How to Construct a Bustle
- 1). Grasp a piece of fabric in the middle of the train of the dress, about halfway down the train. Pull this fabric up to the waist of the dress, and pin it in place to one side of the zipper.
- 2). Put the dress on and check the length to see where the hem falls. If it is too long, move the pin higher on the hem. If it is too short, move the pin lower.
- 3). Repeat for the right side of the dress's train. Put the dress on and check the hem. It should lie evenly around the dress and be the same height from the floor as the front.
- 4). Take the bustle down, but keep the pins in place on the train. Place pins to mark the spots on the waist where the train was pinned. Thread a needle with thread that will match the color of the dress.
- 5). Sew three small fabric-covered buttons at the spots on the waist where the pins are. If the dress has lace at the waist, the lace will help to hide the buttons. If not, they will hardly be noticeable if they are the same color as the dress.
- 6). Sew small hooks at the spots where the pins are on the train. If there are no appliques, lace or bows under the hooks, consider sewing some in those spots before you sew the hooks on. These embellishments will help to conceal the hooks.
- 7). Create the bustle by picking up the fabric where the hooks are and attaching the hooks to the buttons. The fabric is folded under the bustle, creating a small poof in the back of the dress. Smooth down any fabric that might be sticking out oddly to create a smooth bustle.
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