Date: 10/22/09 11:56 AM

My good friend is American Indian and has asked me to attempt her wedding dress. As far as I can tell it would be fairly simply made, very tunic style and then embellished with beaded-embroidered sashes and bundles.

Having never sewn on leather, this is scaring me some. It is a fine suede deer hide, brain-tanned white! The only experience I have with leather is saddlery carving and hand stitching...and that won't do here. All I know is there are no do-overs or rip-outs allowed. I will practice on the store-bought stuff before I will totally commit to leather hides that have been thanked and blessed. Someone already suggested a teflon foot and office clips to start. HELP and SUGGESTIONS PLEASE

Here is a similar style, it will have to be tweaked for her position and tribe. http://amarillo-choctaw.blogspot.com/2009/02/buckskin-dresses.html

Date: 10/22/09 1:58 PM

Use a leather needle, a long stitch length & if a teflon or roller foot doesn't do the trick, sandwich the seam in between strips of tissue paper. Sew the seam on the tissue paper & rip the paper out once stitched. I've also read you can use "adding machine" paper, which would be a time saver.......you know, those big rolls from the office supply store.

A quick edit.......maybe I should remove my tissue paper advice. I just read your original post! Hey, I learned about tissue paper while sewing in a workroom. A lady there swore by it & it works in a lot of instances. Poke fun if you want, I can take it!
-- Edited on 10/22/09 2:37 PM --

Date: 10/22/09 2:26 PM

Ohmigosh, I have nothing to add but PLEASE POST PICTURES!!!

Date: 10/22/09 2:50 PM

Yes, pictures please. I'm really looking forward to seeing this.

------
The cure for boredom is curiosity. There is no cure for curiosity.



-Dorthy Parker

Date: 10/22/09 4:43 PM

How interesting, and daunting! She has placed a great amount of trust in you. Does she have relatives or tribal members who can advise you also?

Good luck, marec

Reply to marec
Date: 10/22/09 8:38 PM

http://www.america.gov/st/washfile-english/2007/July/20070720142054GLnesnoM0.5447657.html

http://www.yatahai.com/dresses/Mesa%20Winter.jpg

http://amarillo-choctaw.blogspot.com/2009/02/buckskin-dresses.html

I wish I had my own pictures to post for this, but I have to give you the full http:// to make sure they are credited to who they belong to.

My friend and I have known each other since our early teens, we are both going to be the end of our family names. There are no relatives to seek information from. She made her bridesmaid dress for my wedding 26 years ago. I'm not Native American that I know of, and there will be parts of this dress and ceremony that I cannot participate in.

I'm glad others have heard about the tissue paper stabilizer!! I was feeling pretty beaten-up by the advanced sewers on the Vintage Machine thread...they're nearing fanatical status...in a good, green, reuse-recycle way.

Reply to 2mulie
Date: 10/22/09 9:43 PM

Quote:

My friend and I have known each other since our early teens, we are both going to be the end of our family names.

wow...that adds a lot to this story.

[/QUOTE]I'm not Native American that I know of, and there will be parts of this dress and ceremony that I cannot participate in.[QUOTE]

But you have a part nonetheless. Honor.

Date: 10/23/09 2:35 PM

Here are some quick links:
America.gov site;
Yatahai site; Amarillo-Choctaw site.

HTH
JEF

Reply to 2mulie
Date: 10/23/09 9:37 PM

You'll do fine. Along with the roller/teflon foot, may I suggest some heavy thread, like top stitching thread? Also, a size 16 needle because its a hide.

I made some chaps once, and the directions on the pattern were for real leather (I used ultrasuede). The directions suggested using removable glue stick to baste. You might want to try this on a small piece first.

My son's Native American, and knowing you're going to the ceremony, I'm sure you feel honored. I would be!

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"Well-behaved women seldom make history"--Laurel Thatcher Ulrich
Living life vicariously with seven sewing machines...and counting...

Date: 10/24/09 11:01 PM

Thank you for all your advice and encouragement. Thanks JEF for the quick-links, I'm a bit paranoid about utilizing pics that don't belong to me... I'm shopping now!

I'm still taking advice, and will post pics when I get this going. (no date set right now, they've never been married before and they are both almost 50....could be quick or lengthy engagement!)