One of the most confusing parts of starting your first solo dress can be understanding the layers of fabric, stiffener, and interfacing. Here’s a visual breakdown of the materials of each piece of the dress! Bodice Top: Fashion fabric(s) of choiceBottom: Base material (cotton twill or similar) The base layer gives a light structure to …
Tag: Fabrics
An Intro to Textile Dyeing
I occasionally get questions about how to dye fabric, so I thought I’d post some info and tips for anyone looking to try. I used to work as a Costume Painter/Dyer for a large local theater, so it’s something I actually know quite a bit about! Why might you need to dye anything for a …
Help – I have to build a solo dress!!
I hear all the time from sewers who have been enlisted by a friend or relative to build an Irish dance dress and have no idea where to start. They often feel like they don’t know what they’re getting into, and even parents who’ve spent years going to feisanna often have questions (“what’s going on …
Choosing the Right Fabric
There are many types of fabrics commonly used for Irish Dance costumes. These are a few of the most popular. Gabardine Gabardine is a great option for a non-velvet dress. It has a more matte finish which doesn’t show every wrinkle. Most gabardines are fairly sturdy, making it a great option for team costumes as …