WAKANDA FOREVER!!! I am super excited to share all of the details on how I made my niece’s Black Panther inspired prom dress. A few months ago my niece asked if I would make her prom dress and without hesitation I agreed. I then asked her what style and design she had in mind. She then proceeded to show me a picture of the dress Lupita (Nakia) wore in the Casino scene during the movie. Confidently I responded, “Sure thing, I got you”.
Now fast forward to six weeks ago, I began analyzing the dress closely and realized this dress was a bit more complex than I expected. After reading an article about the dress, I discovered that the lines on the dress were an embroidery design. I had not done embroidery work in the past, immediately I became nervous and doubtful that I could create this dress. I needed to start practicing the embroidery technique and choose some fabric. Fabric shopping puts me in my happy place so I set out to JOANN’s to get some fabric to test. I knew that I wanted to use crepe fabric for the dress; as I was shopping I found four styles of crepe that had a nice drape. I decided to purchase 1/4 of a yard of each to test the embroidery technique and to get my niece’s opinion on which she liked the best. I also picked up some thread and embroidery needles.
After researching how to do embroidery stitches on a domestic sewing machine, I discovered that a ‘satin stitch’ would yield the best results to replicate the design. In the video below I show how I modified the pattern, how I did the stitching technique, some up-close views of the dress, and conclude with some prom day footage. Clips of my niece wearing the dress can be found at the very end.
Slay the Look
Main Fabric: Sew Classics Crepe Suiting Fabric
Lining: Posh Lining Fabric
Thread: Sulky 40 wt.Thread Grass Green
Needles: Schmetz Embroidery Machine Needles
Interfacing: Fusible Sheerweight
Pattern: Butterick 4343
Hair: Inspired by Jasmine Brown
Red Carpet Ready ! Oscar Night Worthy !
Get ready for some calls !!!!!
Author
Awww thank you so much!!!
No idea this was embroidery!!! Girl you are bad, and have the patience of a saint.!!!! This is amazing
Author
Thank you!!! It was a lot of work but I pushed myself to do something I had never done before.
Nailed it!
Author
Thank you!!!
This is beautiful and I love it!!! WAKANDA FOREVAH!!!
Author
Thank you so much!!!
Beautiful, I absolutely love this look.
Author
Thank you!
This is awesome! No chance she would see another like this at the prom. I hope you make sure it stays in the family! It’s the kind of thing you would want to show the “grands”! Your a lovely inspiration!
Author
Thank you Nadine!!!
Oh my! Fabulous is inadequate!
Author
Thank you!
I just listened to the Clothes Making Mavens podcast and I had to see “the” dress. So beautiful and obviously made with so much love.
Author
Thank you so much!