Dance dresses and costumes

[Stillharbor]

One of the teachers at my studio is from Ireland. He remembers a company that sold patterns for costumes and ballroom dresses. Unfortunately, he can't remember the name of the company. Has anyone heard of this company or any other?

Simplicity and McCall's has a couple of dance dress patterns and Laura's website is wonderful. But I'm not really finding what I'm looking for.:headwall:

[Laura]

No idea, sorry! The only European pattern companies are I know of are Burda and Moda, but neither of them have ever had ballroom costumes any time I've ever looked.

[CGInTheSand]

No idea, sorry! The only European pattern companies are I know of are Burda and Moda, but neither of them have ever had ballroom costumes any time I've ever looked.

FWIW, Burda 7879 looks like it could be used as ballroom dress. (You can Google "Burda 7879" to find multiple sites that sell it.)

Disclaimer: I don't know much about ballroom dresses. The skirt might not be full enough. (Although I think Laura has something on her site about how to make the skirt fuller if it's not full enough. The OP mentioned Laura's site.) Also it seems very limiting that it is a sleeveless gown, and there are no sleeve options.

Burda has a couple of other "specialty" dance costume patterns - for example, a can can skirt. And they do have costume patterns in general. So that might have been the company the OP's teacher was talking about? But probably not...

I have been thinking of buying the Burda pattern, so that is why I was aware of it. I don't sew, though, so the main problem is that I need to find someone to make it for me...

-CGInTheSand

[Laura]

Oh, look at that! Burda 7879 is definitely a ballroom dress and the skirt looks full enough.

http://www.sewingplace.com/ProductImages/patterns2/burda/7879.jpg

I like the way the bodice is constructed on this dress. Really, of the various attempts at competition ballgown patterns that I've seen out there, this one is looks like the best. I'm going to get it for myself and see how it works out.

Also, one can add sleeves to anything, it's just a matter of making the armhole smaller so the opening fits the actual arm. Then you have to take a sleeve pattern and make sure the shoulder end of the sleeve is the same size as the armhole opening. I think I talk about this on my web site.

I really really should go back and update the web site -- I wrote all that six years ago!!!!

[CGInTheSand]

Oh, look at that! Burda 7879 is definitely a ballroom dress and the skirt looks full enough. (image removed by CGInTheSand to avoid duplication)....

I like the way the bodice is constructed on this dress. Really, of the various attempts at competition ballgown patterns that I've seen out there, this one is looks like the best. I'm going to get it for myself and see how it works out.


Let us know how it turns out!! I'm glad it looks good to you since I'm thinking of using it myself (having someone make it for me). I value your opinion as a dressmaker and a competitor.

[Laura]

Thanks for the vote of confidence! Truth is, I haven't made a dress since (this is so embarrassing) August of 2006!

I looked at the Simplicity ballroom pattern once -- I don't recall the number but it has been discussed here on DF -- and I didn't like it very much. It just didn't look right on the model in the catalog when it was all made up. This Burda one looks much better at first sight.

I'm going to go order the Burda pattern now! I desperately need to make two dresses anyway, perhaps I can whip the Burda one up as my 2nd dress -- it seems easy as compared to the one I am really intending to undertake. Heck, maybe I'll make the Burda one first as a way to get motivated to really sew something. I have all this fantastic Chrisanne fabric that I bought in England and a very talented friend of mine designed an amazing dress for it, but I just can't get going on tackling that project.

(Ok, it's on the way, I got it at sewingpatterns dot com, which is also where I buy Kwik Sew patterns.)

[Joe]

Thanks for the vote of confidence! Truth is, I haven't made a dress since (this is so embarrassing) August of 2006!
Haha, tell me about it. I think I've only made 2 dresses in the last 3 years.

I wonder if the dress in that Burda pattern has any ease built into the sizing, or if it's snug-fit like a decent ballgown should be.

[Peaches]

Slacker.

[Joe]

You know it.

[Laura]

I wonder if the dress in that Burda pattern has any ease built into the sizing, or if it's snug-fit like a decent ballgown should be.
I just received the pattern today. It is VERY simple, and based on just looking at the instruction sheet it could be a good place for a first-time gown maker to start. Of course, if you've never sewn before (or have never worked with stretch materials) it is NOT a good place to start -- get the Kiwk Sew Swim and Actionwear book and make a leotard or bathing suit or two to get a feel for what you are doing.

Sizing information on this pattern is interesting. I haven't unfolded the sheets all the way yet (and am actually trying to avoid doing so today), but I see on the bust pieces it lists the finished size of the garment, so it seems to me that one could simply measure themselves and then choose whatever size is one or two smaller than their actual measurements to get the proper "stretch to fit" fit without ease. The pattern envelope does not have the "compare your measurements to these and we'll tell you what size to cut" chart that I'm used to seeing. Maybe it's on the inside...as I said, I haven't tried to open it all up yet.

The construction is quite straightforward and actually rather clever.

The bodysuit is two layers of fabric. Above the bust, the two layers are identical and are sewn together. Below the bust, the bottom layer forms up the bodysuit (including the part that goes between your legs and around your butt). The top layer is shorter and basically just extends from the bust seam to the hip level -- and this is where the chiffon skirts are attached. The chiffon skirts are a single full circle, I'm not sure how many layers they have you do but if I find out that it's only two I would definitely add a third layer.

I'm going to start a new thread about this pattern so I an turn it into an illustrated thread for sewing newbies -- like I did all those years ago on that other dance board.

See Sew along with Laura: Burda 7879 (http://www.dance-forums.com/showthread.php?p=532349)

[Kassia]

It appears i have this pattern in my stash.. The one thing i don't like about it is the fact that it's sleeveless.

[Laura]

It appears i have this pattern in my stash.. The one thing i don't like about it is the fact that it's sleeveless.
Adding sleeves to a sleeveless pattern is not difficult if you've got some experience dealing with sleeves. I highly suggest Kiwk Sew's Swim and Actionwear book (includes master patterns). Making some leotards from the master pattern, and then customizing the pattern and experimenting, is a really good way to learn how sleeves work in stretch garments.

[Kassia]

experimenting, is a really good way to learn how sleeves work in stretch garments.[/quote]

Good ideas!! I don't like a really tight long sleep but need something to cover the bat wings i seem to have acquired the last few years..
I need to contact the lady that makes our belly dance costomes soon and see if she can sew me up something for the Showcase. I really think i need something simple that i can wear for latin and smooth for now.. I have something in mind but need to get her opinion on it.. :idea: