OT - Not quilt related

This is mainly for the garment seamstresses out there.

This is the time of year that many of the high schools will be having their proms. My 18 yo DD being one of them. There is a local company who recently became affiliated with the United Way and had a bunch of girls donate fancy dresses, ballgowns, etc. All dresses are marked $25.

My DD found the dress of her dreams. Beautiful princess style dress, full of POOFINESS.......

Problem.......there is a tear in the tulle on the right side. What would be the best way to sew this up so it is not noticable? Clear thread? Matching color? Whip stitch? More precise???

HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cindy from MO

On things like this, I use a very fine clear nylon thread. I also use what I call a "ladder" stitch that looks like a figure 8. Butt the torn edges together making sure not to overlap them and anchor your thread -- top or bottom of tear doesn't matter. Bring the thread up from the bottom of the fabric on the first side. Take the thread down in-between the torn edges and bring it back up from back to front on the other second of the tear. Go back down in-between the torn edges and come up from back to front on the first side again but just a bit up or down (depending on where you started). Keep stitching in this manner until you reach the end of the tear, anchor your thread again and you're done. I like to put a tiny dab of seam sealant (Fray Check, etc.) on the anchored thread to help the nylon stay anchored. It's got a mind of its own sometimes -- LOL! CiaoMeow >^;;^<

PAX, Tia Mary >^;;^< (RCTQ Queen of Kitties) Angels can't show their wings on earth but nothing was ever said about their whiskers! Visit my Photo albums at

Seems to me that adding thread would only make the tear more visible. Maybe you could get a strip of fine silk gauze the same color as the tulle, apply a thin layer of fabric glue, and stick the edges together from the wrong side. Cover with some non-stick silicone paper and weight down until it is completely dry. Then carefully trim away any excess gauze.

If the tear is vertical, you could also try sewing a narrow seam down the whole length of the overskirt. Assuming it has other seams already, this would not be very noticeable.

Plan c: add design elements. F>This is mainly for the garment seamstresses out there.

I'm not a seamstress and I haven't seen the tear... However, could you make it into an decorative seem? You could do a similar on the the other side to make it symentrical or leave it on just one side. You you embroider over it?

I look forward to hear how it all turns out.

Regards,

Rick Boesen Olivet, MI

No good idea on how to mend the dress, but I'm wondering how you have an 18 yo DD when I know you're only 29?!???

I wish we knew where the tear was and how much poof you have to work with. You just might be able to gather the tear in and decorate it with just any number of possibilities - a lace appliqué, tiny silk bows, butterflies, beads, sequins. Can you steal some tulle from an underlayer of skirt if you need some matching fabric? We've had lots of ballerinas in the family who were also ruffians and we have lots of experience in creative mending. Polly