My youngest DD just asked me to make her wedding dress into a quilt!
I've never heard of such a thing, but I've been googling and saw some pictures.
When did this start?
She's in her late 30's and done having kids (3 boys) so she figures no one will ever want to wear her dress in the future.
I guess it's a good idea but it'll break my heart.
We had so much fun and hunted high and low to find that dress, and she was gorgeous in it.
What do you think?
It'll be a VERY expensive quilt, if I do it.
Has anyone here ever made one?

Hi Karen,

I have never heard of this in the UK... but I am sure if you take on this project you will do a fantastic job.

If you decide to do it, I think it would be fantastic if you did a step by step with pictures for us to see!

Hugs

Caroline

I wouldn't know where to start. Maybe a design will come to you in your sleep. No, I haven't heard of this before but people do make memory quilts from clothes. Guess it would be the same science. $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
(Sorry, couldn't stop myself) :) :)

Boy, Dorothy.....$$$$$$$ is right....that's all I can think about!

You've gotta see this! Oh, it is breath-taking.
My search word on the web was wedding dress quilt. This is the first one I looked at, I will stop and let you look but you must see this.
http://www.quiltsbycindy.com/weddingdress.htm

Never heard of such a thing but now you have me thinking! I only have boys too so no one will want to wear my dress either. Plus, I made it myself and it's all cotton!

I just seen someone made a quilt out of prom dresses But sure can't remember who or when it was as I was looking at all of the "Recent Topics".
A satin & lace (i'm guessing) quilt would be BEAUTIFUL!

Ohh that is a beautiful quilt, isn't it?
And doing it crazy quilt-style is a good idea.
Darn you, Dorothy!! Now I almost Want to make it....lol

I don't know anyone who did this either and I have been quilting and owned a quilt shop for years. But I think it is a fantastic idea. Either that or make a christening gown for your first grand child. What is the point of it sitting in a box for years and years. Marge

Yeah, I know. Sorry. Couldn't help myself.
I think it is beautiful, I would have to make a complete mock quilt from one of her not $$$$$$$ dresses and then follow those footsteps in making the wedding dress. There will be someone on the quilting board who will have done a wonderful job on one of these and they will coach you and WE WILL ALL BE WATCHING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have heard of this before, my daughter wanted me to make her dress into a quilt, but kinda put her off years ago,because I have never seen one I have made alot of quilts but the dress quilt never done good luck!

I would have to be a fantastic quilter before I ever even considered this! $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

But what a prize you'd have when it is finished instead of sitting in a box!

Making a christening gown for grandkids would be a great idea!!
But all my grandkids are already here (at least that's what my DDs tell me....).
Too bad. Now that's an idea I like.

Maybe you could talk her into ring pillows to be saved for her son's weddings.

Huh. Never heard of this. I have my wedding dress stored in the attic....

wow, can't wait to see the quilt

I have never heard of this either. Sure would be hard to cut up a beautiful dress with all those memories....

Here is another board member who was going to do the dame thing, maybe send a PM and see how it is going ?

http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-24602-1.htm

Also if you do a search there are a few topics here about wedding dress quilts :wink: Keep us posted :lol:

I know it is being done but....I would be heart sick if my DD wanted to have her gorgeous gown cut up and made into a quilt! Her gown had special lace ponsettia's along the edge and along the long train and lots of sm pearls and crystals. I would really be sick. We had the gown preserved and put into a beautiful wood box that can hang on the wall in a dk cherry frame. IMHO it looks much nicer there than it would ever look in a quilt.

I like the idea of ring bearer pillows, and why can't the christening gowns be for "her" grandchildren? :D:D:D

Well I actually am totally intrigued by wedding dresses made into quilts. I have really wanted to make one. But of course I didn't want to cut into my own dress. I bought a really really pretty one off craigslist. I bought it from a lady that said she had over a 1,000 bucks into it and she even had the receipts to prove it. I bought it for 50 but I didn't have the heart to tell her that I bought it just to chop it up. Anyways it has been sitting for a few months since I am not too sure on what I wanted to do. The dress I bought bustled up. So I bustled it and then cut out the train and the sides of the dress. Then I cut out all of the extra material from the train that wasn't part of that top layer. And that kept all the beading everything all together and pretty. I want it to definitely have that wedding look/feel. I plan on putting the bustled train piece in the bottom center. I then bought some black material that was tux like. I actually wanted to chop up a tux too but I couldn't find one cheap enough. But I plan on doing a black and white simple something with it. That's as far as I have gotten. I'm not sure on what to go from there. Even though I only spent 50 on it I still am very hesitant to cut too quickly. I say if your daughter wants you to make her a quilt out of it make a quilt out of it. Why not? That way she can have a beautiful quilt to remind her of one of the happiest days of her life everyday. Look on craigslist. Where I live there were hundreds listed. See if you can find a pretty dress that you like that is similar. Then you can make a practice one and test drive it out on someone else's dress. Or you can buy wedding dress material at Jo ann's. But I wanted something with the beads and lace and such. Either way you can get a feel of what it is like to work with that type of material and get an idea of what you both like. Good luck.

I've never made one from a wedding dress, but have made many bridesmaid dresses for my DD's friends. I always made the bride a quilt using fabric from the bridesmaid dresses. In fact, my DD would love me to make her a crazy quilt using all the bridesmaid dresses from the weddings she has been an attendant in, and from her HS formals. I hope to get around to it someday.

What a neat idea. Check this one out

http://www.cindyneedham.com/blog/200...isa-calle.html

I still have my dress but it is sore point and i can't see ever letting my girls wear it -- i always think about just giving it away but can't quite bring myself to do it -- beside DH got really mad at me last time for even thinking about getting rid of it. Perhaps crafting it into something else -- ring pillows or baby gowns or a quilt is a way for me to keep it.

Wow what a beautiful quilt.

I was thinking the other day I should get my dress out from 35 plus years ago and cut her up and do this. Of course it is not as beautiful as the dress in the pic, but hey, I made it so I can take it apart and do with it what I want. My DD is wayyyy too big to wear it, and no one else ever will. Might as well.

Go for it. Better than sitting in a box in the attic.

Ring bearer pillows for her sons' weddings? That's a very good idea too.
The DD who had this nutty idea has all boys so if I made 3 pillows there might be enough for a christening gown. Her dress was very straight.

Who would of thought!! Saw the links everyone provided and they're absolutely beautiful!! I do like the idea of ring pillows and christening gowns. What a great hierloom!!

I am doing a crazy quilt with parts of my daughters wedding dress and other material that means something to DD and SIL. They will have it for their 10th anniversary.

I agree that the quilts are gorgeous, but how would the quilt be used? As a wall hanging? Bed throw? It would certainly not be something that would be washable??? Just curious.

I made my wedding dress and cut it down for the christening robe but nothing like this. Thanks for sharing.

It would be just a wall hanging or maybe put over the back of a rocker etc. I doubt if she'd actually want to use it for anything. I think she just wants to get it out of the storage box.

Maybe you should take it all apart at the seams and just look at it for a while.....when you see the size, shape of available pieces and the pattern of beadwork and lace in the pieces maybe a design will just come to you.
Even if you made ring bearer pillows, there would still be so much dress left to make a quilt.
I think that is an awesome idea!
Carol B

If you wanted to practice before making the quilt for the dress of a qazillion $$$$$$$$$$$$$$, why not buy a wedding dress from a re-sale shop????? I've even seen them at Goodwill shops.

Yes I'd definitely do that.
But I really really really don't want to cut up her beautiful dress, so I'm going to drag my feet for a while and hope this all blows over. :?

I've never heard of a wedding dress quilt, but why let it rot in a box forever. I turned mine into a formal for lodge degree work and used the train for a blouse. After spending all of that money, why not get some more good out of all those


Why not a quilt? What good will it do for anyone if it is in a box forever? This way she can rethink her wedding day for the rest of her life. I turned mine into a formal for lodge degree work and the train turned into a blouse. Good luck on your decision. I'm certain it will be a beauty.

I did one for my daughters best friend. I loved the way it turned out took me a long time but was well worth it. Sorry but the pictures are on some disk somewhere. Had to get them off my old computer and I have no idea what disk they are on now.

I understand that it is "traditional" to make a Christening Gown from the wedding dress.

The idea of making ring Pillows for your son's weddings sounds good. Keeping all this expensive fabric in the Family is the whole idea.

I'd try a photo transfer as a block on the quilt, or as part of the label on the back.

I was told that even if you pay lots of $ to get your wedding dress "preserved" ie. cleaned and placed in a hermetically sealed box, you may have been swindled. In some cases, people opened the seal and found there were other fabrics in the box with a facade of their own wedding dress showing in the "window". Of course, opening the sealed box destroys part of the Preservation Process, so you may never know what is really inside your box, if you go this route.

The quilt concept at least gets the fabric out to be enjoyed.

Just s few comments from a lurker.

Susan
NJ

Wow, that is beautiful. I love the way she did it.

I am going to use my wedding dress, which my mom made for me, to make a baptismal dress for my granddaughter when she is 8. Then I will feel like my mom got to be a part of a GGD's life, even tho she is gone.

My Mother made my wedding gown which my daughters didn't wear but when the time came for a grandchild chistening, I made it into a dress and hat for him for the occasion. I enjoyed the reuse of my gown and my daughter was thrilled.

I helped make a wedding dress quilt for a fund raiser with my crazy quilting group. People donated old wedding dresses then the squares were pieced and sent out to the participants to embellish. Finally the completed square were assembled to make quilts. The finished work was displayed and sold at a breast cancer fund raiser. http://www.makingmemories.org/gallery.html