by Shilo Dawn Goodson

Created on: December 03, 2008   Last Updated: December 10, 2008

When you can't find the perfect prom dress or the perfect prom dress costs too much, often your best option is to make your own prom dress. Prom dresses can cost hundreds of dollars and are often only worn once. A homemade prom dress can save you money and also ensure that you will be the only one wearing that dress.

To make your own prom dress, you are going to need several items. First of all, you are going to need time. Unless you are a quick seamstress and you have an easy pattern, you probably won't want to attempt to make a prom dress in only a few hours. It is a good idea to start working on your prom dress at least a week in advance, especially if you have not done a lot of sewing and might need to make some changes to the dress before prom.

To sew your own prom dress you will need material. Before purchasing the fabric, you might want to pick out a pattern, though. When purchasing fabric, make sure it's a fabric that works well with your pattern and that you have purchased the correct amount. If you are unsure about how much fabric you will need, fabric store employees can be helpful in getting you the correct amount of fabric and making sure the material will work with the pattern you have selected.

You will also want to make sure that you have purchased enough thread to sew the dress. If the pattern calls for items such as zippers or buttons, you will want to make sure those are also purchased. For those who want to add more decoration to their prom dress, lace and other decorative items can also be bought to go on the dress.

To make your prom dress, you will simply follow the pattern, making sure each piece is cut-out correctly. Then the pieces can be sewn together. This will have to be done using a sewing machine. If you are unfamiliar with using a sewing machine, an easier pattern and someone familiar with a sewing machine can be helpful tools.

For those wanting an even more unique prom dress, they can participate in the "Stuck at Prom" scholarship competition where all prom attire is made from duct tape. This is a project that you will want to start weeks, if not months in advance of prom, because it is going to be a long and hard project. Yet for someone who wants a unique prom dress or for someone who cannot sew their own prom dress, a duct tape prom dress can be a fun option.

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