A project to return with

Look at that, I really am back! I'm going to a Yule event on the 11th, and while I do already have a lovely pink linen gown made, I want something fancier for this. While the first plan was the red gown on the left here, I couldn't find enough of the right color taffeta, but I did find a lovely pink silk instead. So hey, I decided why not have a bit of fun and make the completely out there dress in this portrait.



I have a yard of green cotton velvet, which should be enough for all the trimming on the bodice, but I don't think I'll have enough for skirt guards unless they're narrow. And I don't know if I have enough time to run down to Philly and pick more up before the event either.

Not for a bit of technical talk. I've been poking around and looking at a lot of other costumers and their versions of this style of gown. And on most of them I've noticed gapping, either below the brustfleck/plastron, where the lacing doesn't start high enough or tight enough, or above there, where there is perhaps extra fabric at the armhole. I did notice in this painting, with detail that there's the almost sheer hemd, with what could be a second, opaque helm, possibly much shorter, since it's only visible under the bodice, so I'm going to play with that idea. We'll see how exactly things turn out once I get into fitting and sewing and all that.

Now to get back to patterning....