Victorian Bustle Day Dress Class
Next class: April 2, 2013
Registration is now closed as the class is full.
Thank you for your interest!
Love the Bustle Era but don’t know where to begin to make a dress? Confused on how you build a bustle costume? Need a push to get that new 1880s project finished?
Then this is the class for you! It is only for those truly serious about learning how to sew an 1870s or 1880s day dress.
NEXT CLASS BEGINS LATE SUMMER 2013
Through a 6-week series of lessons, we’ll cover all the bases needed for a complete bustle dress. Each lesson has a minimum of 3 videos (and many lessons have 4 or more) along with an accompanying PDF handout. You get over 4 hours of video tutorials!
Godey’s Lady’s Book, November 1872
This is an intermediate level class. You should understand basic sewing techniques including how to set in a sleeve. Advanced processes such as fitting tips and methods will be touched on, but for the most part we’ll stick to the patterns.
The priority is for you to understand how a bustle dress goes together and what goes into making it. Understand the basics then you’ll be able to explore more advanced designs.
This class will focus on the specific topic of making a bustle dress project so we can saturate the knowledge and improve our skills. We’ll explore the various parts of a bustle gown including the foundation skirt, overskirt and bodice.
“Jennifer, I agree with my classmates as well. This class and your great instruction has helped me so much. The pattern I purchased for the class has opened up a whole world of possibilities for future bustle dress that I want to create. Thank you and I look forward to more classes with you.” ~Tina Holt
Take a Look at the Exciting Lesson Plans:
Lesson 1: Discuss design ideas, fabric selections and taking measurements
Lesson 2: Sewing the foundation/underskirt
Lesson 3: Sewing the overskirt
Lesson 4: Bodice mockup & fitting
Lesson 5: Bodice pattern alterations & construction
Lesson 6: Finishing the bodice
Although an 1870s or 80s bustle dress can be quite complicated, it really starts with basic shapes that are then tortured & trimmed into the design you want. For this project, we’ll be using the ever popular Truly Victorian patterns. (Specific patterns will be listed to those who register for the class.)
You get to choose which bustle era you want to make: Early Bustle 1870s, Natural Form Era, or Late Bustle 1880s. It’s your choice!
1880 May Journal des Demoiselles
Valuable Skills & Techniques You’ll Learn:
- Fabrics to use in bustle dresses including underlinings
- When & how to flatline
- Setting in a skirt placket
- Pleating the skirts to a waistband
- Hem finishing techniques
- Attaching ties to skirts to give them proper bustle pouf
- Bodice fitting tips
- Constructing a bodice in the correct order
- Pattern sizing and adjustments
- Finishing a bodice with period techniques
- Trimming the skirts and bodice for a cohesive look
No need to delay that dress project you’ve been dreaming of – sign up now!
Class Fee: $60.00
Includes over 6 full weeks of lessons, over 4 hours of video tutorials & training, access to instructor, connection with other Victorian costumers, and a fun sewing project!
Upon successful registration (within 24 hours), students will receive instructions for how to join the Facebook group, list of supplies needed, and how to order patterns. The fun begins right away!
Be part of this exciting program of online sewing lessons! Register now for the April class for this super fun class of making a Victorian Bustle Day Dress. I’ll see you soon!
Cheers! Jennifer Rosbrugh
P.S. So many of you here in our joyful community have expressed a desire to make a bustle dress. This class will be popular so we’ll need to limit the amount of registered students. Don’t miss your spot!
{ 34 comments… read them below or add one }
I hope you’ll offer this class again in the future. I’m making underpinnings now (for several eras).
Yes! Right now, it’s looking that the next time will be in April 2013. I hope to offer this class two to three times a year.
Will this class also include the underpinnings (corsetry, etc)? I’ve done mostly medieval/Rennaissance costuming and want to branch out. I don’t have any appropriate underpinnings for this time period, yet. If this class does not include underpinnings, where might I start with that?
Hi Dawn,
This class will cover the foundation skirt, overskirt and bodice of a bustle design of your choosing. Undergarments including chemise, drawers, corset and bustle structure are needed for fittings and, of course, to wear the final dress project.
In November we’ll be holding a new class to make a Victorian corset using the Truly Victorian 1880s corset pattern. We will also have a class to make the chemise and drawers which will most likely be in the first of the year. SOOO many people have requested undergarments and corset classes so those are definitely in the works!
As for starting a new time period, I always recommend starting from the skin out. You can read more about where to begin in this article: http://historicalsewing.com/clothing-articles-when-just-beginning-historical-costuming
Also, this article gives you several pattern options for your undergarments: http://historicalsewing.com/simplifying-search-for-undergarment-patterns-chemise-drawers
Hope to see you in a future class!
Jennifer
HI Jennifer,
This would be my first bustle dress and I do not have the bustle structure. Is this something I should first do before making the dress? You stated this would be needed to fit the dress. I have a corset for the civil war era, would that work until I actually make one for the bustle time period?
Connie
Hi Connie,
Your corset would work fine, and unless you want to make a tightly fitted princess line dress from the Natural Form era, it’ll work fine for most bustle dresses you make.
The class gives three options for patterns: 1870s, Natural Form and 1880s. The Natural Form Era only requires a small pad (like a lightly stuffed pillow) and a petticoat. So you could start the dress and even have a few weeks to make the pad before we get to the bodice fitting.
As for the 1870s and 1880s, you are welcome to make the dress in class before you have the bustle structure. The 1870s bodice pattern ends at the waist, so technically you could make the 1870s dress, fit the bodice over your corset, and when you get the bustle done, the dress will most likely fit you fine. Of course you’ll want the bustle before you wear the dress.
Is this only an online class. No real classes with people anywhere anytime? Thanks
Yes, Tereasa. Since we have followers in over 25 countries, we decided online classes are the way to help the most people. However, the online classes include active Facebook group pages so even though students are checking in on their own time schedule, we have real people interacting in real time.
I would LOVE to offer in-person classes and have given much thought to them. Logistics pose a bit of a challenge. Not everyone can travel to me in California. For me to travel to other groups out of state, more planning and a host would need to be decided. We are looking at offering classes around the country in the future. It may be a while, but that is a goal. Thanks for asking.
Jennifer
I SO wish I could do this class, but I’m afraid I don’t have the time or the money.
Best of Luck with the class, though! And I hope I can join in other classes at a later date.
Thankyou for your uick reply. I was not sure where you were from by just looking through this site. I would sign up right now for your class but I have a couple of concerns. I have a bustle dress pretty much complete. I don’t want to spend much time in the basics construction. Although I am very interested in new patterns. I don’t mind starting a new dress. My brick wall is how to do the grand finish. How to assemble All the layers of the bustle, embellishments, lace, pleats, ruffles, etc. How to make it that big bang WOW finished dress. My concern is this class will get me to where I already am. Does that make sense? By the way I Just love everything you do. Thanks so much.
This particular class starts from scratch and we build a bustle dress (only, not the undergarments) from basic patterns. Trims are touched on but the basis is to understand the layers of bustle and how they work with each other. Sounds like you’ve already done that and need an embellishment class. We’ll definitely take that into consideration when planning new classes.
For a “wow” factor, work on the fit, choose your fabrics wisely, and study original garments for how they trimmed them out. Fitting classes are in the works so keep a look out for those when they are offered.
Please Explain more about the ” understand the layers of bustle ” and is the pattern included in the class?
Bustle dresses seem complicated. In this class, we’re sewing the various layers – foundation/underskirt, overskirt and bodice – to understand how a bustle dress is put together. But not just that, we’ll discuss fabric selections and fitting techniques so students get the right silhouette. Most of the class focuses on the construction of these pieces.
Specific patterns are suggested with students choosing a particular bustle era set and acquiring them on their own. Patterns and supplies are additional to the class fee.
Hey Jen….LOVE this idea, want to do this with you all, but at the moment I’m concentrating on (believe it or not) Regency and Edwardian-20′s…what a combo, right? And so totally _not_ bustle of either period, BUT…._please_ keep me on this list for the future classes, great concept and very reasonably priced, I do want to do this. October and November are the two busiest months of the year for me….next spring, I’ll be free!!! (except for Gaslight Gathering) Looking forward to the next time! Good Luck to all your students!!!
Best,
Sandra D. (San Diego Costumers Guild)
Sandra,
Regency classes and an Edwardian corset class are in the works. So you’ll have a chance to join us in the future. See you then!
Jennifer
Hi am I able to do this even tho I am in Australia?
Yes, Janelle! The class is online so wherever you are you can participate. Each weekly lesson is available around the clock so you can watch the videos anytime you need to and sew on your own time schedule. The class discussions are held in a private Facebook group which you can pop in anytime to post comments, view the lesson links, ask questions, post photos no matter your time zone. Although, I do live on the West Coast of the US so your questions to me will be delayed a bit.
One reason registration closes more than a week before the class starts is so international students like yourself will have time to get any patterns shipped to you. Time is of the essence here. You can fabric shop online or locally, wherever suits you best. Note: I teach using standard American measurements like inches and yards. So you should be comfortable with translating these into the English metric system.
Thanks for your interest!
Jennifer
Hi Jennifer,
I need to learn how to make dresses from 1891 — our village will be celebrating its quasquicentennial (125 years) and I’d like to get a head start and maybe be a help to others planning their costumes for all the events.
In your November and early 2013 underpinnings classes, will the corset, chemise and drawers be applicable to 1891? I know they didn’t wear bustles then.
Thank you,
Dee
Dee,
That’s awesome you are willing to help others get into the spirit of your village’s celebration! Best of luck in the planning.
Yes to your questions. The Victorian corset class will be using the Truly Victorian 1880s corset which not only works for late Victorian costumes but for most of the 19th century. We’ll be making up the Truly Victorian chemise & drawers pattern in the Victorian Undergarments class. The shapes are basic and can be worn for many time periods of the 1800s. So yes! These upcoming classes are quite applicable to your era.
Thank you for the questions.
Jennifer
Drat. I waited too long.
I guess there’s always April…
We had so many signups in the last few hours that registration had to close a bit early. Sorry. Yours truly will burn out if I have too many students at once.
Hope to see you in the April class!
Barring any unanticipated RL issues I’ll be there. I LOVE the corset class you’re giving now and this will be the perfect dress to put over it.
I want to take this class and wonder where the “basic chemise and drawers class” would be so that I can take it before this class. Is it a tutorial or video class that has been done so that I can take it self study? My apologies for my “I want it now”, type of attitude but these classes have been wanted badly for most of my life and you are the first one to utilize modern technology and make it possible. I know you are just one wonderful person but I can’t wait to take your classes! Do you need a housemaid, apprentice, nanny? I will work for training! Tired of modern clothes ready to be period and feminine with class not trash. What are your recommendations for someone like me?
I could use a maid…
Seriously, I’m so excited to share, teach and help you learn. The plan is to create lots of classes where anyone can start from the skin out – undergarments, supports (hoops & bustles), dress, hat/bonnet, and accessories. Hang in there with us as it takes a good deal of time to produce each class. The Chemise & Drawers class will most likely be a subscription class (self-paced) when released. Thanks for your enthusiasm. See you in class!
Jennifer
Hi Jennifer,
My friend and I, we just figured out about this website from a friend of us. We’re desperately try to find a classes for making bustle dress. But since we live in Switzerland, they don’t have that much to offer for such activities, therefore we’re happy to found out about your online classes.
I am not quite sure how to register since I hardly find any link on this page. But, both of us are very enthusiast to join your classes.
Thank you for your attention, and looking forward to hear from you.
Hi Novita,
Welcome to our joyful community! You are not lost about registration for this next class – it hasn’t opened yet so that’s why you can’t find any link. But don’t worry, registration is opening VERY SOON! Be sure to sign up on our newsletter list so you’ll be the first to know when registration opens. You’ll find the sign up form here: http://historicalsewing.com/free-article-request See you in class!
Cheers,
Jennifer
Hello, I am very interested in this course as I have been struggling to learn on my own on how to complete a period piece. My question is how many students are allowed in this class as I don’t know if I will be able to purchase the admission fee until later in the month. I don’t want to miss this opportunity as it seems that this is a once a year class and I have been wanting to do this since last year.
Hi Shon,
Thank you so much for your interest in this class. Yes, it is a popular one! We had over 30 students in the Fall 2012 class, so we’ll have at least that many for the April 2013 class. But we’ll have to cap it not too far beyond that as I personally can’t serve everyone if the class is too big. (I don’t want to leave anyone behind with no help!). As this has proved to be a popular class, we will definitely host it again, possibly in late summer or fall.
Registration for the April class will be open until Monday 3/25 or until full. Hope to see you in class!
Cheers,
Jennifer
Do you have a calendar of classes coming up? I think visitors and life in general may get in my way for this class. I really would like to take it just for fitting a bodice (that I would use for a 1900-1908 period). Thank you so much for doing the classes though there is a need for it for those of us that are docents at historical buildings let alone all the rest of us enjoying periods in time.
I have a list of general classes coming up and the approximate times they will be held on the main Classes page. We will definitely be rotating classes so expect to see them at other times of the year. Thanks for your interest!
Cool, this will give me incentive to brush up on my skills. Sixty dollars is such a reasonable price, especially for a visual person like me. Undecisive whether I can join right now. When do you offer the class again .
Class will be offered again but not until later in 2013, perhaps fall. We are over half way filled for the April 2013 class so if you want to join register soon!
Hello Jennifer:
I want to thank you for the invitation to those classes. It’s my next project, after a civil war dress! But I have a little problem. I do not understand English very well spoken and I wonder if the match pdf tutorials which explain in the videos.
I look forward to classes. Thank you very much again.
The lesson handouts cover most of what is presented in the videos, although not a complete transcript. The videos do have more information. You can definitely understand what is going on by watching the videos as I demonstrate the sewing techniques.
Thanks for your interest in the class!