Making a Victorian Ballgown: The Bodice and Reveal | Half-Scale 1884 Sage Ballgown

Are you ready to finish a Victorian Ballgown?

This video was a LONG time coming! My patron Stacey gifted me Prior Attire's book the Victorian Dressmaker quite a while back. I had my viewers vote on which gown I should try to recreate at half-scale. They chose this beautiful ballgown and, as you'll hear in the video, that particular gown was very important to me. Well, a baby, a career change, commissions, collaborations, and multiple tax seasons later, I'm finally able to share how I recreated this 1884 Victorian Ballgown!

I worked on my voiceover script as I went along so I kept that intact. This video spans two years. The entire project spanned three years. I think it's important to show that these projects don't always get done quickly. Some dresses take 24 hours. Some dresses take three years. Sometimes, the dress is based on the same inspiration. Real life gets in the way, and that's okay. It happens. The important thing is that we have fun and are kind to ourselves.

Thank you all for your patience!

Missed Part 1? Making a Victorian Ballgown: The Skirts Video:    • Making a Victorian Ballgown: The Skirts | ...  

Resources:

Prior Attire’s Blog Post That Started It All: https://adamselindisdress.wordpress.c...

The Victorian Dressmaker Book by Izabela Pitcher: https://www.priorattire.co.uk/ourshop...

Scaling Up Elements of a Dress Tutorial:    • How to Scale Up Elements of a Costume | Tu...  

Calculating Pleats Tutorial: Coming Soon

Main Sewing Machine (High Speed Straight Stitch): https://amzn.to/2CTzH8t

Iron: https://amzn.to/2Oo4wYb
Ironing Board: https://amzn.to/33WHkHl
Pressing Ham: https://amzn.to/2Qp3oWW

Measuring Gauge: https://amzn.to/2r5RMgT
Seam Gauge: https://amzn.to/2pmXUAW
Rotary Blade, Ruler, and Mat: https://amzn.to/2FLdv5D
Tapestry Needles: https://amzn.to/3wcO4RN

Dress Form: https://amzn.to/2XkUNGe
Fabulous Fit Dress Form Padding: https://amzn.to/2Ku6a9O


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Music from epidemicsound.com

You can follow more of my progress by subscribing to my channel and following me on:
Instagram:   / hattohem  

PO Box:
Hat to Hem
PO Box 182
Norwood, PA 19074

00:00 Draping the Bodice
00:28 Bodice Assembly
01:29 Nine Months Later
02:53 I need to fix this
04:21 Finishing the Edges
04:39 Putting Some Hustle in the Bustle
06:01 The Reveal
07:40 Photos