How to Make a Batty 1830 s Ball Gown
#1830 #halloween #halloween2022
Two weeks. Ten yards of fabric. One BATTY dress! In this video I will walk you through step-by-step how I made a historically inspired ball gown from the 1830's, covered in spooky bats just in time for Halloween!
The 1830's are such a fun period of clothing, one that often gets overlooked because it lies between two very popular eras--Regency and Victorian. The 1830's, otherwise known as the Romantic Period, feature huge, poofy skirts, tall, crazy hair decorated with anything and everything, and my personal favorite: giant, jaw-dropping power sleeves! Otherwise known as leg o' mutton or gigot sleeves, these are very large and supported by plumpers or sleeve puffs hidden inside the sleeves to keep them aloft. In this video, I will make my own sleeve puffs, decorated like kids' swimmies, because...well, why not?
I'm using Black Snail Patterns #0317 for the ball gown, opting for the striped bodice View B, and the gathered sleeves of View A. This is definitely not a beginner's project, but would have been a lot easier if I had alotted myself more time to do it and not picked my busiest time of the year to attempt it. Whoops!
Despite the personal challenges, I'm SO EXCITED about this project, and already have plans to wear it out in all its spooky, batty, goofy glory!
My Regency Zombie Playlist: • Regency Zombie Project
Materials:
Two-tone orange taffeta and plain ivory taffeta from https://www.fabric.com/ I don't recommend the ivory fabric.
Flocked black and gold lace and black and gold tulle from Joann's
Orange cotton and paint for the puffs from stash
Resources:
Dress pattern and Sleeve puff pattern, both by Black Snail:
The dress: https://blacksnailpatterns.com/en/pro...
The undergarments: https://blacksnailpatterns.com/en/pro...
00:00 Making a Batty 1830’s ballgown
01:57 The pattern
02:58 The plan
03:41 Making the swimmies—I mean sleeve puffs
06:33 First mockup
08:30 Adjusting the pattern
08:41 Making it front-closing
10:15 Cutting out
12:07 Assembling the bodice and sleeves
15:28 Jacki vs piping
16:20 How to attach the bias strips
19:28 Draping the bodice front
20:13 Draping the bodice back
22:07 Attaching the sleeves
24:31 Pleating the skirt
27:15 Straying from the pattern
29:03 Spooky time!
32:10 Assembling the overskirt and oversleeves
35:41 The reveal
37:51 Triumph!