Wedding Day 1978, by Genniewren Designs, is a bridal pattern based on a photograph of a dress featured in a British sewing magazine, published in, you guessed it… 1978!
The princess line, panelled dress is simple, yet elegant. It is fully lined and features a scoop neckline, long sleeves, and a center back invisible zipper. There is a brush train for a bride and a straight hem version for the bridesmaid.
What gives this pattern its charm is the lace cape overlay.
For the bride, the long lace cape gives the effect of a train from the shoulders. The cape is edged in lace and has ruching at the front for ease of movement. The center back closes with buttons to the midpoint, and thereafter the lace is seamed together. A shorter option of the cape is included for the bridesmaid's dress. This is a less "fabric-hungry" version that would be equally charming for the bride.
The original magazine photographs did not show a veil. The bride wore her hair in a bun and tucked flowers into her hair at the back and sides. It was noted that a veil would take away from the dramatic train effect of the lace cape.
The Juliet-style cap headdress is era-appropriate. Juliet caps were a 1970s fashion staple and were worn casually as well as for formal and bridal occasions, depending on the fabrics used and the trim and decoration applied. The Juliet-cap style headdress included in this pattern features an inner frame made from buckram or pelmet-weight home dec sew-in interfacing. The outer covering of the cap is the fabric left over from making the dress, but you could add a lace layer on top if you wished. The cap is made from one pattern piece, with darts at the back and sides to enable the cap to fit without a wire edging. The cap is edged in lace, and fabric flowers are attached to the back.
As a bonus feature, this pattern also includes a guide to working with lace fabrics, including information about different types of lace and a tutorial section on seam options and finishes for lace or sheer garments.
FABRIC RECOMMENDATIONS:
- The dress is designed for medium-weight bridal or evening-wear fabrics, such as crepe-backed satin, shantung silk, taffeta, silk dupioni or brocade. - Cotton lawn, batiste, or a fine woven polyester/cotton blend fabric is suggested for the lining.
- The cape is designed for all-over lace fabric. A small motif pattern works best for dolls. You may wish to "fussy cut" lace fabric with a larger motif, but you will need extra fabric to match any obvious patterns. - Venise lace trim is recommended to edge the lace cape and the Juliet-style cap. - You will also need buckram or home dec heavyweight non-fusible interfacing for the shell of the cap.
Supplies Needed:
- 3/4 yard of 44" wide satin fabric for the dress with the train, OR 1/2 a yard of 44" wide main fabric for the straight hem option dress.
- 3/4 yard of 44" wide lining fabric for the dress with the train, OR 1/2 a yard of 44" wide lining fabric for the straight hem option dress.
- 2 yards of 18" wide or wider all-over lace fabric for the bride's cape, or 11" x 30" for the bridesmaid's cape.
- The Juliet-style cap can be cut from the leftover fabrics used for the dress. If you are making the cap separately, you will need 7" x 10" pieces of main fabric and lining fabric.
- A 12" or longer invisible zipper for the back closure of the dress.
- 9 small (1/4" – 3/8", 6-8 mm) shank style buttons for the bride's cape, OR 11 buttons for the bridesmaid's cape.
- Venise lace trim – 4 yards for the bride's cape and cap; 2 yards is sufficient for the bridesmaid's cape and cap.
- Small fabric flowers for decorating the back of the cap.
- 7" x 10" buckram or home dec heavyweight sew-in (non-fusible) interfacing for the cap shell.
Skill Level: Intermediate
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