The Unique Boutique

Did you catch this joyous programme on Channel 4 last month? Possibly not, as all four episodes were shown late on a Monday evening and it wasn't that well publicised imho. All my life, I have bought trousers, and then shortened them for my less-than-five-feet-tall frame. I can sew, it is no problem. But the Unique Boutique makes a serious effort to address the needs of those for whom 'off the peg' clothes are an impossibility. The designers/craftspeople at UB accept the diverse challenges brought by those who daily struggle with wheelchairs, prosthetic limbs, stoma bags and so many more impediments to 'easy to wear' garments. Lucy Webster. the Guardian's columnist who specialises in disability issues gave it a great review. A wheelchair user herself, she knows what she is talking about! And then I found myself presented with a similar challenge. 

Seven years ago, my young neighbour had a Disney dress which she could not wear - the hooped skirt was impossible to accommodate in her wheelchair, and her body shape meant the bodice/waist would not fit properly. 

I removed the hoops, added a new frill and tulle underskirt to give 'body' and put side panels in to give more room. Brooke is a young lady now - and in a few week's time going to a special party - where guests are coming as film characters. She's chosen Elsa from Frozen.

She'd found a plain blue dress online in the colour she wanted. But it was too long for her in her chair - catching the wheels and dragging on the ground. Also there was a 20cm section at the back where the zip would not close. And finally, it was totally plain. It needed 'blinging up a bit' said her Mum, if she bought some sequins could I stitch them on in a snowflake sort of pattern? I love a challenge like that! 

Don't buy a thing! I said.

Sherlock Holmes has his "three pipe problem" but I have a "three machine challenge" Regular, Overlock, and Embroidery...

First I added extra hooks and eyes to secure either side of the gap in the zip. There were long drapey bits from the shoulder- using my regular machine, I added a velcro panel which meant they closed, edge to edge, covering the gap [and I used decorative stitching] None of this will be seen when she is in the chair.

My overlocker did a brilliant job of hemming the shortened bottom edge [ much firmer fabric than the prom dresses in June, so no need to handstitch, fortunately!]

Then there was the challenge of 'blinging it up' I figured all embellishments needed to be on the front of the bodice as nothing else would really be visible. I found a snowflake pattern for my embroidery machine, and dug out some soluble film to be a stabiliser. But I did not want to embroider straight onto the dress. So I used some of the 10cm strip of pale blue tulle trimmed from Hannah's prom dress and use that as my base. 

It worked perfectly - the stitching went onto the tulle, then I dissolved the plastic in warm water. Once dried and pinned upon the blue fabric, the tulle was virtually invisible.

I then began the process of adding beads and sequins to the snowflakes, and a line of sequins down the centre front seam. There were over three hundred different items hand stitched to the bodice. I deliberately did not make the design symmetrical. The beads and sequins really make a difference, don't they?

I was very pleased with this, and added the centre pearly sequin strip. Then I got really carried away. To this point, all the stuff I'd been using was from The Stash. But I was concerned that Brooke might feel a chill in her sleeveless dress [quite Frozen, said Bob!] So I bought a length of inexpensive sheer sparkly snowflake fabric and made a simple semicircular capelet.

Brooke is really pleased with the dress, it fits beautifully. 

If The Unique Boutique need extra stitchers, I am available!