My DD wants a christening dress .....OMG....is she crazy?
 

My DD just texted me with pics of the dress she expects me to make for newest granddaughter Willow. While I can make quilts, bags, table runners and lots of other things, but this dress scares me! I can't imagine spending the money for the fabric, and heaven forbid I should make an oops. Am I the only one who gets crazy requests like this?


oops, wrong pic....and now can't find the right one....anyway, the dress is all lace, beads, many layers.

Oh, yes!!! One thing to do is make the dress out of a less expensive fabric...you could probably use muslim or an inexpensive fabric similar to the fabric you plan to use for the final dress...make sure the pattern is correct and make any adjustments needed, then make the actual dress. If you have an embroidery machine or pleater you can do smocking. Haven't tried smocking myself, but I belong to a yahoo group that has tutorials/designs for smocking. And you can integrate embroidery designs into the smocking.

Good luck!!!

While I would be equally as scared, it's a better request than I usually get from DH. Those usually involve making fabric out of thin air! Or fixing boat covers or the like!

I enjoyed making my children's Baptismal dresses and my sister's wedding gown--the children's were made with fine muslin and my sister bought her own heavy satin and lace. If I got hit with a request I felt would be more agony than pleasure, I would find a pattern or picture of appropriate dresses I felt were in my skill range and give DD a choice. IMHO I could not justify hugely expensive material for a one-time event. (I made my wedding dress, too.)

If DD can't give up the fantasy dress, go to a thrift shop and look at wedding gowns to repurpose. We quilters DO know how to cut things out and sew them back together.

We get these crazy requests because our work makes us look so talented. My husband also is the worst at this "Make me a boat cover, seat covers, covers for my fishing reels, pockets inside my denim jacket, a hood liner for my Chevy truck for the car show, etc."

I have seen mother's or grandmother's wedding dress used for a Baptismal dress. Have fun!♥

A friend of mine just bought a gorgeous wedding dress at a used clothing store for $5. It would be perfect to use for a Christening Gown.

Funny you should mention this. I got a request from the woman I used to volunteer for at the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center. I have made several things for the animals... squirrel nests, kangaroo pouches, etc. Everything I've made I've used scraps for and picked up material from clothing from the Salvation Army on their 1/2 off day. Now she's making a new website and wants me to make stuff to sell. I really don't want to do it. Making that stuff wouldn't be my idea of fun and they would have to be made from all new material. I told her I'd think about it but when she calls back I'm going to have to decline. That's a little over my head.

You can always say no. If it's more than you want to do can you find something else more to your abilities?

Good luck on your quest for the perfect materials and pattern for the christening dress.
I've just been asked to do a mermaid costume. Think I will have her find pattern and materials!

Enjoy the journey. The dress will be a treasured heirloom