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[Amandy-Chan]

The costume I'm planning on making isn't Belle, but the design of the dress is really similar, so I wanted to work off of a Belle pattern as a base, but all of the patterns I found were either out of print or child sizes. Does anyone know a good pattern? The skirt part is all I need.

[patriciarakel]

The skirt is basically just ruched (sp?) toc create the sections. When I was planning on making a Belle dress, I was going to use McCall's 3681 and just ruch the bottom. Just extend the bottom however much you want the ruffles to be and gather it up either using the basting method and pulling on the threads or getting elastic the length of the final skirt and pulling as you sew. Any basic ball gown skirt should work. It just needs a little modification.

[Amandy-Chan]

Originally Posted by patriciarakel

The skirt is basically just ruched (sp?) toc create the sections. When I was planning on making a Belle dress, I was going to use McCall's 3681 and just ruch the bottom. Just extend the bottom however much you want the ruffles to be and gather it up either using the basting method and pulling on the threads or getting elastic the length of the final skirt and pulling as you sew. Any basic ball gown skirt should work. It just needs a little modification.

^^; I really don't know what most of those words mean; I've only ever worked from patterns before with small modifications, but I'll look them up and see if I can figure it out. I already have a ball gown pattern I'm using for the top of the dress, so if I could use the bottom part, too, that'd save me money. Thanks for your advice. Hopefully I can make sense of it. >.>;

[Stormraven24]

Ruching is pretty much just bunching up the fabric. This skirt here is ruched: http://www.misquincemag.com/cm/misqu...Q-162-F-de.jpg It's just bunched up.

Here's a site that might help you at least visualize the process: http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-ruching.htm

Best of luck!

[Ororo Monroe]

Era of the Hoop evening dress pattern.
http://www.jamescountry.com/patterns/heidimarsh2.html
Truly Victorian 1860's ballgown skirt.
http://www.trulyvictorian.net/tvxcart/home.php?cat=1

[Amandy-Chan]

Originally Posted by Stormraven24

Ruching is pretty much just bunching up the fabric. This skirt here is ruched: http://www.misquincemag.com/cm/misqu...Q-162-F-de.jpg It's just bunched up.

Here's a site that might help you at least visualize the process: http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-ruching.htm

Best of luck!

Thanks. I'll definitely do more research on the topic, but that was helpful. It was also nice to learn that the process could be used to make flowers because my costume calls for that.

[Amandy-Chan]

Originally Posted by Ororo Monroe

Era of the Hoop evening dress pattern.
http://www.jamescountry.com/patterns/heidimarsh2.html
Truly Victorian 1860's ballgown skirt.
http://www.trulyvictorian.net/tvxcart/home.php?cat=1

I really like that second one. Thanks so much!

[Ororo Monroe]

I have that one and have used it for several dresses. The gathering is multiple tucks that are kept in place by sewing down the seam.

[Lotte000]

I used that exact pattern for the 1860 Victorian Ballgown skirt (pics in profile) for my Belle ball gown. I love how it turned out.

[Ororo Monroe]

What I like is that with a little modification you can have all sorts of styles. The directions can be a little confusing the first time you put one together.

[Shana05]

Saving this thread. Belle is my dream cosplay. I don't think I'll be doing her anytime soon though.