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Mini Jane Austen Gown Tutorial

February 28, 2020

jane austen gown pattern

Making a mini version of a Jane Austen ball gown has definitely been a highlight in this whole Jane Austen Playset project. I was so excited to try to recreate something I’ve loved for so long.

These gowns are designed to fit our Free Mini Bunny pattern. I loved the idea, but the process didn’t go as smoothly as I’d have liked. First of all, this thing is tiny! I’m still getting used to the size. I love the finished project, and so it’s definitely worth it. But it does take a bit of trial and error to find out what works best for something this size.

For example, on my first gown I went ahead and hemed the bottom as I would a full size gown. It was so bulky pokey. It stuck out so much, there was no way I’d get the Regency Era drape with that. I researched and found that a lot of people don’t even hem doll gowns at all. (gasp!) My design background kept me from going THAT far. (FORM FOLLOWS FUNCTION! It’s a phrase that is drilled into your head as soon as you begin your design education. It doesn’t matter how pretty something is, if it doesn’t work, they it is no good! In my opinion, if a doll dress frays during normal playtime, that is a fail!) I settled for turning the hem up once, and sewing that in place. It gives the dress a finished edge (Even if it’s not quite as finished as a full sized dress) while still giving the dress the ability to drape at the bottom.

I also spent a lot of time figuring out how to simplify the gown enough that it would work this small, but still look like something out of Pride and Prejudice. I think the final gown works quite nicely. It’s simple, but can easily be modified to add a bit of detail when needed.

So… without further ado, lets get going on this dress pattern!

Get the FREE Pattern

Here’s what you’ll need

  • Download the FREE dress pattern here
  • 17″ x 7″ piece of Fabric A (for the main gown)
  • 6″ x 6″ piece of Fabric B (for neck and sleeve edging. You can use Fabric A if you prefer it to all match)
  • 9″ length of ribbon (to tie around the waist. I used 1/4″ wide, but up to 1/2″ wide should work just fine)
  • 1 snap for back closure (you can also use velco if you prefer)
  • The instructions for the gown can be viewed in the video below
free sewing pattern for mini jane austen gown
mini regency era gown sewing pattern

Free Tutorials, Girls, Jane Austen Play Set, Kids' Stuff, Patterns, Sewing, Video Tutorials · 7 Comments

« Planning A Teeny Tiny Jane Austen Doll Gown
Free Birthday Crown Sewing Pattern »

Comments

  1. Lynn Whittaker says

    June 7, 2020 at 4:50 am

    Looking forward to making the bunny.

    Reply
  2. Ann Patterson says

    February 7, 2021 at 8:17 am

    I made 3 of these bunnies as a gift for my granddaughter Valentine’s day. Great pattern and lots of fun (and challenges) to make.

    Reply
  3. Amy says

    August 22, 2021 at 7:09 pm

    Looks beautiful! Any thought on making some for 18 in dolls? (AG/OG?). Do you have a shop? Thanks for suggestions!

    Reply
  4. Ciely Franco says

    October 14, 2021 at 4:24 am

    Me encantó ese conejito cuando lo ví navegando por la red, pero mi sorpresa es que tiene vestido. Y es muy bella, en versión femenina lucirá regía.
    Muchas gracias por el patrón. Cuando lo haga te lo enseñaré.
    Un saludo desde Colombia.

    Reply
  5. Jacqueline Lee says

    September 26, 2022 at 6:57 pm

    Will your Jane Austin gown fit any of the Barbie dolls? I HOPE so!!!

    Reply
    • Jessica says

      October 4, 2022 at 1:41 pm

      I don’t think so, sorry! The dolls it was designed to fit are only about 7 inches high

      Reply
  6. Amelia says

    December 3, 2022 at 8:44 am

    Love your tutorials, so much easier to follow and actually watch step by step the complete process. The additional lace overlay process really is a great bonus!
    I look forward to watching more of your videos.
    Thank you so much!

    Reply

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Hi, I’m Jessica

I’m on a mission to create handmade items that are cherished for years to come. I hope you’ll join me along the way!

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Instagram post 2327252897543629252_417393240 It is finally getting warm here and I'm so excited for long days in sunny fields.
Instagram post 2321314328934193695_417393240 Did you know that ladies during the Regency Era often wore a shawl because the breezy empire waist gowns they wore were a little chilly? ⁣
⁣
I've been having so much fun adding historical details to this project. I love the idea of history seeping into a child's mind through play.⁣
⁣
I know it's just a tiny detail, but I wanted our dolls to have shawls because I keep reading about the huge cultural shift that came with the style we see in Jane Austen's time period.⁣
⁣
In a period of about 15 years we went from Marie Antoinette style gowns with huge, structured skirts, to these breezy gowns that might (gasp!) show your silhouette if a breeze came in.⁣
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To the younger generation they were progressive. Napoleon's wife was the one who made the style popular and because of her influence it symbolized a new way of thinking. (Marie Antoinette's way of thinking was, after all, proven slightly ineffective.) ⁣
⁣
Sure, the dress was a little chilly. But it was a way to leave dated ideas in the past. So they grabbed a shawl and moved forward!⁣
⁣
I know that a shawl on a doll won't automatically teach a kid all that history. But it might give us the opportunity to tell the story as we play, and I want to add as many of those opportunities as I can.
Instagram post 2320150626645961038_417393240 What's the best glue gun out there?⁣
⁣
I love the ease of hot glue, but have always found my glue gun work rather sloppy.⁣
⁣
A while back I talked to my good friend Erin from @thegreyrose about this. She is the closest thing to a Glue Gun Expert there is: She uses a glue gun full time to create her amazing felt floral arrangements. Her work is delicate and skillful, which are words I'd never use to describe my own glue gun efforts.⁣
⁣
Her secret is this amazing detail tipped glue gun. (The Surebonder Detail Tip Glue Gun...Please note, this is NOT an ad. No one is paying me to review this thing. I just genuinely like it and thought I'd share.)⁣
⁣
I bought the exact model she uses for her work and I will never go back! For the first time I feel like my hot gluing can be clean and precise. It's amazing what a difference having the right tool can make.
Instagram post 2318523881759128711_417393240 amen.
Instagram post 2316180582466133425_417393240 The bonnets are finished and I'm off to work on top hats and cravats. Because we definitely need a Mr. Darcy Rabbit.
Instagram post 2315017019194132946_417393240 The next Jane Austen play set tutorial is up and running on our blog!⁣
⁣
This week we make bonnets and shawls to complete for our Regency bunnies and I can hardly contain my excitement.⁣
⁣
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