#embellishment

[angelacostumery]

I have, quite seriously, made entire costumes in the length of time it took me to make this single fucking bow.

I'm not sure if it was worth the hours and destruction of my finger (thimbles are for the weak but regrettably my skin is weak too) but it is quite pretty, I guess.

the piece of lace for this was about eighty inches long. It matches the beading on the same trim used around the underbust.

this lace is made to be inset and has margins on either side that I used as seam allowance. it was sewn to a strip of faille with the right sides facing each other.

the faille was interfaced with strips cut to the width of the lace, so it would not extend into the seam allowance.

the edges were trimmed down with pinking sheers, then it was turned right side out.

I sewed sequins onto each edge first, one in each little "box" on the trim? I'm not sure how many there are but if you ask my fingers they would say way too many.

the beading was done next, I did this after because they are bulkier and the thread is more likely to catch on them if I sewed them on before the sequins.

this is a mix of pearls and glass beads, once again following the lace pattern to ensure even spacing.

I sewed the beads on with heavy-duty upholstery thread since they will be prone to snagging and I don't want any to fall off.

I spent like an hour trying to figure out how to make this bow look good. when I was finally happy with it I used pliers to crush all the glass beads in the center so it would be less bulky.

the center is a little piece of trim from my stash. I was originally going to use more of this on the project but then I just did a bunch of hand beading instead.

and there you go, a bow. this will go over the actual closure which will probably be twill tape tied in a far less attractive but more functional bow.

[ghw-archive]

Evening dress, Mark Mooring for Bergdorf Goodman, 1942

[aworldofpattern]

Galaxy Bride at Robert Wun Couture FW24

[texaschainsawmascara]

JW PEI - MAREN ARTIFICIAL CRYSTAL HEART SHAPED BAG - PINK

[aestheticjunkyard]

Giambattista Valli Fall 2024 Couture

[toyastales]

Chung Thanh Phong ss25 collection

[sluggoonthestreet]

Philomena once again finds herself bedecked by begonias.

[analife]

Heaven Gaia // Haute Couture - Fall 2020

[jackass-crafts]

random pocket embellishments

abandoned dog leash, shoelace, metallic and black soda tabs, metal studs, black cotton crochet thread

[busstop]

Ryan Yip explains what a fabulous resource for sewers of all kinds the Royal School of Needlework Stitch Bank is.

[ghw-archive]

Evening dress, Mark Mooring for Bergdorf Goodman, 1942

[aworldofpattern]

David Tennant at the 2024 BAFTA Television Awards, wearing custom embroidered suit by Joshua Kane.

[aestheticjunkyard]

Zuhair Murad Fall 2024 Couture

[toyastales]

Glitz and Glam

[pattyblom]

The Atelier fall 2024 'Luminous reverie' collection

[analife]

Zuhair Murad // Haute Couture - Fall 2023