How to hem a prom dress with a train

How to Hem a Prom Dress with A Train Properly?

It’s a dream for any growing kid to get into high school and go to prom. Everyone wants to look royal, elegant, and top-notch at this event. At the end of their junior or senior year, the best memories are made on this prom and it starts with a perfect dress. These dresses are typically long and formal yet you are free to make modifications for a flare. Prom dresses can be found in a variety of colors and styles, and the train is always hyped. However, you’ve got your desired prom dress but either it’s not fitting you well or you want some customized fit to your body.

How to hem a prom dress with a train? As it demands a budget, doubt, and chance of distortion to your dress, that’s why either you want to do it by yourself or instruct your tailor. There are a few fundamentals about hemming a dress for events like prom. If you know them and follow the steps, then you are good to go for the venture of hemming your dress perfectly and rocking your prom event.

Key Takeaways

  • Prom dress with a train reflects a sense of traditional aesthetics.
  • Hemming a prom dress with trains has a lot of steps to consider
  • You simply add a train if you want to and avoid the hassle
  • There are great alternatives to modern prom dresses

What is Prom Dress Train?

What is prom dress train
What is prom dress train

On a prom dress, a train extends from the back of the waistline and flows down to the ground. A train can be made of either the same material as the dress, or it can be a different material. Also, it can be long or short, as well as attached to the dress or detachable. It is similar to other traditional dresses for weddings, historical, etc.

How to Hem a Prom Dress With A Train?

If your prom dress has a train, you will need to hem it so that it does not drag on the ground and keep you in a sense of discomfort and worried about the dress.

Step 1: Measure

First the measure length of the train from the waistline of the dress to the floor.

Measure
Measure

Step 2: Mark It

Mark the measurement on the fabric with a pencil or chalk.

Mark it
Mark it

Step 3: Fold and Pin

Fold the fabric up so that the mark you made is on the top, and pin the fabric in place.

Fold and Pin
Fold and Pin

Step 4: Sew

Then sew a seam along the pinned edge, and trim any excess fabric.

Sew
Sew

Step 5: Adjustments

Do some adjustments to fit the height of your prom dress. Measure from the center of the Pins to the center of the hem. You should place the hem of your dress on a table and figure out how much you need to take up.

Adjustments
Adjustments

Step 6: Cut the Line

It is necessary to draw a cut line on the incorrect side of the fabric. Use a chalk line to mark the same height. Using a circular blade, cut along the line drawn.

Cut the line
Cut the line

Step 7: Stitch

Test the serger stitch by cutting scrap fabric from your project and stitching it around the dress hem.

Stitch

Step 8: Fray it

To secure your tail after serging the entire hem, slightly fray it and the first step is to measure and mark two inches around the entire skirt.

Fray it
Fray it

Step 9: Backstitch

You should then sew a straight stitch down the hem of your pinned dress. Backstitches, especially at the beginning and end of your projects are vital to ensuring that your stitches stay in place.

Backstitch
Backstitch

Step 10: Final stitches

You can cut off the bottom of the lining skirt. The serger will be used to serge all around the hem and secure the tail with a stitch that will work for your fabric. If you don’t want to cut the fabric, just take it to the serger and use a stitch that suits your fabric.

Final stitches
Final stitches

How to Add a Train to A Prom Dress?

Adding a train to a prom dress can be a simple or complicated process, depending on the design of the dress. If the dress has a built-in train, then all you need to do is add some tulle or other fabric to the bottom of the dress to create the desired fullness. If the dress does not have a built-in train, then you will need to attach a separate train to the back of the dress. This can be done by sewing or by using fabric glue. Be sure to test the glue on a scrap piece of fabric before applying it to your dress.

Tools and Materials

Tools and materials
  • Fabric
  • Matching thread
  • Scissors
  • Sewing machine
  • Needle

Step 1: Length and Style

Choose a train length and style. Trains range from the discreet brush and court lengths, which barely trail behind the gown. One of the more popular train options, a chapel train extends three to four-and-a-half feet from the waistline.

Length and Style
Length and Style

Step 2: Choose Color

Select complementary colors and textures for your train according to your prom dress. Buy enough fabric to make up the desired length and width of your train and keep an extra 1 foot for sewing slack.

Choose Color
Choose Color

Step 3: Cut The Shape

Depending on your train style, cut the fabric in a shape, for example, a teardrop or flared shape. For more dramatic trains, gather the fabric at the attachable end into folds and stitch to hold them in place. Attachable trains shouldn’t be so heavy that the clasps may tear, or too thick that they stick out in an unflattering way.

Cut the shape
Cut the shape

Step 4: Sew

Use a sewing machine to sew a 1/2-inch hem on each side of the train.

Sew
Sew

Step 5: Place the Train

You can attach your train to your dress at the hemline below the bodice for dresses with gathered waists. The train should be attached below the hips on close-fitting mermaid silhouettes, ideally at the seam where any ruffles or embellishments are attached. Consider attaching a sash or wide ribbon beneath the train of your dress if the waistline hem does not exist. Attach the buttons or any decorative cover to finish the task.

Place the train
Place the train

The Alternative of Prom Dress with a Train

The alternative of prom dress with a train

There are many reasons why a detachable train is an excellent alternative to a traditional train for a prom dress, but the most important reason is that you can easily remove it after the event. When you walk into the party with a detachable train, you’ll feel the drama of the train, but you’ll feel comfortable on the dance floor with a shorter hemline. Detachable trains come in a variety of styles. You can get the same or similar look to a traditional attached train by using skirts and Watteaus, where the train hooks to the shoulders or upper back of the dress, and capes.

FAQs

Why is it called a train on a dress?

It is historically traditional and reflects a sense of elegance and luxury.

What is a long train on a dress called?

Known as a cathedral train because of its length and amount of fabric flowing out from the back, it is a long, flowing skirt.

What is a train bustle?

Train-Flip Bustle is a style of dress where the train of the dress flips under the fabric and is pinned into itself where it looks like a floored gown.

Final Thoughts

The train on a prom gown looks beautiful in photos, and there are a lot of variations available. When choosing a prom gown, you should keep in mind that trains are not always a good idea because of their weight or damage to the dress. If you are going to enjoy the train and protect yourself from the damage, you have to follow these practical guidelines when hemming your prom dress and make it to the length that gives you access to your movements. It is necessary because you’d be dancing, walking, and moving here and there with friends, so enjoy it to the fullest with a touch of elegance in your dress.

Author

Hey I’m Sherry Howes an expert in sewing, knitting, crocheting, and embroidery. With a passion for fiber arts and a talent for crafting, I Have spent years improving my skills and sharing knowledge with others. Whether teaching a class or creating a new project, I’m always excited to share my love of crafting with the world. I like researching new techniques and trends in the crafting arts community.

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