Franklin Dean
Doilies are a versatile craft item with many uses, including as a material for wedding dress cards. The doily wedding dress is a popular paper craft that can be used for bridal shower invitations, Christmas cards, and wedding dress garlands. The process involves folding a doily in a specific way to create a skirt or dress shape, and then gluing or adhering it to a card or other surface. This craft can be as simple or intricate as desired, with options to create different dress styles and embellishments. In this guide, we will explore the steps to fold a doily into a wedding dress and the various ways to customise it.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of paper | Doilies |
| Size of doilies | 4", 6", 8" |
| Number of doilies | 2 per dress |
| Folding technique | Fold in half, then fold one side over |
| Adhesive | Glue |
| Embellishments | Ribbon, pearls, seashells, sequins |
| Purpose | Wedding invitations, cards, garlands |
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What You'll Learn
Folding the bottom half of the dress
To fold the bottom half of the dress, start by folding a doily in half, but not quite in half—leave about a half-inch space at the top. You should now see three curves on this side; two at an angle on the top and one complete on the bottom. Next, fold over about half an inch of the top tip to the backside, creating a flat area that will serve as the waist of the skirt.
Now, take the upper right-hand corner of the doily and fold it over to the left along the top straight edge. Ensure that the point ends up approximately three-quarters of the way over. Crease the fold to create a firm edge. At this stage, you should have a triangle point at the top.
For a cleaner edge, you can re-fold the top panel back and behind the skirt. Finally, take the tip of the skirt and fold it backward, securing it with glue.
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Creating two layers
To create two layers, first, cut your doily circle in half. You can use any size circle, but an 8-inch doily is a good size for a skirt. Position your semicircle with the pretty side facing down so that the rough side is up. Fold the doily like this, but not quite in half—you want to create two layers of the dress. You should see about an inch of rough lace at the bottom of your folded doily. Crease the fold so that you have a firm edge.
Now, take the top right corner of the doily and bring it down towards the left, lining it up where the white circle and the lace meet. You want to create a 90-degree angle. You can use a small amount of glue to secure this corner so that it doesn't come apart, but make sure it dries clear as you will be gluing on the lace part. When you're done, you should have a triangle point at the top and three layers of the dress: the rough part at the bottom, a folded part in the middle, and the piece you just folded over and glued down.
You can also create two layers by folding the top panel of the doily back and behind the skirt instead of keeping it at the front. This makes the edge look cleaner and the dress less busy.
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Gluing the doily
To begin gluing the doily, first identify the pretty side and the rough side. Turn the doily so that the pretty side is facing down and the rough side is facing up. Then, fold the doily to the white circle at the bottom.
Next, fold the doily in half, but not completely. You want to create two layers for the dress, so leave about an inch of rough lace visible. Crease the fold to create a firm edge. Take the top right corner of the doily and bring it down towards the left, lining it up where the white circle and the lace meet. You should be creating a 90-degree angle.
Apply a small amount of glue to the corner to hold it in place, ensuring that the glue dries clear as you will be gluing on the lace part. When you unfold the doily, you should have three layers: the rough part at the bottom, the folded middle part, and the glued-down piece you just created.
For the bodice of the dress, adhere a full doily to a piece of white cardstock using a small amount of glue. Allow it to dry, then cut the doily and cardstock into quarters—each quarter will be one bodice. You can also cut off the bottom point of the bodice before gluing it to the skirt.
Finally, use a glue stick to attach the bodice to the skirt. You can add a ribbon around the waist by gluing it to the back, but avoid gluing the ribbon to the front of the dress.
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Folding the bodice
To fold the bodice of your doily wedding dress, start by adhering a full doily to a piece of white cardstock. You can use a small amount of multipurpose glue for this step. Once the glue is dry, cut the doily-cardstock piece into quarters. Each quarter will give you one bodice. This layering step is important as it gives you something substantial to punch when creating the bodice shape.
Now, you can start to shape the bodice. Take a quarter of your doily-cardstock piece and fold it in half. You don't want to fold it completely in half, as you're aiming to create two layers for the dress. You should see about an inch of rough lace at the top of your folded doily. Crease the fold so that you have a firm edge.
Next, take the top right corner of the doily and bring it down towards the left, lining it up where the white circle and the lace meet. You want to create a 90-degree angle here. Use a small amount of glue to secure this corner, ensuring that it dries clear as you will be gluing on the lace part. When you're done, you should have a triangle point at the top, with three layers of the dress: the rough part at the bottom, a folded part in the middle, and the piece you just folded over and glued down.
Finally, you can attach the bodice to the skirt. Use glue to adhere the bottom of the bodice to the top of the skirt. You can cut off the bottom pointy tip of the bodice before gluing it down, as this will be the back of your dress. Flip the dress over, and you've finished the basic structure!
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Adding embellishments
Select Quality Embellishments
Choose high-quality materials that complement the style and fabric of your dress. Consider how the embellishments will look under different lighting conditions and from various angles. For example, if you are using beads, sequins, or crystals, they can add a unique sparkle to your dress. You can also use lace to create sleeves or change the neckline detail.
Placement is Key
Decide where you want to add embellishments for the most impact. Popular areas include the bodice, hem, and train, but you can also experiment with different placements. You can use temporary adhesives or pinning to visualise the final look without damaging the fabric.
Popular Embellishments
Popular embellishments include beads, appliques, crystals, embroidery, lace, ribbon, sequins, and buttons. You can use one or a combination of these embellishments. For example, you can add a beaded belt or lace trim to your dress. Each addition should reflect your personality and complement the dress's design and silhouette.
Seek Professional Advice
If you are unsure about adding embellishments, consult a skilled seamstress or designer who can offer valuable insights and help you execute your vision. They can also advise on the best attachment methods for your embellishments.
Trial and Error
Don't be afraid to experiment with different embellishments and placements. It's important to narrow down your options and research different ideas to find what you prefer. You can also gather inspiration from bridal magazines, Pinterest, and real weddings to help clarify your vision.
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Frequently asked questions
First, determine which side of the doily is the pretty side and which is the rough side. Turn the doily so that the pretty side is facing down. Then, fold the doily almost in half.
Fold the two sides of the doily inwards towards each other, leaving a small space between them at the top. This will be the bottom of the dress.
Cut a doily into four quarters. Each quarter will be one bodice. Glue the bottom of the bodice to the top of the skirt.
