Whether you make belly dance, ballroom, or wedding dresses, you’re likely to encounter stretch dresses.
Decorating stretch dresses or costumes can be tricky because if you don’t do it properly, you can lose the stretch of the fabric or your finished dress can pull in funny directions.
So in this video, I’ll show you how I decorated this dress and tips and tricks along the way. Let’s get started!
Click here to check out the Mirage Dress & Bodystocking course!
How to Decorate Stretch Dresses
Stretch your dress first!
So first thing first, when you decorate stretch dresses, it is important that the dresses are stretched while you decorate them. Otherwise, your decoration may reduce the stretch of the fabric and when you put on the dress, the fabric might be pulled in awkward ways.
There are 2 ways to do this.
Use a dress form (or put it on yourself)
First way is using a dress form. Put on the dress on your dress form, so the stretch section is stretched well. This setup is perfect for when you’re planning your decoration. I like to plan where to place my appliques on a dress form and pin them in place.
If you don’t have a dress form, you can put on the dress yourself and plan your decoration, like I did in this embellished legging tutorial.
If you do it this way, use safety pins instead of pins so you won’t poke yourself or lose the pins as you take off the dress.
Sew by hand
On a dress form, take a double threaded needle and stitch your appliques to your dress right there. Use a whip stitch or small straight stitch, and sew around the edges of your appliques. Be careful not to stitch onto the fabric of the dress form. Lift the dress with your other hand to prevent it as you go.
Use a sewing machine
Or if you want a faster way that’s also easier on your arms, we can use a sewing machine. First, place lots of pins on the appliques so you know exactly where they go.
Remove the dress very carefully from the dress form, and take it to your sewing machine.
And do a narrow zigzag stitch over each motif using a matching color thread. It’s a bit tricky, because the dress is not stretched anymore so small details of your applique may shift. But follow the motif as best as you can and sew down any loose sections. As long as you match the color of the thread to the color of the appliques, the stitches hardly show.
Use cardboard
Another way to decorate on a stretch dress is by inserting a piece of cardboard that is half the width of the area you’re working on. So for example, for the top, insert a cardboard that is half your bust measurement to ensure it’s stretched well.
Cut corners round so it’s easy to insert.
This setup is great for when you want to glue on rhinestones. I used this pretty rhinestone stencil from Crystal Queen. You can see this process in detail (& find a special coupon!) in this review post.
I learned to wrap the cardboard with plastic wrap from Crystal Queen’s tutorial, and it’s great for when you’re working with rhinestone glue. It makes it easier to make sure the dress doesn’t stick to the cardboard.
What to do around the zipper
Another thing to be mindful of is the zipper area. If your dress comes with a zipper, be careful not to accidentally cover the zipper with a large applique.
I like using lace appliques, because around the zipper like this, I can place it so I can cut the motif around the zipper area. Simply pin the applique in place, and cut it into 2 pieces. And you can sew them down separately, your zipper still functions, and when it’s closed, it’s seamless!
With these things in mind, you can decorate and glam up your stretch dress beautifully! The dress will remain stretchy and comfortable.
I’m loving this dress, which I’m calling the Mirage Dress. The top is fitted and made with powermesh, so it’s very comfy, and the skirt is built-in, so it feels light and again, comfortable!
If you are curious to make your own dress like this, I have good news. I’m adding new lessons on how to make this Mirage Dress to my Mirage Bodystocking premium course!
In the course, you can learn to create your very own bodystockings, perfect for wearing under dance costumes. And in the new lessons, we’ll transform the bodystocking pattern to create a whole new dress! This course upgrade is happening tomorrow, and I’ll be offering a special sale to celebrate the course upgrade!
Click here to check out the Mirage Dress & Bodystocking course!
Hope you liked this tutorial on how to decorate stretch dresses, and if you did, please share this tutorial with your dancer and costumer friends!
Thanks for reading, and keep sparkling!
P.S. Pin this image for your future dress project!
Like what you read? Want to make more costuming bits yourself?
Sign up for my newsletter here and get my free email course, Belly Dance Costume Making 101!