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Bridal Couture: Fine Sewing Techniques for Wedding Gowns and Evening Wear
Create a fantasy! Susan Khalje guides readers through the principles and techniques of designing, constructing, and embellishing wedding gowns and evening wear. Ideal for the bride-to-be or seamstress. Learn how to choose the right fabric, work with lace, or problem solve tricky construction issues.
145 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 1997
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
February 6, 2017
Wow! WOW! Who cares what decade this was published in - whether the styles depicted float your boat or not, this book is invaluable to anyone wanting expert information on fashion fabrics - how they behave, play with others, and need to be worked with - and on couture construction for fine gowns. Absolutely worth the price of obtaining this out of print resource. Pair it with an expert comprehensive resource on fitting commercial patterns and a good resource on basic construction techniques, and you are set to create a perfect gown.
Read this before you buy your fabrics, as it will influence what you want to use. Also realize that you will buy more fabrics, and often more yardages, than the directions give on the lists if you are basing your creation on a commercial pattern.
This level of seamstressing would likely be overwhelming for the majority of beginners, however, if one were very determined and finely detail-oriented, adept at making accurate seams that don't pucker, not afraid of taking plenty of time (I'm talking weeks and weeks and weeks) and using practice pieces, go for it!
For the seamstress who only wants to utilize some couture approaches with common construction techniques, this is also a terrific resource.
I only wish all the photos were expandable and ultra clear. Some of them are difficult to identify the tiny detail that is meant to be shown.
Read this before you buy your fabrics, as it will influence what you want to use. Also realize that you will buy more fabrics, and often more yardages, than the directions give on the lists if you are basing your creation on a commercial pattern.
This level of seamstressing would likely be overwhelming for the majority of beginners, however, if one were very determined and finely detail-oriented, adept at making accurate seams that don't pucker, not afraid of taking plenty of time (I'm talking weeks and weeks and weeks) and using practice pieces, go for it!
For the seamstress who only wants to utilize some couture approaches with common construction techniques, this is also a terrific resource.
I only wish all the photos were expandable and ultra clear. Some of them are difficult to identify the tiny detail that is meant to be shown.
January 9, 2014
Susan's couture techniques were so helpful for me when creating my daughter's wedding gown. I especially like her section on hand sewing stitch guide. It is a go to, when I need a refresher.
August 2, 2024
I can sew a wedding dress.... Right?
February 24, 2022
The portfolio of wedding gowns is for the most part outdated wedding gowns but they do contain a decent amount of details. The Fabric section goes over dress fabrics as well as lining and underlining. This comes with a really nice section on lace, working with lace, choosing lace as well as dyeing lace.
The construction is taught via diagrams which I detest for the most part and I do not think the section on bustling did the technique justice. I think more understructures should have been present. Some wedding gowns have Major cages and padding that should have been discussed.
Here my thoughts on the book. To advanced for a beginner, not enough new information for advanced, intermediate may get use from it but it will not have a long shelf life. I do not think diagrams are a great way to disseminate this level of information and the diagrams were sparse or rather there were not enough diagrams to adequately show "How" to complete the technique. You are better off getting a wedding dress pattern and following the instruction as opposed to getting this book.
You can purchase the book here on SusanKhalje website as a PDF. Susan Khalje is a wealth of information but this specific book just did not do it for me. So is it worth it? No.
Lack of clarity on how to complete techniques
Outdated Gowns
Lack of understructures
The construction is taught via diagrams which I detest for the most part and I do not think the section on bustling did the technique justice. I think more understructures should have been present. Some wedding gowns have Major cages and padding that should have been discussed.
Here my thoughts on the book. To advanced for a beginner, not enough new information for advanced, intermediate may get use from it but it will not have a long shelf life. I do not think diagrams are a great way to disseminate this level of information and the diagrams were sparse or rather there were not enough diagrams to adequately show "How" to complete the technique. You are better off getting a wedding dress pattern and following the instruction as opposed to getting this book.
You can purchase the book here on SusanKhalje website as a PDF. Susan Khalje is a wealth of information but this specific book just did not do it for me. So is it worth it? No.
Lack of clarity on how to complete techniques
Outdated Gowns
Lack of understructures
May 13, 2014
Wonderful book detailing the steps to complete a gown. The number one go to when making a wedding dress. That said, the dresses pictured are extremely dated and certain explanations I wish I could have more details.
July 6, 2012
The styles are unsurprisingly dated, but the techniques are solid. If you are sewing formalwear, you will find this useful.
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October 11, 2012This is definitely a must have to your collection of books if you make or design bridal or evening wear. Love it.
October 28, 2019
Are you making your own wedding dress? Then definitely start with reading this book. It’s full of awesome, simple tips on how to construct the dress. There is a lot of knowledge about fabrics and lace. And it explains step by step how to make it. It really helped me in understanding how to build up the layers of the dress.
November 19, 2012
I loved this book. It is very resourceful and detailed.
July 27, 2011
Good tips but dated
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews