I started with Simplicity 2463, my go to starter pattern for sewing a princess dress. I made essentially a view f bodice, but redrafted the bodice for a single seam line in the center front (instead of two mid bodice).
I used view b as a starting place for the skirt, but quickly realized that the tucks weren’t quite right for the ‘Belle’ look. I added 2 inches to the bottom of the skirt, so that I was able to add additional tucks, and created 1 inch tucks every five inches (five of them instead of the three two inch tucks that the pattern included). I also placed them more often (I counted in pictures to attempt to be accurate to the movie) and cascaded them down, starting each tuch an inch lower as we moved from the front midline.
I made the bodice out of self lined satin, and the main bodice skirt out of the satin as well. I added an overskirt of chiffon, french seaming the seams, and caught both skirts up together in the tucks. I hemmed the satin skirt by machine and then (after sewing a narrow hem at the bottom of the chiffon on the machine) hand stitched the chiffon to the inside of the satin hem (in order to make it as invisible as possible).
I made a full petticoat out of muslin and rows of gathered netting. I attached the petticoat upside down inside the bodice (afther the outerskirt was already attached) to the seam allowance, thus inclosing the serged edges between layers of skirt- and away from sensitive legs).
I also made a pattern for fingerless gloves (by measuring my daughters arms at key points) and then cut the pattern on the bias (as I was sewing the gloves to be over the elbow and out of a satin that didn’t have much give. We were all very relieved when she could bend her arms!
My daughter had a great time as Belle this year, and I had a great time sewing her costume! With only one girl and two younger boys, I suspect that I won’t get to do too many more princess costumes, so i hope to make the most of every opportunity!
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