Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Bridesmaid Dress --> Anniversary Gift!

First, I have to say, THIS WAS NOT MY IDEA.  It's a great idea, wonderful actually... but so, NOT MINE.  All props go to Cousin B., who stood up in a wedding last summer, and came up with a great use for her bridesmaid dress after-the-fact!  Cousin B is also a reader of this blog, so leave your compliments/questions in the comments for her to see!
Here is the dress: a lovely, tea-length, sea foam shantung with navy ruched cumberbund.  I carefully cut into the dress, using nearly all of the skirt, to make 4 rectangles approx. 14"x18" (enough for 2 pillows).  I used the navy cumberbund from the just the front, since the back was seamed.  I cut it lengthwise into 2 equal strips, to re-gather, and decorate the pillow front.  Here's what I had left after cutting.  (Sorry, Cousin B, I hope that isn't too painful of a picture to look at.  But, it sure was fun tearing into and inspecting the construction!)

I hooped the shantung (along with tear-away stabilizer), and embroidered the happy couple's initial's and wedding date in navy thread.  I hemmed the long edges of the navy strips, then gathered and reattached the strips next to the embroidery.  I stitched the front and back (plain) together, slid the pillow form inside, and hand-stitched it closed.
This one will be given as an anniversary gift, and the other will decorate Cousin B's couch and be a wonderful keepsake of a memorable day.  Great idea, Cousin B, I hope your friends love it!

I have another "important dress" reconstruction to do, but will leave you guessing until I reveal more details soon!  I love to keep you guys guessing...

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

What a super great idea!!! I know brides try to pick dress that you "can wear again", but who really does? Now we don't have to have a closet full of dresses we never wear and get a great keepsake.

KID, MD said...

That is a fabulous idea, and you did a great job executing it.

Bunny said...

This is a very clever recycle. I can't think of anyone who ever wore one of those dresses again. What a great first anniversary gift!

glorm said...

Wow, what a great idea. I lucked out once when a bride said we could wear a bridesmaid dress if we had worn it in a wedding previously, and I had just such a dress.

BeeBee said...

What a nice idea to reuse a dress that probably would never see the light of day alone. Beautiful

Angela said...

That is a great idea!! The pillow is beautiful!

Bethany said...

It's official - the bride loves it, and sent a pic to her mom this morning! She felt obligated to make her bed this morning so she could display it. She was shocked when she got it and saw what it had been and what had been done with it.

As far as the idea, I knew the fabric was too gorgeous (and expensive!) to not use for something. I was having coffee with a girlfriend one day, talking about bridesmaid dresses, and this idea just popped out of my mouth - I'm not sure it was a thought at all!

Thanks for the gorgeous execution - you made one very happy newlywed and made one bridesmaid into a hero! ;-)

Cousin B