With this pattern, you can create a wide variety of dresses for day and evening--plus a jumper that can be worn over a blouse made from my Romantic Blouse pattern. This pattern was inspired by the PBS production of "Wives and Daughters," which motivated me to look into extant gowns from this transitional time between the Regency and Victorian eras. I owe a great debt of thanks to Janet Arnold's detailed sketches in Patterns of Fashion 1.

• Sizes 6-26 all included in one envelope.
• Illustrated instructions make construction easy!
• Options for long sleeves and short sleeves; darted, gathered, or pleated bodices; front or back closures; and five different necklines.
• Instructions for creating a period correct nursing dress--perfect for nursing moms!
• Period fashion plates included to inspire your creations.
• Pattern appendix explains how to adjust the bodice front for ladies sized D and DD.
• Online Photo Instructions available!
• Yardage Chart also available online.

The photos on this page show several different outfits you can make from this pattern (you could easily make a dozen different styles by mixing and matching necklines, sleeves, and bodice treatments). The pattern is rated "intermediate" because of the fitting techniques involved, but a patient beginner should be able to navigate the instructions without too much trouble (feel free to submit questions through the FAQs page if you have them!).

Packaged in a printed envelope, the pattern is US$15, plus shipping. (You can purchase an envelope separately for $1 if you already have the pattern.) Alabama residents must add 8% state sales tax of $1.20 to the $15 (Paypal adds this automatically for you at checkout if you're in AL). Please click here if you wish to pay by cheque or money order. To purchase the pattern with your debit/credit card or an e-check through Paypal's secure server, click on the button. (We can process international orders through Paypal. You will be prompted for your region during checkout.)

Click thumbnails for larger images.
(Photographs Copyright 2005 Rebecca Suerdieck of Perrin Cottage Studios.)

Here is the Romantic jumper shown over the Romantic Blouse.
The jumper can be made with or without the waistband and with gathers or pleats in the skirt.

Click thumbnails for larger images.
(Photographs copyright 2005 A Thousand Words Photography.)

The young lady wears a Romantic ballgown of silk taffeta with pleated bodice front, bateau neckline, waistband, and knife-pleated skirt.

Here's the companion to the women's Romantic Era Dress pattern. I've pulled sleeves and skirt width from the later Romantic period, but the fit is still very similar to the Ladies' Romantic Era Dress (shorter bodice). Early Romantic Girls' fashions looked just like Regency fashions, so pulling those larger sleeves and wider skirts gives this a different look--and it will take you into the early Victorian Era if you simply lengthen the bodice by two inches! Dresses made from this pattern are meant for play, and I highly recommend getting the Pinafore/Pantaloon pattern below so you can also create the requisite pantaloons.

• Sizes 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8 & 10 all included in one envelope.
• Illustrated instructions make construction easy!
• Options for long sleeves; short, puffed sleeves; cap sleeves; and flare sleeves like you see in the drawing at left.
• Online Photo Instructions in the works!
• Yardage Chart also available online.

Packaged in a printed envelope and complete with illustrated instruction booklet, this pattern is US$12, plus shipping. [Note: If you ordered the pattern before without its envelope, use the button at left to purchase that for $1.] Alabama residents must add 8% state sales tax of $.96 to the $12 (Paypal adds this automatically for you at checkout if you're in AL). Please click here if you wish to pay by cheque or money order. To purchase the pattern with your debit/credit card or an e-check through Paypal's secure server, click on the button. (We can process international orders through Paypal. You will be prompted for your region during checkout.)

Click thumbnails for larger images.
(Photos copyright 2005 A Thousand Words Photography.)

This dress features a bateau neckline, flutter sleeves, and four-gore skirt.
It is shown over pantaloons made from voile with tucks and eyelet trim.