Costuming My Bliss

         Tiziano Vecellio 1560-65 Portrait of Lavinia

A little mor about this one:

The pattern was designed by me, using a modern sloper (the basic pattern that all other patterns can be made from.) 

Once the pattern was finalized, the sewing took about 2 weeks.  The binding for the bodice and sleeves is a purchased gold lame bias, stitched on by hand.  (Yeah, I'm crazy)  So far, I've not had any problems with it fraying or comming unraveled. 

A few things I'd like to change:

Add a draw string casing to the camicia sleeve at the wrist.  They keep slipping down and driving me batty!

Re-do the pleating on the skirt.  The pleating tape gives the right look, but I don't like the stifFness it adds.

The net is a mecca for an aspiring costumer.  There are so many talented folks on the web, it's impossible not to find something to inspire.

After finnishing (mostly) the Elizabethan, I decided I needed another gown to wear to Faire.  Something without hoops.  Don't get me wrong, I love the hoop, but they tend to get in The L.P.'s way.   I turned to one of my all time favorite sites, The Realm of Venus. I found this portrait there.  Something like this would be perfect!   I would still be able to go in for the gold and pearls, and all the girly stuff, yet I wouldn't be carring such a wide load.

At the same time, I was taking a flat pattern class, so decided I would use this as my final project.
First up were the undergarments.  I would need an Italian style camicia.  For that I headed on over to another of my fave places on the web, festiveattyer.  I followed her simple instructions, and had myself a camicia! (let me just say here, that I chose to use a cotton viole instead of linen.  Much less expensive this way, and I still got the look I wanted.)

The fashion fabric for the gown it's self is actually a couple of table cloths I picked up on clearance for $7 each.

For more info on construction, click on the pictures to the left.