How to Make a Bustle Train

A gown's train can be bustled so it isn't stepped on or dragged on the ground.

A gown with a long, dramatic train makes a gorgeous statement on the way down the aisle, but that extra fabric can be cumbersome during the reception. Trains can be bustled, or pinned up, so the back of the gown is floor-length. The bustle itself is a beautiful feature of a wedding gown, and there are a few options for bustling that achieve different looks, including a one-point over-bustle for lightweight gowns or three-point over-bustles for heavier fabric.

Things You'll Need

• Hooks-and-eyes or covered buttons and fabric loops
• Needle
• Thread

Instructions

One-Point Over-Bustle

1. Choose a hook-and-eye or covered button to bustle your train. The hook will be hidden, a nice option for an embellished gown, while the button will show, which can complement a bodice with covered-button closures.

2. Thread a needle with thread that matches the gown. Sew the hook or a covered button to the base of the bodice where it rests at the bride's lower hips or buttocks. Reinforce the eye or button, as one-point bustles are prone to detach.

3. Determine where to sew the eye or button loop by picking up the dress midway up the train to meet the hook or button. The bottom of the gown should be the same length as the front when bustled.

4. Sew the eye or button loop midway up the train and reinforce it so it does not detach.

Three-Point Over-Bustle

1. Sew a hook or button to the base of the bodice where it rests at the bride's lower hips or buttocks.

2. Sew two additional hooks or buttons on either side of the first. Place them several inches lower and several inches to each side so they form a triangle.

3. Determine where to place the eyes or button loops on the train. Again, the train should reach the floor at the same point as the front of the gown. Sew on the eyes or loops midway up the train.

4. Check that the train bustles neatly. The two pick-ups on the sides should be level. The bustle should form a triangle in the back and fan out to show detail on the bottom.

References

• Project Wedding: Bustles for Your Gown