Making a Dress - Red Skull Lace Kimono

When it comes to kimono making I just concentrate on the fabric since the construction is the same for all of them.

Therefore when I saw this fabric for sale on a FB fabric selling group, you bet I was going to make a kimono out of it.

However the fabric is very fluid so I will need to take my time making this one.

So first thing first cutting the pieces.

Who would have thought this would be a challenge.  So many adjustments and then readjustments just to make sure everything is straight.  However I managed it and to help with identification I rolled each piece separately.

Time to begin sewing the back seam.  I don't really need to do this but I did it because it makes the kimono look correct.  However rather then cutting the main body piece in two as it is normally, I just cut up to the middle and then sew the 1cm back seam.  Less risk of cutting wonky.

It dawned on me as I was cutting the lace that there was not a lot of fabric to create the marks.  What am I going to do?  Well the solution is sewing in bright neon yellow thread at the points.  So time consuming but it is a lot better then trying to draw a chalk or water soluble ink line.

I have to admit I have not put all the marks needed but we will let that slide.  Yep winging it as I go along.

Still it is nice working with this lace.

I got very absorb making this kimono so not a lot inbetween photos but here is the finished product.

Now to marvel at the work.

Wedding dress - 9552 By Justin Alexander

Opps I forgot this week's wedding dress how forgetful I am.

We are all very familiar with the Grace Kelly's wedding dress and here is one that is almost a spitting image!  It is dress number 9552 by Justin Alexander.

9552 by Justin Alexander

What I love about this dress?

I would fall in love with this dress just for the detailing but what really tweaked my ears was the lace blouse.  Yes you heard right a lace blouse!  

Below is a picture of the dress without the blouse which is just a standard sweetheart neckline but in my opinion the blouse really makes the dress look stunning.  

Hmmm This is not for Me!


Okay with the blouse on, it maybe too modest for some brides and you could be mistaken for a giant lace doily.


And although I love sleeves, they are a mixed blessing.  Sometimes they can flatter your arms while other times they just show the world how big they are.  Overall I think this would work great for brides who are self conscious of their arms but there is a limit.  If you have very broad shoulders then the blouse may not work to your advantage.  

Wedding Dress - Pembroke by Anne Barge

I know the market is saturated with dresses that are white or ivory but one colour that I don't often see is gold!  

I suppose there reason for this is that gold isn't the most forgiving colours.  I remember my friend tried something yellow and just looked ill whereas for me yellow looked great!

Pembroke by Anne Barge

Why I love it!

Look at the amount of lace on the dress!  You are head to toe in gorgeous lace and it isn't overwhelming in anyway.  Sometimes you see lace being used just to make it look more fancy which is wrong.  Lace should be added to enhance the dress and therefore in my view, the underlayer should be kept as simple as possible to show off the lace.

And then there is the cap sleeves which are just cute and perfect for people who want to cover up the top of their arms.

Hmmm second thoughts?


As I mentioned above, gold can be very unforgiving for certain skin tones which is a shame.

Then there is the back of the dress, it isn't the lowest I have seen but never the less for you brides who can not go bra-less, this is not good.  However I am sure you can buy special underwear which will allow you to wear this dress.

Wedding dress Erika from Pronovias

Since my wedding back in October, I still have this craving for wedding dresses so to fulfil this desire I have decided that every week I am going to find a wedding dress that I like.

Therefore the first dress of the week for me has to be this one from Pronovias called Erika.

Wedding dress Erika from Pronovias

Why I love it!

Wow I love the lace on this dress!  If the lace on the dress isn't enough for you, this comes with a lace poncho which I think gives a lovely ethereal feel to the ensemble.

It also has a timeless classic feel because of the figure hugging design.

With that much lace, you can forget the veil!  A charming headdress will be enough to complete your outfit because you would not want a veil to cover all of the detail.

Hmmm so why wouldn't I buy it?

I have a nasty feeling that this style of dress is not very forgiving in the body department.  For example, being  only 5'2'', this dress would swamp me.  Then there is the figure hugging issue, unless you are going to be wearing control underwear on your wedding day, this will require a couple of months in the gym to tone your legs and arms.  

So what do you think of the dress?