Summer 2014 DW Fashion Design Challenge: Entry #4: Intermediate

Entrant Category: Intermediate

Please don't vote until all of the entries are available and

we have announced the voting start on The Doll Wardrobe Blog. :-)

Voting for the 2014 Summer FDC...

Starts On Sept 1st, 2014.

Voting Ends on Sept 20th.

Please vote for this entry by commenting below or

emailing us at nora.demington@gmail.com.

Vote for Entry #4, by writing -- "I vote for Entry #4."

We recommend voting for one newbie entry,

one intermediate, and one pro, at least.

____________

1) Outfit design

When I first started thinking of what to make for the summer FDC, I wanted to make a character from one of my favorite books. So I looked over all my bookshelves for inspiration. I considered several different ideas, but nothing that really clicked with me. Then I started reading the Lord of the Rings trilogy and got the idea to do one of Eowyn's outfits. I actually started making the prototype, but it turned out to be a complete disaster.

So I scrapped that and returned to the drawing board.

That's when I remembered this:

My friend actually sent me this picture a few months ago, so I don't know where this outfit comes from. I realized that it was exactly what the main character in a novel I'm writing would wear. Besides that, I knew that I could make it.

So, a little more background on the character this is made for: Quimby Pebbleton's father has just died and she must go to live with her older married sister, Karina, and her brother-in-law, who run a lodge in a rural area on the river. In her new life, Quimby must not only learn at a new school, but she must also learn how to live her new life.

2) Outfit in process of being created

I didn't really make a paper pattern, which I know is rather naughty, but I didn't really think I needed one. For the over skirt, I cut two rectangles about 17 1/2 inches by 5 1/2 inches.

These I sewed these two together end to end, resulting in a long rectangle 5 1/2 by 33 inches. I hemmed the bottom edge but waited to gather the top.

For the underskirt, I took a piece of white silky fabric in a long, long, rectangle that was the length of the fabric I had and the height of the over skirt plus 2 1/2 inches.

When it came to the bodice, I realized that I had only a tiny amount of fabric. This meant two things: first, I could not mess up, as there was not enough fabric to re-cut, and secondly, the bodice would have to be shaped very specifically.

To be honest, this scared me a bit and made me want to go and start over with a different fabric. But instead I took a pencil and lightly drew some lines to sketch out a general pattern shape. It took some creativity to arrange it just right, but after I cut it out, I was very pleased.

I sewed up the bodice and then gathered the skirts to fit the bodice.

Finally, I sewed all three layers together. The dress was finished.

For the undershirt, I used the free Liberty Jane t-shirt pattern available on pixiefaire.com. I did length the sleeves slightly. For the kerchief, I bunched up some fabric and pinned it on, that way I can use the shirt for another outfit in the future.

3) Outfit complete and modeled