Hints for making Hermione’s yule ball dress?

Question by : Hints for making Hermione’s yule ball dress?
In the coming year for my final year in school, I have decided to make (in a different colour of course) my graduation dress for my design practical. The dress I’ve picked is the one seen in the 3rd movie installment of Harry Potter which Hermione wears in the ball scene. I am a novice at sewing clothing and only have some experience in quilting. I know I may seem somewhat ambitious but I think if I bust my gut and master the required techniques for this dress and with a bit of help I could pull it off. I’ve looked at the dress in detail and gathered that it is made of silk charmeuse and silk chiffon, both of which are difficult fabrics to work with. And the skirt is comprised of circular flounces/ruffles.I’m just wondering if there is anybody here who has any hints or tips with making this dress and maybe some adivce that may help me in the process of making this gown.

http://media.photobucket.com/image/hermiones%20ball%20gown/JJ9437/Yule%20Ball/gofpromo-hermione14.jpg

Best answer:

Answer by kay
I would build this dress on a bustier foundation, just like I would a strapless. That’s a pretty major undertaking for someone who is a newbie, particularly when coupled with hemming semicircular flounces of chiffon.

What is the experience level of the person who’s supervising this project? Has s/he experience with taking young novices through a complex dress in difficult fabrics? The very first thing I’d do would be to talk it over with your teacher.

The second thing I’d do would be to buy a yard of silk chiffon and start practicing making and hemming semicircular flounces. (Alternatively, polyester or nylon chiffon, cut with a hot knife, does not need hemming).

Some helps for you: http://www.cascadelayers.com/thot_tool.htm
http://books.google.com/books?id=Yoj3gJJpP60C&printsec=frontcover&dq=colette+wolff&source=bl&ots=goib1XC5PI&sig=zxfx6_ZH9GWdnMPOuO0um1Zwo2I&hl=en&ei=dlMVTe7MJ5SosQOnycGxAg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=8&ved=0CDUQ6AEwBw#v=onepage&q=flounce&f=false
http://www.threadsmagazine.com/item/6621/fluid-fabric-challege-chiffon-tutorial
Hidden Support by Susan Khalje Threads #145 OCT/NOV 2009 30

Oh, and cut all your fabrics with paper underneath to stabilize and maintain the grainlines as you cut.

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