Replies

1. 
   Becky-book | Apr 16, 2008 04:06pm | #1

   I would bead only the overlay.

   Since it is organza (and not lace?) I am assuming there is no pattern in the cloth to follow. You will need a pattern of some sort, a removable pen to mark it and a healthy dose of patience! Good luck to you!

   Oh, yes, source of pattern...a piece of lace you like, clip art off the web, tracing off the wall paper, make something up and mirror image trace it for symmetry, etc. There are "patterns" all over God's creation that we can copy! Just remember to keep it simple, beading is tedious work.

   Hope this helps,
   Becky

2. 
   sewchris703 | Apr 16, 2008 05:31pm | #2

   I'd bead just the chiffon.  Keep your stitchs on the loose side or you will pucker the chiffon.  I draw my bead pattern onto tissue paper or unprinted newspaper and then thread trace the outline of the pattern onto the gown, flipping the tissue paper to mirror image the pattern.  I then bead from a chart.  After the beadwork is done, I remove any basting threads that show.  For ideas, look at wedding gowns and other beaded gowns, coloring books, printed fabric, laces, charted knit and crochet patterns, even wallpaper designs.  It will take time, so start early.  For a comparasion, it can take me 20 hours to do a simple pattern on the front and back of a yoke.  A random scatterning of closly spaced beaded edging on the neck (3/8" wide) and sleeve hems (1 1/2" wide) can take 10 hours or more.  Random take me longer than a pattern.

   Chris

3. 
   Teaf5 | Apr 20, 2008 12:40am | #3

   Unless you are very experienced at hand beading on fabrics, you might want to consider a beaded trim or applique instead.  These exquisite pieces are intricate, gorgeous, and relatively inexpensive; plus, they are easy to place and attach to your gown.

   Beading a simple, small area on a cotton shirt or skirt takes me hours, even though I'm experienced and fast and actually enjoy the process, but I would never attempt it on a wedding gown--there's just too much to worry about. 

   What if the gown is soiled while being handled? What if the thread breaks at the wrong spot or I make a mistake?  What if I run out of a particular type of bead and can't get more?  What if I don't like the finished project?  What if I run out of time?

4. 
   CostumerVal | Apr 27, 2008 01:20am | #4

   I added beads to my wedding gown also.  I put it on my dress form and always kept it covered with a clean sheet and washed my hands before working on it.  The beads are heavy so it will make the dress hang straight.  Mine was very tight with a narrow straight skirt to my ankles, so it didn't matter to add weight to it.  I used the 2 needle method and couched them on.   If your gown is full you will lose that effect, and furthermore, you will need to have it hemmed up as the beads pulling on it will make it too long.  You do need to let them slack a bit as no one will see the slack but everyone will notice the puckers.  I started my dress about 6 months in advance and had time to bead my hat and shoes also.   I copied a piece of lace work on the collar for my design.  Here's one that'll get you,  After beading my flea-market wedding gown I took it to the cleaners and they said $240.00  They said they had to take all the beads off to clean it and then sew them back on.  Needless to say, the gown got hand washed in the bathtub and line dried on the dog run cable.  Took 3 days to iron it.  Yes, it was worth it!

   Val