Welcome back to Melva Loves Scraps and the Pieces of My Life Sew Along!
We are halfway through this sew along event... With each passing day (and each block) we are making new memories...
Are you keeping up with the blocks? How about your memory book?
This block is a Large Spool, and measures 12-1/2", unfinished. There are several bias edges so you may want to spray starch your fabric to avoid the pieces from getting stretched allowing the block to be a little wonky.
As our wedding day approached, I remember going shopping for a wedding dress with my bestie/Maid of Honor. Jamie was married in June and I was right behind her in August. I found one that I really liked at a department store in Pueblo. When I talked to Mom about purchasing one, she told me she wanted to make my dress and was willing to and planning to make my dress.
We made a trip to the local fabric shop and selected the pattern, fabric, lace, ribbon and pearl beads.
I wore a long white gown of Contessa, overlayed with ditto dots. Pearls accented the fitted bodice and sweetheart neckline, which was edged with flounce lace. The gown featured short puff sleeves of ditto dots, gathered with elastic to form a ruffle, accented with pearls.
The gored skirt flowed into a cathedral length train.
My veil was a fingertip length pouf veil, edged with lace and decorated with pearls. The headpiece was decorated with rose motifs, pearls and white sequins.
Two years later, after the birth of our first daughter, my Mom made a Christening dress with some of the remaining fabric of my wedding dress.
I look forward to being able to make some special dresses for our granddaughters when they are ready to be baptized. There is still fabric from my wedding dress, and I have fabric from Heather's dress. There is enough from both that could be used for at least a portion (the bodice portion?) of the three dresses that will be needed.
Now is the time to get your pattern... head over to Payhip to find the Large Spool pattern. But before you go...
I have seen many clever wedding dress upcycling options, a Christmas Tree Skirt, for example... I have also heard of a group that will accept donations of wedding dresses to make "Angel Gowns" for still born or pre-mature babies that don't survive. What a beautiful idea...
Have you passed on your wedding dress?
Have you repurposed your dress?
Leave a comment... I'd love to hear from you!
Keep Piecing,
Melva
PS: If you would like to receive the link for the memory book pages that accompany this quilt via the newsletter, send me an email and I will add you to the list. If you are interested in the previous pages, they are available in my payhip store for a small fee. My email address is MelvaLovesScraps@NolanQualityCustoms.com
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I love your story, and the fact your Mom made that beautiful dress is mind-boggling. Was it anything like the first one you picked out in Pueblo? I still have my wedding dress, 55 years later, and it is pretty brittle, The big regret of my Mom and me was that we did not store it properly. No one cares about that dress but me, so I have it in my sewing closet to repurpose it. Thanks for the story and the block pattern!
ReplyDeleteHow special that your mom made your dress. I do still have my dress but like Linda we never stored it properly. I have no idea what condition it is in as haven't had it out in over 20 years.
ReplyDeleteThe spool block is so appropriate for this theme, Melva! My mom also made my dress - back then she could (and did) sew anything. I do still have my dress, hanging in the closet! I've thought about making something quilted out of it, but can't bear to cut into it. Looking forward to getting started on this block, as well as continuing on the quilting of my first section!
ReplyDeleteMy dress was ordered from JCPenney's. My sister actually went out and found me one and the bridesmaid dresses as I was laid up in the hospital with kidney stones (not planned). She stayed within my budget and I loved the dress. I no donated the dress to a group in town that provides wedding dresses, prom formals, etc. to those who cannot afford one.
ReplyDeleteI loved reading your story! I bought my wedding dress, but altered (long distance) my daughter’s dream dress. She tried one on ($1400), then found it gently used for $250. It was a 12 and she is a 6; making it would have been easier. My youngest daughter just got married just two weeks ago, and she bought her dress as well, as she lives across the country, so I made her lingerie out of my wedding dress.
ReplyDeleteWonderful stories! My wedding dress just went to Goodwill. It was a short dressy evening dress, lots of sparkle for the fresh 35yo me. My son has no need for it...I can't wear it again and in the last "downsize" it went away.
ReplyDeleteMy mom, grandmother, future mother in law and myself made my wedding dress. It was fun to have so many hands stitching at various phases of the process. I have not repurposed it and it is boxed. I loved reading your story!--TerryK@OnGoingProjects
ReplyDeleteAaah such a sweet heartwarming story, Melva. How fortunate you were that your mom made your dress for you. Such lovely photos of you and your family too. Love the little Christening gown- how precious .
ReplyDeleteHow special that your mom made your dress - and that you have fabric to pass on. I love this!
ReplyDeletemy dress is in a box someplace in the basement.... hmmmm
Hi Melva, what a lovely dress! I made my own short blue dress out of very slippery fabric. Of course I made it at the last minute and a couple of days before the wedding I had to take it out...I couldn't breathe! I also forgot to hem the sleeves, so my mother hemmed it (rather badly because she was nervous!) I really like the large spool block. Thanks for linking up to Free Motion Mavericks.
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