Elven Grove, Part 14

Anita - Norway

Click the pic for more detail

Full index of Anita's other outfits:

Ascka - Brazil

I try to make a elven costume inspired on the lotr ones, but I was kind of hard because I didn't find the material here so I made I as best as I could. The ears were just to difficult to make...but I did find some large one and cut them to get the right size  They were made of latex. I had a lot of fun making this... fulfilling a dream =)

Pattern: Butterick #5944, modified for both the inner and outer robes. Fabric: Inner robe and sash-French lilac silk dupioni, Outer robe-ivory silk dupioni.

I found this costume relatively easy to do once I got started and did a mock-up. All it really required was using one pattern for both robes, removing some pieces (i.e. removing the collar on the outer robe) or adding some inches so this flowed better. Dupioni was the basis of this costume, and the inspiration came from one of the Elves walking next to Arwen's horse in "Return of the King." I named said Elf "Lindir" after the Elf that teased Bilbo in the books.

My chase dress is not in the same colors as Arwen's version. I just thought I wouldn't look too kinky in grey. I didn't use any simplicity patterns but just adjusted my personal basic pattern. I've made an underdress of white fabric. I don't really know what kind it is as I bought it on the market but it's really supple and smooth. The trick is to make this an extra wide skirt. To make a wide skirt is simply to leave the waist the same as the standard pattern but expand the downside to the width of half the width of the fabric. I usually take fabrics that are 150 cm in width so my skirt gets to be about 150cm in width near my feet. The underskirt has two-part sleeves. The upper sleaves are standard sleeves cut off above the elbows and then trumpet sleeves are attached. By chance I have found cotton that wrinkles when in water and this gave this cool effect. I know the fabric is way too mundane for an Elf but I used it for the effect. The bodice is quite standard although I made a low v collar in it so it would be invisible with the overdress on.  The overdress is green and made of some kind of velvet, I don't really know as I bought it on the market. I suppose my bf's mom knows as she's a tailor. The bodice and collar are made like shown on the alleycat page describing the chase dress so I don't think I will elaborate on that. It was a challenge though and my collar turned out too big so I'll have to take it in. If I don't find the time to do it decently, I'll just fold it in and stitch it lightly so it won't be too obvious that I've been improvising. The front and back of the skirts are open and I wear a white legging under it with boots.I also made a cool sword out of a toy pirate sword. I can't afford the real Hadfahang :(. I took the gold part of the handle off and molded clay on the handle to make it smooth and painted it.

See her web page here: http://members.lycos.nl/tmarofvulcan/elf.htm