Project | Lace dress for a traditional Nigerian wedding | wedding guest outfit

Pattern | Rose cafe bustier pattern (as the basis for the dress)

“we have been dying since we got here
and forgot to enjoy the view”

— Rupi Kaur, The Sun and Her Flowers

This was my first time sewing a bustier/corset, so I tried using the pattern and practicing on another project before I started on this one. I highly recommend you do the same if you’re a beginner or if you’ve never made one before.

The #rosecafebustierdress by @daria_patternmaking was so easy to work with. The seller also has an accompanying video tutorial.

I tweaked the pattern a bit to draft the design (the front side slit and mermaid skirt) that I wanted, and I go into all the detail in the video tutorial.

Let me know what you think in the comment section and if you have any questions about the tutorial. I’ll do my best to answer what I can 🙂.

Here are my measurements, for reference:

Size 14

Bust 34" | Waist 28" | Hips 38"

Height: 5'7"

Cup Size: C (see pattern instruction for direction on cup sizing)

Materials

For this project, I used:

5 yards of African lace fabric provided by the bride & groom for the wedding. I only used ~4 yards of the whole fabric
The Rose Cafe Bustier Pattern by DariaPatternmaking ****
Outer lining fabric: Silk charmeuse fabric in the color sienna from Mood fabric
Inner lining fabric: Silk cotton fabric in brown/burnt sienna from Mood fabric
Matching thread
Sewing pins and fabric scissors
Measuring tape/ruler
Tailor's chalk or fabric marker
A sewing machine and iron
Notions for bottom skirt: a 20cm zipper, buttons, trouser clasp, 2” wide rubber band
Notions for bustier: bra foam, rigilene polyester boning for corset, grommets/eyelets and ribbon for back tie, bra underwire in cup size, interfacing