Regency Dress Class

Regency Dress Class

Regency Dress Class 

You are going to be thrilled about this class!!

Now open for year-round enrollment! 

 

You’ve dreamed about dancing with Mr. Darcy…. The local historical society is hosting a summer picnic…. The book club is delving into Jane Austen….

The time has come to DRESS in the time period you LOVE – the Regency Era! 

Whether you are new to the elegant period of the early 1800s or a long-time reveler, this online sewing class will feed your need to connect to the past through the clothing. It is designed specifically for those who dream of the past and are ready to bring it to life! 

We start bodice fitting in Lesson 2. 

 
Through 5 weekly lessons, we’ll go through each step as we sew up a basic, apron-front Regency-era dress. Yes – every detail from fabric selections to hem is covered! Lessons have 3 to 8 videos each along with an accompanying PDF handout. You get near 4 hours of video tutorials!

Jennifer, Adriana & Morgan in their Regency dresses
1811 dress

Complete an Authentic Regency Era Gown

This is an Beginner to Intermediate sewing class. You should be familiar with your machine and have a little experience with sewing clothing – modern or historical. Be willing to advance your basic skills without boredom: straight seams, casings, pleating/gathering, set in sleeves and hand hems. We will follow the class pattern closely, so even those new to the Regency Era will be able to keep up!

The priority is for you to perfect your basic techniques while understanding period construction (and how it looks more complicated than it actually is). 

Come to class and focus on making a historically-accurate dress with adjustable lining and skirt ties to challenge your fundamental dressmaking & fitting skills. Together we’ll explore fitting this simple dress design as well as the various sewing methods to make it come together easily. 

1800 Red Dress back view

“I really learned a lot in the dress class! This was for me more than a how to put the dress together, I learned techniques that I have used in modern apparel.” ~Carol Schott

 

Thrilling Lesson Plans Prepared for You:

Lesson 1: Discuss fabric selections, take detailed measurements, mockup sewing tips

Lesson 2: Fit bodice mockup, do pattern alterations and cut fabrics

Lesson 3: Begin construction with bodice lining and sew sleeves 

Lesson 4: Sew the skirt and attach to the bodice 

Lesson 5: Finish with sewing the bodice, hem and final touches 

“I never would have done it without you, Jen!! Your videos were so helpful, as were the handouts.” ~Jeri Bills 

1813 Voile Dress front
Regency dress in embroidered cotton voile for inspiration

You’ll find a variety of Regency dress patterns available. For this class I wanted to use a well-drafted and generally historically-accurate pattern to make the project easy for you but also one we could have fun with!

For this class we’ll be using the excellent Laughing Moon #126 Ladies Round Gown & Trained Gown c.1800-1810 pattern. Sizes in pattern – Bust 30.5″ to 56″.

Although, as with all our classes, you can choose to use another Regency dress pattern. But be aware that the specific steps of each lesson will cover the class-specific Laughing Moon pattern. However, I’ve found the directions translate well to other published patterns.  

1805 dress lining & closure

Valuable Skills & Techniques You’ll Learn:

  • Fabrics to use for Regency dresses  
  • Accurate measuring for Regency wear 
  • Fitting tips for your specific body type 
  • How sleeves affect the fit of the bodice 
  • Altering pattern pieces 
  • Mounting fabrics to a lining 
  • Setting in sleeves in the Regency style
  • Painless skirt pleating or gathering 
  • Learning the unusual closure of this simple dress style
  • Finishing details for wearing ease
  • Hemming tips for pressing & sewing 

 “Thank you Jennifer. Your class concept and teaching is great. I never imagined I could undertake, much less complete a project like this [Regency corset]. I learned a ton of skills I can keep using.” ~Anna Miller

 “What a fun class! I learned a few techniques and enjoying seeing the progress of others. Jennifer, you are a terrific teacher and you explain everything clearly.” ~Adriana Walls

“I learned so much in this class and was really pleased with the experience. It was, honestly, better than I expected and I have made some of the best looking garments of my sewing career…. I cannot stress how important I felt the Facebook group was.” ~Anonymous from exit survey

Jen 1800 White Regency back view
c.1800 white sheer dress with train for inspiration (dress was not made from our class pattern)

Beginner to Intermediate Level Class

If you have sewing experience but are new to historical garments, you may find this class a nice challenge. We’ll be following the pattern closely so be confident you can keep up. 

If you are new to sewing, this class may be a stretch for you. But if you are brave, take the challenge and go for it!

If you are advanced in your sewing skills, you are welcome! Maybe you want to try a new time period. Or simply want the class as accountability so your dress gets done. We’re here to push you forward. 🙂

No matter your level, we all have methods we can share with each other. Bring yours along to the class for full participation. 

1800 White Dress front

Online Class & Workshop:

Includes all 5 sewing lessons followed with no-expiration  & unlimited access, access to instructor, connection with other Regency costumers, and a fun sewing project!

Be part of this exciting program of online sewing lessons! To be notified when new classes will be offered again, please visit this page. I’ll see you in class soon!

Jen Rosbrugh Regency
Jennifer Rosbrugh, instructor

P.S. The class lessons are entirely online and self-paced with no specific day or time required to be online. You work at your own speed and schedule. Read the lessons and watch the videos when it’s most convenient for you. All lessons remain available to you after the workshop officially ends.

For more info on our online workshops, please read this pageNo refunds will be given for online workshops due to intellectual property and details presented in class. Please see our full terms of service here.

Jennifer Rosbrugh, DBA HistoricalSewing.com and Old Petticoat Shop, LLC, is an affiliate of Amazon.com.

6 thoughts on “Regency Dress Class

  1. Angela says:

    HI, I was just wondering if the full length regency corset offers the same support of for the back as a victorian corset. Does it make the waist smaller over time?
    Thank you Angela

    • Jennifer Rosbrugh says:

      Hi Angela,
      Not really. A full-length Regency corset is to smooth the natural figure and lift & support the bust into the fashionably high placement. It was not designed to cinch in the waist as the waistline in Regency is right under the bust. A Victorian or Edwardian corset will have strong boning in the back for support there as well as be cut in such a way to cinch in the natural waistline. Also, a Victorian corset doesn’t make a waist smaller, per se, but re-shapes the figure.

  2. Amanda says:

    Hi Jennifer
    I recently took part in your brilliant Regency corset class and am hoping to join you again with your Regency gown course. How do I go about purchasing the course as I cannot do so on this page and on your other page ‘old petticoat shop’ it appears to be sold out?? ; ( Look forward to hearing from you

    Amanda

    • Jennifer Rosbrugh says:

      Hi Amanda,
      Registration hasn’t opened yet so that’s why it is showing as “sold out” in the Old Petticoat Shop. No worries though! I hope to open it up for students on Wednesday 4/22 or Thursday 4/23 at the latest. An email will be sent to my newsletter subscribers so watch for that and also this page or the Shop page. It’s coming! 🙂 Looking forward to having you back in class!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.