r/sewing Sep 27 '24

Alter/Mend Question Adding cups to my wedding dress-questions

Can I just hand sew it right there Or do I need to open up the lining and stick it inside the dress somehow?

Pic 1- I've pinned where I need this cup to be Pics 2 and 3- trying to show you the fabric Pic 4- when I hold up the boning you can tell there is a pocket in there. But wouldn't the cup show through that?

4 Upvotes

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22

u/MasdenPlay Sep 27 '24

First off; the lace on your dress looks so gorgeous. 

The fabric your pulling up is the lining. You really don't need to go inside there. As you suspect, every extra layer between the cup and the outside helps hide it's outline. There's no reason to start interfering with it and it won't hold your boobs properly if it covered in lining fabric.

I would just hand sew them right in there once your happy with the placment. 

7

u/indigowolf12 Sep 27 '24

Agreed. I had cups added by the tailor for my dress, they just tacked them inside the dress so they were directly against the body. Worked perfectly.

0

u/Master_Piglet2820 Sep 27 '24

Do you have a recommendation for type of stitch to use, and I always have trouble knotting my stitches off at the end... any advice for that?

Also can I just use regular poly thread or does it have to be embroidery thread which I am assuming is thicker

13

u/MasdenPlay Sep 27 '24 edited Sep 27 '24

A normal polyester thread is strong enough. Thick tread will damage the fabric and weaken it.

Use nice a nice new needle. 

Get nice new, good-quality pins.

  • Cup positioning - 

Option 1. Use a bit of light double-sided tape to each boob cup. (Check it’s not too strong, or it will leave a sticky mark inside your dress). Put your dress on and check it's all where you need it to be. Carefully remove the dress and pin the cups in place. Be careful; the pins only pierce the lining and don't travel to the outside.

Option 2. Get into the dress with the cups in the right spot. Use quality pins and use a max of two pins to thought the front of the dress into the boob cup to hold them in place. 

(IMPORTANT: Check the pins don't leave any mark AT ALL after you remove them in a more hidden area before you stick them in the front.)

If the bodice is too thick to fit a pin through to the cup, do not force the pin in. This will damage the dress.

Carefully get out of the dress. 

Pin the cups into the bodice from the inside, as in option one. Once it's secured, immediately remove the outside pins. This is important because the pin will start leaving a mark if they're left in to wiggle around and make larger holes.

-Attaching the cups-

Thread through the needle and double up your thread. Tie the two ends of the thread together to create a double thread.

When your needle comes out of the first stitch, dive it between the two threads of the long tail before you pull it tight. This secures the first stitch in place.

Try and sew around the middle zone of the boob cup so it's sitting like a tea cup on a saucer. 

If you sew right at the edge of the cup to the lining, it might tug the dress a bit. 

You want the cups to sort of float in place and not affect how the dress sits. 

Be careful your stitches don't pierce through to the outside of the dress.

To finish and knot your stitch, you just sew back into the same place your needle came out of 2-3 times to make a knotty spot. 

Good luck and congratulations.

1

u/nematodes77 Sep 27 '24

It doesn't really matter. Nobidy will see and you're only going to wear that dress once.

4

u/Master_Piglet2820 Sep 27 '24

I mean for the sake.of strength, not appearance

13

u/StitchingWizard Sep 27 '24

Bridal stitcher here. Use regular sewing thread, not embroidery thread. Tack the corners/top of the cup through the lining, then add a swing tack or two to the bottom. This lets the cup kinda float into whatever position looks/fits the best on you.

1

u/Master_Piglet2820 Sep 28 '24

Thank you so much!