Cherokee tear dresses

[Storm Hawk]

Just finished making a Cherokee Tear dress for my granddaughter by using the descriptions from the articles you all quoted and the pictures posted in this site's gallery. I want to thank you for being there and since I enjoy figuring out designs for patterns, if anyone would like to discuss this or add views...I spent one night just figuring out how it could have a square gusset under the arm...this is my first pow wow regalia. My grandchild will have to do my dancing for me as I am in and out of a wheelchair. Sewing is my thing so I hope someone wants to talk about it.

[Okwataga]

I swear between you, my cousin and fancystar i be so jealous of ya'lls sewing.

and I know the tear dress is butt to make i watched my cousin and its tedious but she's good.

so congratulations on your tear dress , have to put up a picture for us to see.

what colors did you use?
tell us about it
so how long did it take to make it from first cut to last sticth?

[Storm Hawk]

Cherokee Tear dresses

Thanks for the ego stroke!!!

Would you beleive that I never touched a machine until I was 25 and taught myself through awful mistakes. I still can't sew a straight line!
The dress was for a little girl so it should not have taken the hours I put in - but...since it was work, I put tucks (like adding a hem) in the skirt body, the flounce on the bottom, and the main bodice so that I can keep taking out a row of stitching and add a inch and a half to its length with each row I take out.
I cheated on a few things - like I put an elastic band in the waist so the same waist band will fit through growth.
I read on here, I think, about making the upper body piece seperate from the skirt piece so that it would leave room for growth. I made it that way since it eliminated a lot of pin tucks in the upper bodice - but having loved to see Kid's in costume and regalia over the years, I then basted the top to the skirt because little girls do not have the hips to keep skirts up - This is a safety feature.!!
I expect the fabric to wear out before she outgrows it.
My husband chose a dark calico so dirt wouldn't show up - I used brown and green. Cut a band to cut diamonds out of for the skirt decoration and that was awful. Since I did that out of fabric when I saw how ugly it was (if authentic), I then did the sleeve bands and shoulder bands out of seam binding and made triangles. Next one will definitely be done with ribbons!!!!!!