My Crocheted Wedding Dress!

 

So, I haven't blogged in ages but it seems everyone wants to hear about my wedding dress! I wasn't planning to make so much noise with it, but I'm glad it was a hit. Thrilled, in fact.

Thank you Jesus!

(The photos in this post are not the best quality, because they were taken with cell phones, in not-so-excellent lighting conditions. Make una manage abeg).

First, I'll talk about the dress that started this all:

I've been crocheting since I was a kid. Mummy taught me. It was one of her sources of income at a time, and she roped me in. I'm grateful for that. When my god-sister (her dad is my godfather, and mine is hers) had her beautiful little girl, I made this Peach-colored number, with the help of some photos I found on Google. I needed a reminder to make the pineapple shape though, and I found that on the internet. 

I posted this on Instagram and the response was really encouraging, for sort-of newbie instagram-er I was. I thought I would go ahead and make myself a crochet dress - lace-looking, knee-length, fancy, for a nice dinner the boo would take me to... That's how it all started. 

While trying to find a pattern for a crochet wedding dress, I came across a post about this lady who crocheted her wedding dress; we can call her my inspiration. Then, I did a sketch to guide myself, and I took my measurements too, to keep me on track. 

The sketch.

I planned to make a mannequin in my body shape but I couldn't wait; excitement! Very quickly, a dinner dress became my wedding dress. Unfortunately, I don't have very good photos of 'the process' because my brothers refused to help me take photos; they said I had to keep it a surprise. I had to do what I could with my phone, (a flashlight sometimes), and a mirror. I would crochet a bit, try it on, take some photos, and continue.

        

I started making the dress in April, I think, or May (???) of 2015, I don't remember; but I finished it in October. I did my crocheting in the evenings after work, during the weekends, during long trips, etc; although there were a few months in between when I didn't do anything at all. At a point it became too heavy to be lugging around so I could only work at home. 

I tweaked it a few times, added sleeves, removed sleeves, made the back very low and then very high... It was such a journey but I loved every moment of it. I took it to my ride-or-die, designer of life Omowunmi Adebayo of Wunmmie's Couture to sew the dress that went underneath it. She did such an excellent job; I plan to repurpose the underdress sometime soon. 

Based on all the chatter that has happened in the last three days, looks like the dress made it! I'm so happy about it. Shallah to my darling big sister, Ugochi, who got me that jeweled belt I wore it with, and to my friend and sweetheart, Tope, for buying me the crinoline basket I wore under the dress to give it bounce. 

Cost

I bought four spools of 100% Cotton Thread from this very pleasant guy on Dosemu Street in Lagos Island. Each spool was N 1,500.00. I doubled the thread, so I used up two of the spools, and less than half of the remaining two. The dress was as heavy as a four or five tubers of yam! I used an old crochet hook that I had since I was in college. I think the size is 3.00mm. 

Regrets

1. I didn't create a pattern as I was making the dress. With the excitement, and how eager I was to keep trying it on to see how it fit me, I didn't take the time to document the process. I can make it again, easily, since it's all in my head, but unfortunately, I can't share it with other crochet enthusiasts. (At least not until I make another one). 
2. The belt kept sliding up and making my not-so-flat tummy pop out. We were supposed to tack the belt to the waist line of the dress but we were in such a hurry that I basically ran out of the hotel room. 
3. We won't be seeing many professional-posed photos of the dress (or of my husband and I sef) because there just wasn't enough time. The engagement was in the morning. (I think I vexed a few of my friends with all my gragra that morning too (I love you Funso, Idowu, Dammie, Lamide, Mama-T, Chidimma, Dami, Temilola, Kunbi, Nneka, MaryEsther, Kanyin, Tayo, Dolapo, Onyinye and my baby Omobolanle)

    

    

  

Busie-Baby, you're the bombdiggity.com. Thank you. For everything. If you know my sister, give her a hug for me please. Thank you.

I also made about 80 fascinators and crocheted the roses in my jeweled bouquet, but we'll talk about that another day. (Bouquet Idea: Instead of tossing, I split my bouquet in two, put each half in a vase, and handed each vase to my mothers. I've never really liked the idea of calling single ladies out and, the way I see it, ridiculing them because they're not married. (Plus, I really don't like that single-ladies song; sorry beyhive). Also, the bouquet weighed a ton - it would have hurt someone had I thrown it).

#TogetherLikeBaM!

(Professional Photos courtesy of Idowu Asumah Studios