Why don't you just put it in a new thread and then we can comment on it there?

Rather than try to undertake such a difficult task, why don't you make the couple a wedding quilt using the dresses you were thinking of using to make her dress? You could choose a simple block without triangles, ect, even a modified 9 patch that could showcase the wedding dress material in the center and then be surrounded by cotton material that would match either their wedding colors or their home decor. It would probably be well received and still share your family history with the couple.

Alright I will open a new picture thread.

Or maybe use fabrics similar to the fabrics in the dresses?

PLEASE PLEASE PRACTICE before digging into that project! While your heart is in the right place, you don't want your daughter-in-law to be stuck with a "loving hands at home" dress that she feels obligated to wear. A wedding dress is such a special thing, and she'll look at it for the rest of her life in her wedding pictures, so it has to exactly what SHE wants. Be sure you aren't making her feel like she will be upsetting her future mother-in -law by not wearing what you make. Maybe a lovely bed quilt or a wallhanging to commemorate the wedding would be a better idea. Good luck!

Those are great suggestions and I will keep them. I have a great fabric shop around here so I am hoping to find some great fabric that will work well and be easy to use. First though I have to fit the pattern to her and then see what we have from that point.

My son has been dating her since 7th grade. I have taught her to say no to me and she has learned! However, you are correct. I really can't railroad her into something I think is great when it is not what she wants at all.

I think from the time they are quite young girls have an idea of what they want in a wedding dress....or something in that line....I never got what I wanted,still see it in my mind :D s eye

I was thinking that if my boyfriend and I got engaged, and his mom asked to make a dress for me, I wouldn't want her to. Mind you, she is amazingly crafty and made me a beautiful charm bracelet/matching earrings, which I love. But I have been picturing my wedding dress for 15+ years, and if she made, it would be more of her picture of my dress, than my picture (does that make sense?). And at the same time, I would be really uncomfortable saying so to her.

I would love a quilt/pillows/photo album cover/etc made from old wedding dresses, but not my dress itself.

I would love to see pictures of what you have so far :D :D :D
If you need help posting them, let us know, we can walk you through the process, it is easy after the first time :wink:

If you have 2 years you can make some practice dresses using patterns close to what you want in fashion fabric first, then try something in wedding fabric. by the time you need it you will have a good idea what you can do, and I'm sure you can do anything you set your mind to.

I completely agree with you. A wedding dress should be special and make a girl feel like a princess. Evey girl knows what she wants to achieve that.
I told her my suggestion, told her she can say no but she would like to see what I have in mind. At the very least, she will have a skirt to wear out of the cotton I will practice on!

That would be great! I tried to put the one pattern out there but failed so help would be great. Might help people to understand and provide more help.

That is my hope that 2 years will get a perfect pattern. It will give me time to cut pieces, take my time and not rush. Getting the pattern is the hardest thing.

I love your idea, and I think you will be a great mother in law, becasue you already love her so much, and want to show how special you think she is. Keep that attitude, and you should have a great, loving relationship for years to come.

I am afraid I agree that to make the dress may be quite an undertaking, and not to discourage you, but satins or silks are very slippery to work with for experienced quilters or seamstresses.

And I wonder if the Butterick pattern would work with that type of fabric, it seems to want heavier fabric (denim, linen). That might mean that a different hang or something if a different fabric is used.

If your daughter in law to be says she has other plans for a dress, I have a few suggestions, that would still allow you to use your dresses and allow you to make something special for her.

1- if she is having a dress made, ask if maybe the large sections of your skirts, could be used on the bodice of her gown. That way it is still your dresses, and still her own too.

2- if she is buying a ready made, depending on the style, perhaps you could have a belt/bow made to attach.

3- make a short train from your 2 dresses, which can attach/detach from her dress. She could have a train for the wedding, then remove it for the reception.

4- ask the dressmaker/bridal shop for some of the fabric used in her purchased dress, to add to what you have. Then anything you do, will coordinate.

5- make a shawl for her shoulders or a simple shrug (as so many dresses are sleeveless), so she will stay warm after the ceremony

6- make a ring bearer pillow

7- make a photo album using the fabrics from your dresses

And most importantly - do not be discouraged. We are trying to help, to be sure that you see the down side. But, we all had first projects, and some of the first projects that have been posted here have been amazing!

Good luck and let us know what you do, we want to see pics!

Thank you so much for these ideas! I had not thought of the shrug.
I came to this site to get the help you all are suggesting. I think it is wonderful that you are telling me all the things that can go wrong and all the mistakes and difficulties I will encounter. This is what I wanted to have and again, thanks!
Please keep the ideas coming. All thought welcome!

Wow! So much has happened on this thread in a few days!!

I guess I had assumed the DIL was on board with this. I agree with the group that it could be dangerous to jump into this without her whole hearted approval.

I'm pretty sure I could hold a grudge against a mother-in-law that took over my wedding. Tread lightly. See what your son knows about this whole deal. Some times us girls complain the the guy about his mother.

Grammatjr, you have made some excellent suggestions. I love the idea of the ring bearers pillow. It would be an important part of the ceremony, but not the focal point. How about a "dressy" dress for the wedding rehearsal, or to wear on her honeymoon? At our quilt shop, women use wedding dresses for christening gowns, or a quilt for the christening. Both very important, but a less "critical" project for a beginner, and would be vey meaningful made from grandmothers' gowns!

The DIL and I work well together and I have stressed that she can say "NO" with not hard feelings at any point. She and I both by pass my son and believe me she can say no without any hesitation! I taught her well over the last 5 years!
The DIL wants to understand what I am talking about which is way I purchased the patterns and am asking for ideas from this site.
I have 2 years to work on this but we are going to bridal shows to see if her princess dress is out there. I would never ruin her day.

why don't you both go look at wedding shop,s and look around frist make it a day for both of you ,you can also buy her the wedding dress as a special gift to her from your heart,and use the other dress for other projects that other,s have said you like a purse or pillow or even a jacket ,also what season of year spring ,winter, fall or summer ,i would just buy her the wedding dress of her dream,s

I have learned to be very careful about making offers to buy or make things -
1) we have a limited budget, 2) I may not like or want to do whatever, 3) it's awkward to have to say "no" after having said "yes"

And why do I know this!