It’s the night of the ballet company Grand Gala and our little dancer enchants the crowd with her guest solo, wearing an elegant, longline RUSSIAN BALLET BODICE and graceful NEO-CLASSICAL TUTU. After her dance is done, she hurries backstage to change into her party dress — a stunning DROPPED WAIST BALLGOWN with built-in petticoats, a ribbon BELT and luxurious, opera-length EVENING GLOVES.
Now all eyes are upon her as she enters the ballroom, ready to dance the night away…
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We are thrilled to present this latest addition to our collection of just-like-the-real-thing, mix-and-match ballet costume patterns. We are equally thrilled to include an adaptation of the traditional, two-piece ballet bodice and tutu to a modern ballgown, sharing the same gorgeous silhouette, but featuring a simplified, one-piece construction.
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Our RUSSIAN BALLET BODICE — or "longline" bodice — features elegant curved princess seams and a wide scooped, strapless neckline with a slightly lowered back. Fully lined and fitted through the hipline, this sleek style is designed to fit seamlessly over our hip-hugging ballet tutus — both the Neo-Classical tutu in this pattern and the Classical (or "Pancake") tutu in our Pattern 1073: Prima Ballerina.
Our NEO-CLASSICAL TUTU is a lyrical combination of both the Classical and Romantic tutu styles, with the graceful Romantic bell skirt falling from the hipline — like a Classical tutu — instead of the waistline. The elegant bell shape of the skirt is built up from gradated rows of gathered tulle, stitched to a wide, curved lower basque, which is then attached with a neatly piped edge to both an upper basque and a fitted, built-in panty — exactly like the real thing!
This modern hybrid style is perfect for romantic recital dancers and elegant chamber ballet soloists. For even more flexibility, we've included cutting directions for two different lengths — both the classical knee-length and a longer, ankle-grazing ballet length.
As part of our mix-and-match ballet pattern collection, the Neo-Classical tutu can be worn with either of our Pattern 1073 or Pattern 1072 pointed-front bodices, while the Russian Ballet Bodice creates a uniquely seamless look when combined with our Pattern 1073 Classical Tutu and our Pattern 1074 Ballet Accessory Tutu Plates.
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Our DROPPED WAIST BALLGOWN shares the same beautiful silhouette as the Neo-Classical ballet ensemble, but the gown features a simplified one-piece construction that's both easier to make and easier to play with.
The bell-shaped skirt is built in the same manner as the tutu, with gradated fabric and net petticoat layers attached to a hidden skirt support. But the skirt support is then attached directly to the lined bodice, without any upper basque, panty or piping — such a time saver!
The graceful ballgown skirt just grazes the top of the doll's foot — the perfect length for dancing the night away. Leave the bodice strapless, or attach the same dainty elastic or ribbon straps that keep the ballet bodices securely in place.
Finish your ballgown with an optional RIBBON BELT attached with a simple slider buckle — and then complete your girl's elegant look with a pair of sleek, over-the-elbow EVENING GLOVES, the perfect accessory for any formal ensemble.
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Our RUSSIAN BALLET BODICE is rated INTERMEDIATE for carefully mirrored and turned curved neckline seams and limited hand finishing work.
Our NEO-CLASSICAL TUTU with BASQUE and PANTY is rated INTERMEDIATE for limited hand finishing work, elastic insertion and working with tulle — particularly as we strongly recommend the use of a rotary cutter to cut the skirt tiers, and rotary cutters should only be used by careful sewists, and never by or around children.
Our DROPPED WAIST BALLGOWN is rated INTERMEDIATE for curved seams, limited hand finishing and working with tulle.
Our EVENING GLOVES are rated INTERMEDIATE for stretch fabric sewing, though if you download the FREE Sew Easy with Spandex ebook from the Lee & Pearl website at http://leeandpearl.com/free.html we hope that you will find these gloves are actually EASY.
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RUSSIAN BALLET BODICE MATERIALS
1/4 yard or 6" long x 19" wide piece of woven fashion fabric
NOTE: for any lightweight, delicate or easily frayed fabric — or any fabric lighter than a Kona® cotton — add the same amount of an underlining material such as muslin or voile.
1/4 yard or 6" long x 19" wide piece of woven lining material
Hook-and-loop fastener (such as Velcro™) at least 1/2" wide
1/4 yard of 1/4" to 1/2" flesh tone elastic or clear elastic (or 1/2 yard of 1/8" elastic) for straps
Matching thread
OPTIONAL: 3 large or medium (size 1/0 to 3/0) snaps to use instead of hook-and-loop fastener
NEO-CLASSICAL TUTU with PANTY and BASQUE MATERIALS
1/4 yard or 11" long x 15" wide piece of woven fashion fabric, plus extra to make bias piping
1/4 yard or 4" long x 13" wide piece of woven lining material
54" wide lightweight tulle or soft nylon net — 1 yard for below knee-length tutu or 1 1/4 yards for calf-length tutu
1/2 yard 1/8" cord or rattail for piping
1/2 yard 1/4" elastic for leg openings
Hook-and-loop fastener (such as Velcro™) at least 1/2" wide
2 small (4/0) snaps
Matching thread
OPTIONAL: 2 large or medium (size 1/0 to 3/0) snaps to use instead of hook-and-loop fastener
OPTIONAL 1/2 yard of 1 1/2" wide elastic to shape and safely store the skirt
DROPPED WAIST BALLGOWN MATERIALS
1/4 yard or or 6" long x 18" wide piece of woven fashion fabric for the bodice
1/4 yard or 9" long x 18" wide piece of woven lining material for the bodice and skirt support
1/3 yard of very lightweight fabric for the ballgown skirt
1/2 yard of 54" wide lightweight tulle or soft nylon net for the petticoat layers
1/4 yard of 1/4" to 1/2" flesh tone elastic, clear elastic or ribbon (or 1/2 yard of 1/8" elastic) for straps
Hook-and-loop fastener (such as Velcro™) at least 1/2" wide
Matching thread
OPTIONAL 1/2 yard of 3/8" to 1/2" wide ribbon for a belt
OPTIONAL 3/8" to 1/2" wide slider buckle
OPTIONAL Fray Check™ to finish the ribbon belt ends
EVENING GLOVES MATERIALS
Scraps of stretch fabric for the gloves. We strongly recommend four-way stretch fabric, which contains lycra, spandex or elastane and stretches both horizontally and vertically. These gloves can be made with non-lycra
stretch fabrics that only stretch horizontally, but they will not fit as snugly, nor retain their shape as well.
Matching thread
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Complete your doll's dance class and ballet performance wardrobe with the Lee & Pearl collection of dance patterns for 18 inch dolls, including:
Pattern 101: Gym Shorts
Pattern 1001: Unisex T-Shirts
Pattern 1051: Ballet Basics Leotard, Unitard and One Piece Swimsuit,
Pattern 1072: Corps de Ballet Bodice and Romantic Tutu
Pattern 1073: Prima Ballerina Strapless Bodice and Classical Tutu
Pattern 1074: Ballet Costume Accessories Tutu Plates and Sleeves, and
Pattern 1075: Ballet Slippers
Check out these 18 inch doll patterns and more at https://www.etsy.com/shop/leeandpearl/items?section_id=15862176
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This pattern will be delivered as an instant download. After purchasing, you will receive a link to a PDF copy of the file. No paper copy will be mailed.
This pattern may be printed solely by the original purchaser. It may not be duplicated, redistributed, posted or resold without prior authorization from Lee & Pearl™. If you use this pattern to make items to sell yourself, we ask that you give Lee & Pearl™ design credit in the description of those items. Thank you!
Lee & Pearl™ is not affiliated with Mattel, American Girl® or any other company or organization.
