Instructional DVD's

Bustles are created using a series of points, or places on the train and bodice that when rigged, lift and support the train off the floor, so that wedding guests do not step on it while the bride is walking around during the reception. Anchor points are determined on the bodice to hold the weight of the train while pick-up points are found on the train in places that will lift it off the floor. The positioning of these points is both an art and a science.

Beautiful Bustles is a one hour instructional DVD that teaches how to make the 3 main styles of bustles we do here at Leanna Studios: the Ballroom Bustle, the French Bustle and the Pick-up Bustle. Most wedding gowns can be bustled using one of these styles. This DVD is great for beginning sewists or for those who are not familiar with Bridal Alteration methods. It shows step-by-step how to create each style of bustle in great detail using real wedding gowns.

Beautiful Bustles DVD Price = $29.00 (US funds only)
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Ballroom Bustle is my term for what most people call an Overbustle. The bustle is formed by lifting the fabric of the train and securing it to the back of the bodice by the use of thread loops for the pick-up points and hooks or buttons for the anchor points. This style of bustle is used for gowns with long trains and is best designed when there is some kind of decorative item at the back of the gown to hide the hooks, like a large bow or lace overlay.

The French Bustle, or Underbustle is best used for gowns that are very full in the hip area and have long trains. This style of bustle employs ribbons sewn at the anchor and pick-up points on the underside of the train and waist area that are then tied together to rig the bustle. The resulting flounce of fabric can often be dramatic in design or simply draping depending on the type and fullness of fabric in the train.

The Pick-up Bustle can be designed in either the French or Ballroom styles and is used for gowns that are slimmer in the hips and shorter in the train. The train is lifted in only one pick-up point to be secured to the back of the gown at only one anchor point. A simplistic style that is not always easy to achieve properly for when you have only one point to secure the whole back of the gown, it can be tricky to find just the right places to position them.

Reviews

July 2006

I received the DVD today and watched it right away. You did a wonderful job on it and you are a great teacher!.
I am relieved to know that I have not been doing my bustling "wrong" even though I'm self-taught since I searched and searched several years ago when I started altering wedding gowns and couldn't find much at all on the subject. I do have the Singer sewing book that nicely illustrates a few techniques, but I thoroughly enjoyed your video since I am very much a "hands-on" learner and really like to see how others do this. You gave me several tips that I didn't know about and will save me time. And, you answered the one question I could not find an answer to anywhere else: I always thought the pick-up points should always be placed in a seam (such as a princess seam) and since many dresses don't have princess seams on the full skirt, I always felt like I was "cheating" by applying my pick-up eyes in the middle of plain fabric. I'm so glad to know that it is OK! Just full of great ideas! Very much worth the price. I'm off to write a favorable review for your CD on PatternReview.com.
Thanks again!
Debe

July 2006

My bustle DVD just arrived and I sat right down to watch it!
You did a good job explaining things. I' ve pretty much done all of the 3 designs you described . I loved your video!!

Thanks for all your help with my wedding alterations questions....and your email replies also.

Sincerely,
Susan

March 2007

Hi Leanna,
The Beautiful Bustles DVD arrived and I watched it immediately. Excellent information, very well done. I've been doing everything correctly, just needed some tweaking on the fine points, and your DVD thoroughly covers everything I had questions about. Thank you so much!

Have a wonderful weekend! I will be altering 3 prom dresses, a wedding dress, and doing a ballroom bustle!

Sue in Chisholm, MN

April 2007

Thanks! I received the DVD today and have already watched half of it. Wonderful, clear explanations! Now I am actually looking forward to this part of the wedding dress I am sewing for my daughter, where I had been dreading it.
Thanks again,
Karen

June 2007

Hi Leanna, I have received the DVD. It came yesterday in the mail. I watched it last night. It was very informative. I have been doing alterations for a few years now and had never had the opportunity to do a bustle. Your DVD reinforced some of my own ideas as well as gave me others. I always thought that the stitching had to be hidden. You are right though. Who is going to get that close that they would be able to see it. Anyway thank you again for the information. Jo Ann

July 2007

I received the Beautiful Bustles DVD on Tuesday and constructed a French bustle on the wedding gown today. Your directions were very good. I watched it several times before I actually began the work. This particular gown had a dropped waistline as the one in your DVD but without the additional flounce, it also has an additional layer of silk chiffon over the entire gown which caused some difficulty because the layers had to lay flat when the train was on the floor and they had to all become incorporated into the bustle when rigged. I think I figured a way to do both. It does look nice.

Thank you for sending it out to me so quickly. I enjoy your website and look forward to checking back with it every so often.

Debbie

August 2007

I received the DVD last Wednesday and watched it right away! It will be a great reference tool for me. I will incorporate your tip for reinforcing the thread chain. I learned the hard way a couple of years ago that this area needs reinforcing when my new son in law stepped on my daughter's train.

I also like to display the bride's gown on a mannequin.

Keep up the great work.....you're so talented!

Geri
Lancaster, WI

September 2007

Hi, I watched your video, and I found it to be very educational, and excellent information! I wished that I had bought it years ago. Thank you very much, Leah

January 2008

Hi Leanna – Thank you SO much for sending your DVD. It was absolutely WONDERFUL! It made gave me the information I needed and more, and gave me the confidence to actually do my first bustle on a first-time bride who is the niece of my husband – boy if I had done that wrong, I’d never hear the end of it! It took me a while to master the crochet part of the thread loop, but I finally kinda got it. But anyway, I just wanted to know how great your DVD is and your work is so needed in the area of sewing for weddings. Thank you again and have a great day! Carole

March 2008

Hello Leanna,

I have received the DVD and watched it and am impressed with it. I am a dressmaker who specializes in wedding gowns and always love learning new techniques. I bustle the gowns mostly the way you do but enjoyed how you described why you did what you were doing. The instructions are easy to follow and the filming is great.

Thanks, Anne V.

March 2008

Dear Leanna,

I received my Beautiful Bustles DVD today, and already watched it! Thank you so much for taking the time to produce something so helpful. It is much easier to follow than a book.

Take care, Gina

March 2008

Thanks, Leanna, for sending the follow-up e-mail. The DVD arrived today. I have watched it and found your instructions and video very clear and easy to follow. I'm delighted I found your video on the Internet.

Thanks! Carol

December 2008

April 2009

June 2009

I have received the Beautiful Bustles DVD. It was wonderful watching you work your bustle magic on the DVD. Ballroom bustle was a clever word play and I appreciate your use of it. Watching you stitch the anchor and pick-up points with confidence, sewing with slowness of intent and ease of movements, and hearing you use reassuring phrases of encouragement to the audience was truly beneficial.  You have my heartfelt appreciation for the time and effort you put into making this video. I hope you will design additional videos as the styles of the gowns change and bustling techniques continue to evolve. Leanna's Studio website will be on my 'favorites' list from now on!

Sincerely,

Josie Lee