the pattern from this that extra fabric will be removed and it will fit her.

I feel comfortable now to move forward with making this gown.

These are the fabrics that will be used for the dress and I am so excited to see this one come to life.

I will see Maggie on February 11th and so this dress needs to be re4ady for the next fitting by then. The goal is that she will put it on and all that will need to be done is to hem the bottom and the sleeves and she will be ready to wear this for her performance in April.

Stay tuned for the finished photos where she will be wearing this dress with a big smile on her face.

If you want a custom dress I would love to work with you. Just send me a message and we will work together to make the dress of your dreams!