| My Lord of the Rings/Narnian Gown with some other things added in |
| January 12, 2006 Summary/Background: yay ... this is getting so redone. there was so much indecision about my lotr gown ... i think part of the problem is that there are just way to many options in lord of the rings .... and you want to do them all. so i'm still going to that whole idea, but it's going to the future projects page. so some background on everything ... the orgins of the idea of this dress really came from this incredible person, and this one gown that she made. (credit where credit is due). i fell in love with the sleeves, and so i wanted to make one of my own with those sleeves. anyway, so i was on the lookout for fabric, i wanted a blue/silver brocade with a design that would pass for an elvish look (this would be my dress from Dol Amroth, to go with the banner, haha). so i didnt find that, but i did find (courtesy of the Hobby Lobby in Texas) a blue/silver/white crepe back satin, which is lovely. and then i saw Susan's Coronation Gown from the Chronicles of Narnia. so the design didnt change that much, but it did at the same time. i have the final sketch up at the top, along with a picture of Su's Cor Gown and the original DA Gown. the pic of the fabric is up there too, the silver/blue is going to be the main part of the dress. the darker blue is going to be the sleeves (the top and bottom part). the white georgette is going to be part of an undersleeve, free and flowing. and the lace ... well i am going to try and make my own trim (for the neckline and around the sleeves). it's the perfect size, and i'll add some beads ... and i was thinking of painting it silver. but i'll have to play around with it. as far as the contruction is going, well i havent started yet, but i am hoping to tomorrow. i'm using McCalls 4490 as a base (i've made this before, for a friend) but i am going to draft out the gathers, and probably make the arm hole a bit bigger, because it was sort of small last time. and this is really full ... which is good. :) and i'm going to try and bone the top part, which should be interesting to see how that works out. (hopefully just putting boning at the seams will work.) oh, and all around the outside of the sleeves (on the blue satin, not the georgette) i'm going to be adding silver bugle beads .... cause i think that might look cool. i still have to work out the belt details ... i think it's going to be a detachable one. but that's not a priority. (more detail to come). well ... seeing that it's almost 1:30 at night, i'm going to get some sleep, so i can get up and work with a clear head on this tomorrow. January 22, 2006 Addition: well it's been a while. turns out that i didnt get to work on this before i came back to school ... just some things that were going on at home. I have, however, decided (after having second thoughts) that i AM going to use the fabrics that i have, and it's going to look wonderful. but that's not why i'm updating. oh no. i found something else that i realllly want to add to this dress ... once it's all done. a back cloak. picture is above. i'd use different colors, of course, probably a nice white, maybe something from the drapery / curtain section. haha, it'll be a reward for me for finishing the dress. but, i've decided, the dress itself doesnt need to have a train in the back, or at least not a very long one. a little bit of a train would be nice. but not necessary. well i'm off .... to do some more reading for school. *yay* 3.12.06 wonderful news! the dress is done! well .... just about. still have loose ends to tie up. but all of the big stuff is done! pics are above :) things to finish: hem the sleeve, outer and inner make the belt - find more beads, etc put silver bugle beads on the bottom of the outer sleeve find a good trim design and make it finish all the inside seams, add lining for the skirt get more boning and put it in the dress lining construction: pretty basic, i used McCalls 4490 - skirt, and 4491 - top. the inside is lined (and boned). the whole thing went together (for the most part) alright. Except for the part when the sewing machine died, and i had to run over and get my aunt's machine. But, on a better note, I now understand the importance of gussets ;) fabric: some kind of cotton for the lining, duck canvas for the bodice lining, poly crepe backed satin (dress) and ploy satin and white georgette (sleeves). oh, the only disappointment that i really have (well, ok - there's 2) is that the fabric really snags and pulls on every little thing, so i have to find some way to fix that (there's some down the front). any ideas? and 2 - i had bought lovely blue/silver tiny (rocailles?) beads to use in the belt. As i was stringing them on, i noticed that my fingers were turning blue; and sure enough, the blue was coming right off! so i have some sliver/blue beads (more silver/white than blue) on a string. I have some other beads, but they're much bigger and i rather liked the way i thought they would look mixed together. .:sigh:. ..... so the bead search will continue. 5.21.05 wow ... so update! the dress is done, all that has to be done at some point is this trim that i am supposedly going to add, and the belt. turns out that i found more beads, but they catch on the fabric and create more pulls (which i cant fix) so it looks like i might just made an actual belt (not beads on a string) and it'll match the trim. and i'll get around to doing the trim eventaully. i need a good design and some inspiration first, i think. pics! the first one is me at school, the second is me next to the narnia display at wal-mart midnight, april 3/4. the last two pics are of the trim as it is right now. i'm planing on finishing the edges with the blue fabric turned over .... now all i need is to be inspired. i was thinking of adding silver bugle beads (like those on the sleeve) on the edges .... but thats all i have. if anyone has some ideas, let me know :) i'll appreciate it very much ;) ohh yes ... and the back cloak/drape/thing. well it's still in the works ..... aka i'm trying to find a pattern & playing with some other fabric attempting to make my own. It probably wont get done until the trim is done. and i'm going to have to think/make creative clasps to actually attach the cloak to the dress. back to the costumes! |
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