About two weeks ago, I shared my teaser post about the Minerva Crafts Meet-Up ball gown. The only real hints I gave about my gown were that I copied Gwen Stefani, I showed most of the muslin and I gave you the pattern information. But now, it’s time to reveal it!
I’ve gotta say – this was a CHALLENGE to make! Mainly because we choose our kits back in April and a couple weeks after getting my fabric I found out that I’m pregnant! This is my first pregnancy and I had no idea what size I would end up being by the time the final garment would be finished. I wanted to make sure it would be tight but also accommodate for baby (or baby bloat) but still look still dashing.
This was the first time I’ve ever sewn with taffeta and sheer glittery fabric. Cutting the fabric was a huge pain and sewing it wasn’t fantastic either – but that’s what you get with slippery fabrics! I did serge all the edges after sewing them.
I wanted to make this dress because I love Gwen Stefani’s dress from the amfAR Gala back in 2011. She designed her own dress, along with Michael Angel and auctioned it off for over $125,000 for charity. Mermaid style dresses are always incredibly flattering and look gorgeous. Gwen’s dress:
I’d say I got pretty close. I had a hard time making this because of the insane morning (all day) sickness too. I had zero motivation to sew, or even get off the couch! I was constantly exhausted and nauseated. But, for all of that, I think I did a good job overall. I wish I would have made the bottom a bit more snug and mermaid-ish – but hey, at least I can walk in it!
I had a fit with the zipper. I installed an invisible zipper only to realize that it would get stuck halfway down and wouldn’t go any further. I kept trying and fighting with it but I ended up breaking the zipper. So in the end I got a regular zipper from my stash and did a lapped zipper instead. I think it actually turned out better.
Another fun (not really) issue I had was with my iron. Obviously you can’t use your iron on high heat with the sheer material or directly touch the iron to the material. I was using a cloth over the parts I was ironing down and all of a sudden I smell something and realize the bottom of the iron touched my fabric!!! It melted it!! You can’t really see it but I figured I’d admit to it and everyone can learn from my mistake:
i blame it on pregnancy brainI do like the pattern itself, it has many different options for endless dresses. I don’t really have anywhere to go in a fancy gown, but maybe I’ll make another one in the future. I want to thank my Mother-In-Law for letting me come over and letting me make her be my photographer. I know my faces aren’t the happiest but being nauseated and trying to look pretty is hard! I got my husband to join me for a photo, it’s too bad we didn’t have a tux that I could have forced him into.
I’m super bummed that I missed out on the meet-up but maybe one day I can get over there and say hello to everyone! Hope you guys had fun and keep posting all of your pictures and making me jealous! This little guy said he will be my date:
And as a bonus you can see my tiny baby bump … it may be hard to see since I’m against a black fireplace, but hopefully you get the point. I’m 13 weeks!
Wow your dress is beautiful! And very Gwen! Congrats on the pregnancy too 🙂
Thank you very much 🙂 It was A LOT of work!!
Congratulations! Your tiny baby bump is adorable, and that dress is pretty fab. It looks just like the inspiration! Don’t you love it when the final product looks just like the vision?
Thank you!! I have an itty bitty tiny bump LOL But still – it’s a bump 😉 I’m really glad it came out very similar. I was worried because it took me forever to make and so many muslins!!!
Stunning !!!
Sassy Sewing Bees https://facebook.com/sassysewingbees
Thank you!! 🙂
Wow, congratulations on your pregnancy and congratulations on such a fabulous dress, you’ll have to find some fancy places to go so you can wear it, it looks amazing, well done!
Thank you and thank you! I was telling my husband we need to go somewhere that I can wear this!
Awe you look beautiful!!
Thanks <3
Congratulations! Hopefully you’ll feel better soon. My nausea always stuck around until about 15 weeks…then it was smooth sailing.
And beautiful gown!
Thanks! It has gotten much better but I still get it here and there… during this photoshoot I was nauseated LOL… that’s probably why my face looks that way LOL
Amy you look gorgeous!! The dress is truly stunning!! Great job 🙂
Thank you Ashley! And thanks for listening to all my bitching about the slippery fabric! HAHA
Great copy of Gwen’s dress! I think you did a fantastic job. The fit is right on, too. Poor Guinness isn’t going to know what to do when he as to share you 😉
I’m going to bet you are having a girl. I didn’t leave the couch for almost 5 months w/ my daughter.
Thank you!! Guinness is going to be all kinds of upset! I’ll have to make sure he’s snuggled up next to me and the baby all the time, or that he gets extra Daddy attention <3 Poor little guy!! I have a feeling it's a boy - but we'll see in 3 weeks!!! Ekk!!
I Love this dress…you look wonderful in it and I LOVE the Baby BUMP….you do a great job with your sewing…just keep up the great work…I am sure 1 day soon you will have your own patterns…plus you can make Gwen baby clothes..lol I love You ..You have always made me proud of all you do..your Daddy would be all “smiles” : )
Thanks Mom 🙂 Love you too! Hopefully I’ll be making MY baby clothes soon enough… just gotta find out what it is LOL … so impatient 😉
Wow! The gown is stunning, as are you and your adorable baby bump!
Awe! Thank you <3
First of all, congratulations on your impending arrival!:) Your dress looks great (and you look fantastic), very good “knock-off”;) I *love* mermaid style dresses! Would you believe that last year I was planning a mermaid costume for Halloween and found out I was pregnant?? haha, I was little Red instead;) btw, I’m finally getting around to sewing my Minoru jacket (I don’t know if you remember, but I bought it the day I saw your posted your version).
All the best! Rikki:)
Thank you very much! That’s funny timing of your pregnancy – same issue as me! But at least the bump wasn’t too big and I could still fit 🙂 Yeah I remember – have fun with it. I really liked the pattern, it had lots of details that I didn’t think I was able to do on my own but the directions (and sewalong) helped a TON! Let me know how it turns out!
You did an amazing job on the dress and you look beautiful. Congratulation’s on the baby you look beautiful.
Awe! Thank you!
oooh it looks great. Such a shame you weren’t able to join us but you’re busy cooking up something special now 😉
Thanks! Yep… I’m brewing up a baby over here 😛 I seriously can’t wait to sew for him/her!!!!!!!!
Congratulations to you both (or three).
You really rock this dress and look better than Gwen.
Awe thank you!! 🙂