Dressed To Impress

Dressed To Impress Primarily a bridal seamstress but can also make personalised embroidered keepsakes from bespoke cushions to homeware and special occasion gifts

Dressed To Impress was formed in 2004 originally just making garments and altering them, particularly specialising in making bespoke bridal wear and altering garments to fit. It was soon clear that there was a gap in the market for personalised embroidered garments, homeware and keepsakes and this is where the embroidery side of the business soon took off. Why not have a keepsake cushion or word-a

rt picture created which cannot be bought on the high-street or perhaps a garment made to measure which has bespoke embroidery on it and which can be treasured forever? I also provide an alterations service not only for general day wear, but also for bridal wear too. I am fully experienced in altering wedding dresses and any other items for the bridal party. I provide alterations to two Wed2Be shops and also overload services to another two bridal shops, both based around the Bournemouth area.

As I’ve been recovering from surgery for the past 6 weeks, I decided to do something for myself. I stitched this design ...
06/06/2026

As I’ve been recovering from surgery for the past 6 weeks, I decided to do something for myself. I stitched this design onto a pair of jeans.

The photos are from the design stage in the software to the final stitch out on my embroidery machine.

This takes a considerable amount of time. First the jeans need the side seam unpicked so I can get the fabric under the needle and not stitch the front and back together. The design is manipulated in the software to get the desired placement. This was more than one small design which was copied and moved around.

Once it has stitched out, all the stray ends are cut, the backing stabiliser picked out and then the side seam sewn back together.

I love the fact that I can personalise my clothing. There won’t be another pair of jeans like these! I even managed to do a smaller design on the back pocket!

Photos show the stages of the transformation.

Here’s a before and after photo of a prom dress I am working on at the moment. It has a small piece of plain mesh fabric...
14/05/2026

Here’s a before and after photo of a prom dress I am working on at the moment. It has a small piece of plain mesh fabric at the bodice.

The client wanted it filled in so I harvested some of the sequins from the hem offcuts and stitched it onto the mesh. I am sure she will be pleased with it when she comes for her next fitting.

My commission now is to make a prom dress from scratch. I've combined two separate patterns to make this toile (a mockup...
16/04/2026

My commission now is to make a prom dress from scratch. I've combined two separate patterns to make this toile (a mockup of what the final garment will look like). I've redrafted the back as it was too high as per my client's vision, as it went up to the nape of the neck.

The toile is made up using a longer stitch length which is then easier to unpick as this toile then becomes my pattern. We're not changing much, because I took my time taking accurate body measurements, the fit is practically perfect. The young school girl couldn't stop smiling when she saw it. I hope she'll be just as happy with the final garment, which is going to be in Navy Blue.

I'm usually just unpicking wedding dresses as my main job, so making things from scratch is a welcome change.

28/03/2026

I'm away for a few days at an embroidery retreat in Nottingham. A whole weekend of "me" time, and not a single wedding dress in sight!

My embroidery machine is stitching out this design which is taking ages as it's over 80 thousand stitches. It's going on the back of a fleece.

I'm working on a commission at the moment which has seen me completely remake garments for a fashion designer. All the g...
07/02/2026

I'm working on a commission at the moment which has seen me completely remake garments for a fashion designer. All the garments have been sewn terribly and it's really testing my skill and judgement to make everything right and wearable again.

Here is a before and after comparison of a jacket which I have just finished. I have so much more to complete by the end of the month!

Here are two more wall hangings which I finished just in time for Christmas. I was really pleased with how they turned o...
17/01/2026

Here are two more wall hangings which I finished just in time for Christmas. I was really pleased with how they turned out.

It's always nice to make something for yourself as usually it's client work, particularly bridal wear, which keeps me busy.

I hope you had a very Merry Christmas and my good wishes to you all.I can now show you this as it was a Christmas gift t...
27/12/2025

I hope you had a very Merry Christmas and my good wishes to you all.

I can now show you this as it was a Christmas gift to my daughter. These are individual panels stitched out on my embroidery machine and then assembled to look like a scene through a window. I have just finished two Christmas themed ones I made for myself.

My daughter and her husband loved it, along with a huge tablecloth I also made them. The corner design on the tablecloth was the same embroidery design I stitched out on the napkins I made for their wedding last year.

Work which has been under the machine over the last week or so. This was a wedding dress which was sleeveless and I made...
03/12/2025

Work which has been under the machine over the last week or so. This was a wedding dress which was sleeveless and I made some bespoke sleeves from offcuts from the hem. They were attached by clear poppas so could be removed in the evening for a more relaxed look.

Today's make. Some new leggings for when I'm at the gym. So quick and easy to sew as I have a machine which is perfect f...
31/10/2025

Today's make. Some new leggings for when I'm at the gym. So quick and easy to sew as I have a machine which is perfect for stretchy fabrics. I wore the dotty ones today.

Following on from my post last week, the sleeves are finished for the dress I was adding them to.The fabric was really s...
28/10/2025

Following on from my post last week, the sleeves are finished for the dress I was adding them to.

The fabric was really slippery and tricky to handle but eventually I was able to ease the sleeves in.

It's not that easy to photograph as there are no arms on the mannequin but my client is coming for her fitting later in the week so I'll see if I can get a photo of her wearing it.

Address

The Sidings, Daggons Road
Alderholt
SP63TA

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm
Saturday 9am - 5pm
Sunday 9am - 5pm

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