Fabric: Silk re-purposed from some old curtains in my garage. Underlined with cotton flannel and trimmed with plastic pearl trim sewn into the seams.
The pattern went together well. I did one fitting, basting the pieces together, and ended up taking in the bust and shortening the shoulders. Those were the only fitting changes I made to this well drafted, well notched pattern.
It was the Medieval Day Fair at her school and she was chosen to be the Queen of her team. There are teams of kids from all grades mixed together, and they compete. They build trebuchets and compete against each other with them, have academic contests, recite poetry, have heralding contests, perform entertainment, have an archery contest, race on stilts, and then have a big feast together.
It’s a beautiful event! But Gigi had the stomach flu, so I couldn’t take any photos, as I stayed home to take care of her.
I used a invisible zipper on the back. I had only a day to make the dress, and didn’t want to make the lace up back. But I sort of wish I had now. I was tired!
I just happened to have some purple curtains I made a long time ago, that I ‘d been saving for just such an occasion.
The curtains were lined with cotton flannel already, so I cut both pieces out as one, and serged each separately cut piece together. But to be honest, this flannel ended up making the dress way to hot! Not to self: Don’t underline sleeves with flannel.
I learned the technique of underlining costumes from a professional costumer I was assisting on a play once. It makes costumes more durable, and you don’t have to line them. Theatrical costumes shouldn’t have lining, because it makes altering them for future plays really difficult.
Since I help out at the school with their annual play costumes, I made this pattern as I would a theater costume, so it can be used in the future. We’ve done Shakespeare, and this dress will be perfect in a future play.