Wedding Dress Quilt Questions
 

Has anyone ever made a quilt from a wedding dress that they would like to share the pictures of? My BF's husband gave me her wedding dress and asked me to make a quilt out of it. But I am a bit stuck. I could use some inspiration.

Thanks in advance!!

No, I have never heard of anyone making a quilt out of a wedding dress. Looks like there are some examples on Pinterest:
https://www.google.com/search?q=quil...utf-8&oe=utf-8

Seems like you could follow the "Men's ties" directions and use Wedding fabric in a quilt. Since many tie are silk and slippery. It would make a beautiful neutrals quilt. I would think a wall hanging would be better than a throw or bedsize. Just my thoughts. I love it when new ideas come up, now where is my old dress?

Several years ago there was a beautiful collection of quilts made from wedding dresses at the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show. The dresses were all displayed indoors, in the clock shop. Later I saw a sad collection of wedding dress quilts for sale at a large quilt show. Those were going for almost nothing. I think there are many ways to approach this, depending somewhat on the style of the dress you have to work with.

I made it from my oldest sister's wedding dress for her. It was basically a whole cloth with the train appliqued and then other appliques made from other parts of her dress. I did (after this picture and advice from a mentor) go ahead and tack down the middle of the train.

This is definitely a heirloom quilt and isn't very usable because it so heavy and I used wool batting, so it is not washable. But it did turn out beautifully and she loved it. I made her cut up her dress and send it to me in pieces.

I googled "quilt from wedding dress" and many links came up. Perhaps you could find help there, also!

I've never heard of anyone making a quilt out of a wedding dress, but my daughter had a baptismal gown made out of hers. It's beautiful.

I agree with Luvspaper regarding using the lace as appliqués. I cut as many squares as possible from unadorned parts of the gown, then embellish these squares with appliqué and beading from the gown. The bodice or parts of the skirt may also provide suitable areas to be cut into squares to be used as cut. Be sure to reinforce any areas near the cuts which need be secured. These are generally for wallhangings or display as they are seldom suitable for laundering. I use a polyester batt and back the quilt with additional satin or the lining pieced to size. Quilt in the ditch or tack and add ribbon bows over the tacks. Quilts, Christening gowns, First Communion dresses, Christmas tree skirts, purses, and teddy bears are all projects I have done for customers. Families are always so delighted to see their heirloom gowns given a new life!

Just a little question, you said her husband gave it to you and asked for a quilt. Are you sure she goes along with this idea?

I love the idea of making blocks of crazy patchwork, you can overlay some pieces with organza and lace, if it's a satin dress some pieces can be reversed (the back of the fabric gives a different look). Beaded lace can be appliqued on after the block is made. Whatever you decide on make sure to show us some photos when this is done, won't you.

A labour of love to make and use the dress.

Good luck on making the quilt , I did make my children Christening gown from my wedding dress , lined it with a very soft cotton slip and then embroidered their names on it as they were christened , five new little ones have come in to our lives since the day we were married and have enriched our lives no end , we are Blessed .

[ATTACH=CONFIG]542731[/ATTACH]Here is a lap quilt I made for my friend's daughter after my friend passed. Friend had always insisted she didn't know where the wedding dress was...and it was found hidden away in her stored things. The dress had a spray pattern stain that I later figured out was champagne (never cleaned). I cut out the parts that were embellished and unstained and created sort of a crazy quilt using the train's curve to make it fan-shaped. Daughter was 30-something who liked pink and more contemporary design.

Never thought of making a quilt from my wedding gown. After storing my wedding dress for 30 plus years I decided I needed to do something with it as neither of my daughters wanted to wear it. When my oldest child was going to be married I cut the gown apart. Then I made a padded photo album from it. I added to the photo album pictures of the child from birth to the wedding. I had enough fabric to make one for each child's wedding. Still have a few pieces left. A special keepsake for them.

My thought too!

I agree with the above cautions! She might not be your BF any more if you go along with this without her knowledge. I'm sure the husband's heart is in the right place, but shudder to think how I might react to a surprise of this sort!

Is she aware her wedding dress is going to be cut up? Does she have any daughters that might want to wear it or redo it?

Thanks for all the great feedback, picture and questions!

Just to put everyone at ease (:thumbup:) my BF is not a very sentimental person and she was going to sell her wedding dress. Her husband is the more sentimental one and he didn't want her to. So that's when he decided to ask me to make it into a quilt.

My DIL asked me to make a quilt from her wedding dress for their young daughter. She had already cut it up, so I didn't have to deal with that. It wasn't a very ornate gown, so not lots of lace, trim, etc. Here is a link to my post about it.
http://www.quiltingboard.com/picture...s-t261491.html

Do you have an embroidery machine? there are some really beautiful crazy patch quilt blocks made in the hoop they have lovely stitching on them. Maybe if you knew her wedding colors you could into the quilt in embroidery. I have a good imagination and it is beautiful as a crazy patch already in my head:o. I make mine 8x8 blocks good Luck it sounds like a fun project

[QUOTE=PS Stitcher;7467312]Thanks for all the great feedback, picture and questions!

Just to put everyone at ease (:thumbup:) my BF is not a very sentimental person and she was going to sell her wedding dress. Her husband is the more sentimental one and he didn't want her to. So that's when he decided to ask me to make it into a quilt.[/QUOTE

Thanks for following up on this PS Stitcher... My husband is indeed more sentimental about most things than I am so it is easy for me to relate your BF's situation.

Interesting for me to follow this thread and read everyone's responses it's making me think twice about my sentimentality towards my dress and how I could possibly, re-purpose it to enjoy now, and not have it just stored away for our kids and or husband to determine what to do with it after I'm gone.

My sister-in-law wore my mother's dress when she & my brother married. It did not fit my niece for her wedding last Oct. Rather than store it again a cousin made 3 flower girl dresses for my great nieces to wear in the wedding. worked out great that the great granddaughters were wearing mother's dress. [ATTACH=CONFIG]542872[/ATTACH]. I brought home the leftovers to do something with someday.

My thoughts exactly!!

My Mom made a quilt from the scraps of my wedding dress and the scraps of my brides maid's dresses. The top is in storage but if I can locate the right box I'll try to share. We made all the dresses.

I had two baptismal gowns for my grand babies made out of my wedding dress, one for each of my daughters' families. After 30 years, I thought it was a better use of my dress than keeping it in the box.

My mother made a baby quilt out of my wedding dress for our 1st baby. She made it as a whole cloth quilt and the hand quilting that she and her friends did was fantastic. I wish I had a picture to share but our daughter has the quilt. It really was too slippery to use for a baby but it was a beautiful addition to the nursery.
Beautiful Baptismal gown KathDavis