Jude's Examples
Glasgow, Scotland
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White Lady
Having cherished for some time the
idea of doing a White Lady dress, the chief problem was finding a suitable
and cheap white fabric. Where was it? What could I use?
I looked at satin, polyester, velvet
– even – God help me – fleece, but there was nothing even remotely in my
price range. I was at my wits end. I was ready to chuck it all and cough
up for white velvet, and then I saw the perfect fabric.
It wasn’t in a discount fabric shop
– it wasn’t even reduced. It was cream wool crepe at £2 a meter. I
snatched up the roll, carried it round the shop with me, occasionally
checking that I’d got the price right, and bought fifteen meters. I wish
I’d got the whole roll, now.
I’d decided to make the dress as
faithful to the movie as possible. So, it started with me fitting a three
piece bodice in some polyester as a toile; one front piece and two back
pieces, with all the fitting done at the side seams. It worked pretty well,
and I found some iron-on celtic designs to use for embroidered trim around
the neckline.
I got the iron, ironed over the
design, and managed in one fell swoop to burn the fabric, the carpet, and
the paper.
I cut the front again. This time I
ironed on a lower heat and an ironing board. This time it worked.
The next four weeks I spent
embroidering the neckline with single stranded golden brown embroidery
cotton. I had some trouble making the design go round the corners of the V
shaped neck, but in the end I managed. The design, originally intended to
go around the back as well, stops at the shoulder point on each side.
My sleeves are big beyond sense, and
I love them. They’re closely fitted to the elbow with quite a steep sleeve
head, then below the elbow have a meter long drop and a gorgeous long
semicircle on the lower edge. I decided to line them in a rather pretty
fabric that I culled from a duvet cover (£1 from the Social Security Charity
Shop) and that I’d been saving to make the shield-maiden outfit, which is
cream cotton with a very soft cream print on it. From a distance, it looks
like damask, which is just right.
I made the bodice up, flat-lined it
in cream satin, and added the sleeves, then put the skirt in as a four piece
umbrella skirt. I like the way it hangs – all soft folds. There’s a slight
train of about eight inches at the back, which puddles a little bit.
Unfortunately I cut the skirt just a bit too short at the front, so the
dress is ankle rather than full length, but at least I don’t trip over it.
I overcast the lower edge with a zig-zag stitch.
The back fastening is an invisible
zip. Normally I try not to use zips, but it actually is invisible so I
don’t mind too much. It’s so fitted that I find it difficult to zip myself
up and usually need a hand it get in.
The belt I cannibalised from three
broken belts that I found reduced in a fashion store. It isn’t backed on
fabric- it’s attatched at the back and each link is sewn to the waistline of
the gown. While it isn’t particularly faithful to Eowyn’s belt, it’s got a
gorgeous Saxon princess look to it that I think fits with the overall spirit
of Rohan.
And that was it. I left off the
sleeve ties, as I couldn’t find any cord that I liked. Some day I might add
them, but I don’t feel that the dress needs them.
I had a lot of bother fitting the
bodice, and I still feel a bit squashed every time I put it on, and it STILL
pulls a bit under the arms, but on the whole I’m quite pleased with it. I
suspect my chest size is just a bit too big to only shape at the side seams,
but the unbroken line of the fabric at the front is just wonderful. The
belt successfully hides the waist seam, and the weight of the gold links
pulls the fabric down, pulling out any creases and making the bodice sit
better.
If I was going to do it again, I
think I would consider princess seaming it, and maybe bag lining rather than
flat lining it. Also, I’d like to try it with lacing up the back.
Otherwise, success!
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