Goodbye Wedding Dress
 

I am doing something very different for a very good friend or I wouldn't do it lol. His daughter got married, I went to the wedding some weeks ago.

Instead of storing the dress, which is beautiful, she decided she wanted to make a Christmas tree skirt out of the skirt and train part and pillows out of the top.

I have already ripped the skirt and was very carful not to disturb the beading. I will cut it tomorrow and show pics. I ripped the top too and removed as much beaded trim that was seperate and I will do those later. The back of the dress with be one pillow and it will have retain the lace up style like the dress and the front will be another pillow. This way she can enjoy the pillows all year and the skirt at least once a year.

It was a very expensive dress and chances are, if she has a daughter, the style will be passe. She didn't want to wear her mother's wedding dress either lol. I wonder how many brides would do that. Her mother's dress is still in a storage box.

I had no problem agreeing to her wish.

Nice she and husband will be able to enjoy their wedding everyday.

I think it's a good idea. Certainly better than sitting in a box never to be used again.

Please post the items once you have completed them.

Can't wait to see the pics as you work your magic on all of the items :)

What a great idea!

My mother saved her wedding dress for me. She got married in the late 60's. Her white dress had avocado green and mustard yellow flowers embroidered all over it. What puzzles me is after deciding she hated her avocado green kitchen, with the avocado green linoleum floors, and avocado green appliances, she still thought that dress was pretty enough to save for me. Fortunately I was a different size! :o

Great idea but can't imagine cutting the dress. I can barely cut some of my fabric! I actually bought a very large wedding dress at a garage sale for $1 to cut up for the lace, etc. but it is still on the back of my bedroom door - I just cannot make myself cut it apart.

My daughter's dress had a shawl - both dress and shawl had embroidery. I wasn't quilting at that time, but had a friend take the shawl and make it into a baby quilt. When she opened it at a baby shower she burst into tears saying, "I remembered you saying that's what it would be good for, but NEVER thought you'd remember!" Good Mama Moment. The dresses - both hers (10 years ago) and mine (38 years ago) are hanging in the same closet here. Sigh......... So glad someone's finding a better use for one. My only hope is to have mine on display at our 50th.... (and let everyone wonder how on earth I fit into that tiny thing)

I saw this idea somewhere before, and I think they also made a christening robe/dress out of the wedding gown. This is better than the 'day after pics' I've seen - the bride runs in to the surf in her wedding gown, just about destroying it. A funny - my 4 year old GD was with me in the Thrift Store. They had a rack with many gowns and GD is looking at them and telling me about the beautiful beads and lace! What can we make Grams?!?!?!

My sentiments as well -lots of my friends got me to convert their 'wedding meringues ' into mosquito netting and bassinette covers or Christening gowns for their babies. In my opinion, making good, practical use of expensive material.

Great idea, but I don't think I could cut up my dress.

a very interesting recycle idea !

I guess it is a good thing we are all different. Since my wedding dress is the only thing I have left that my mom made me I can't imagine cutting it apart for a christmas tree skirt but maybe for a christening skirt.

Can't wait to see pictures :)

That's a clever idea and still keeps the memory. Please post pics.

just the other day, my 12 year old daughter was looking at my wedding pix and said my dress was so beautiful and that she wanted to wear it when she got married. That made me happy, but we'll see if that's still the case 10+ years from now. If not, then I'll make christening gowns.

this really has me thinking, now...
We have my dress...which is 35 years old...and the brides fancy gown, which she didn't wear. I bet that I could make a very nice bassinet skirt out of either one....will bookmark this for when and if I need it...

You are brave to cut into a beautiful dress. I think its a great idea but doubt I would have the courage to do it,

Before Pics
 

Ok here are the before's. I ripped out the front skirt from the back so I could cut it easier. I measured 30 inches from the waist down and cut the circle and that should be long enough for the tree skirt. I will line it with it's own lining too. Normally I would put a tab in the back seam for the closure but in this case I can't, because it is covered with beads lol. I will put the opening with a tab on the side and it will be just fine.

Here are the two skirt parts, not cut yet and the two body parts.

I will do a little now. I will work on the tab and depends on how I feel, I might do a little more. I will post the steps for those interested in doing something like it. Remember, it just fabric with some beads on it, no large deal lol.....

I wore my mother's wedding dress :)

But, using the dress for something she wants is definitely a better idea than thinking a daughter would want to wear it one day.

Great idea! I have had requests to make anniversary quilts from bridal gowns before, but I like the fact that you got several items from the dress.

It is hard to start but great memories when you can see the items made from the wedding dresses instead of it being stored. I have made baptismal gowns and an angel for the top of my Christmas tree. want to make an angel for each of my children for christmas. I better get going.

That's a great idea! Maybe I'll do the same with my wedding dress that's been sitting in a closet for 20 years! I'm sure the first cut would be the hardest!!!

Where does she plan on using the pillows? Also, those of you who have made bassinette skirts from your dresses, did your bassinette have a hood on it? Was the hood covered with the bodice? When the baby outgrew the bassinette, was it kept for that child's daughter? I'm wondering if a new family heirloom tradition is being started.

I don't know yet where she is planning on putting the pillows.

My niece did that with her WD. To each their own. Mine is in a box someplace but doin't think I could cut it up or a Christmas tree skirt. Maybe cut it down for future DIL if I thought there was a thread of hope.....

Your very brave to cut into a wedding dress. My daughter has hers in a box and was going to save it for a daughter guess who has two sons.

I love recycling projects.

That's a great idea, and I'm glad you're posting pictures as you progress. I'm going to watch to see if I can steal any ideas from you. I still have my bridesmaid dress from my brother's wedding. Of course, the bride told us, "You can definitely wear this again somewhere else." But, of course it's still sitting in my closet. I was thinking to make something from it for their 5 year anniversary.

Its going to be gorgous! One of the best uses I 've heard of . I can't wait to see it .

what a great idea.

Love this idea !! its one of those why didn't I think of it ?? Gosh !! I have taken the satin & the lace to make pillows but never thought of the bodice as pillows .. Derrrrrr.. LOL

I did this for my DD's best friend. Well I cut it up and made a quilt. She knew her kids wouldn't want it and she has pictures. I still have peices of the dress that one day I will get around to making ring pillows out of for her children. I have no clue what my DD did with her dress .

Great idea. I have my dress now for 34 years. A christening dress for baby would be wonderful. Just waiting for those grand kids to arrive....lol.

My daughter's wedding dress became baptismal outfits for her three children. It's a bit scary cutting into an expensive dress like that, but the outfits turned out great. They will be saved as an heirloom for her grandchildren.

I had bridal teddy bears made from my wedding dress. A great heirloom to pass on.

Wedding Dress continued
 

I got started on the skirt last night and didn't stop to take pics but I can tell you what I did, it's not hard. I sewed the front and back parts of the skirt together, leaving open one side that had enough space without beads.

In the first pic: I cut a 6 inch wide strip by 30 inches long, for the tab. I ironed some fusible interfacing on it and folded it over, sewed both of the short ends closed, ironed it and sewed the long edge to one side of the skirt opening, right sides together. I folded over a 3 inch facing on the opposite sided, interfaced it too. I then sewed the narrow interfacing strip. that was on the original hem all around the hem, this gives it body at the hem. Now the top of the skirt is done so far.

I cut the linings to match the skirt lenght, plus 1 inch and sewed them together, front and back (I had ripped the front from the back on both lining and skirt, for ease in cutting the lenght). I layed the lining on top of the skirt, right sides together, and sewed down the tab side and the opposite folded over facing side.

I then flipped the lining over the skirt and positioned the lining all around the hem. I started to turn under and pin it all around the skirt and matching etc. I then sewed the the hem on the machine, taking about a 1/2 inch seam allowance and catching in the lining as I sewed.

Now all that's left is to gather the waist (which is too big) and put a binding on it and I will do that now and it's done.

I was married in 1967 and still have my wedding dress. It's very sentimental to me since my mother made it. However, knowing I will never wear it again, my three daughters had their own wedding dresses and I can't imagine any of my graddaughters wanting to wear it, I've come up with a plan. I have six grandchildren and I plan to cut up the dress and make six ring bearer pillows for their weddings. This way my mother's handiwork will still be appreciated and a part of me will be used in their weddings.