Ruched Strapless Dress – The Making of, Part II

More progress on the bodice:

bodice lining w/dress hanging loops

sewn bodice with chiffon underneath pinned to lining

flip side, showing the boned lining pinned to bodice

finished bodice with boned lining

Next, sewing and attaching the skirt. Prom’s in 13 days!

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The Making of a Strapless Ruched Chiffon Dress

Erica wanted a short ivory ruched chiffon dress for her prom. She emailed me this photo and asked if I could make something similar.

So, with that in mind, I went on a little shopping adventure. There had been a recent article in Vogue Patterns magazine showcasing fabric shops in the metro DC area that have great selections in quality fabrics. My mother still lives in the area, so I decided to take a little visit and check out Curran Fabrics in McLean, VA. What a great little shop filled with beautiful high quality fabrics! I was thrilled to find out there was a sale going on, but it was bittersweet since the shop is going out of business. I found a luxurious ivory silk chiffon that I knew would be perfect. I decided the foundation of the dress would be ivory duchesse satin with a matching lining.

Here are the photos of the beginning of construction:

ruffle strip

satin bodice base

bodice with ruching and ruffle

unlined bodice on Belinda

The first photo shows the ruffle strip before it is attached. Next is the bodice base in duchesse satin; then the unlined bodice with the ruffle attached on the table. And finally, the unlined bodice on Belinda. The next post will show the boned lining attached to the bodice, giving it shape and allowing the ruffle to stand up.

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