Code Name: Temu (part 1)

 I got the absolutely worst quality dress on Facebook marketplace. It still had the tags on it when I took it off her hands. The woman I purchased it from told me that the sleeves just never fit right.  It doesn't really have a brand name, it said "warm regards" on the tag I snipped. It went through the wash, just fine as it's polyester. I was drawn to this dress to practice on a horsehair braid hem, and the sleeves. 

My very great sport of a model tried it on, it was for sure her size, but shocker, the sleeves didn't fit right! 

I asked her what she thought and she told me the sleeves where really uncomfortable, although the dress is nice, she was game to chop of the sleeves and make it a sweetheart strapless. This dress was obviously from the internet, and not top quality, and could only improve the dress.  We made a plan to chop off sleeves and work on fit. 

When I took this dress back off the hanger in my wedding lab at home it was bent up all weird. The boning was completely bent! I opened it up, of course fancy bagged lining but on the worst fabric, the boning is got to go! I am not sure it was even polyester-because I could curl it on my finger and then straighten it again. 

So I replaced all boning with 1/2" rigiline and silicone caps.  I removed the cups that were attached to the inside, they were freaking me out. (anyone see kermit the frog?)

I will add less freaky cups back in when finished. 

We have had a couple fittings since then, I haven't been taking pictures of my model, but it's coming along wonderfully.  Here are some progress pictures. I have taken off sleeves. Added panels, and then took them in, and then sewed breast darts. Now I am hand sewing lace over my alterations, and getting ready to do the hem.

This dress is named TEMU. It's the worst. It sure is pretty to look at, don't let that fool you when you are shopping for gowns, somethings you should try on in person, BECAUSE they aren't using good materials.

I have been learning so much on this one, and now it sits right on my model I can work on the horse hair braid hem.  Everyone say hello to TEMU.  

...to be continued.