This was my latest try. I am not completely satisfied with it and definitely not with these pictures. I learned several things including that this is not a 14th-century self-supporting garment and I need to watch how I stand.
This dress was designed and created for the Midrealm’s Spring Crown Tournament. I figured I needed a special dress for a special day since it was my husband’s first time fighting in Crown for me.
I used the same basic drafted pattern as for the purple dress however I changed the size of the arm (the purple one had to be taken in so that the top of the sleeve fit appropriately). I had again planned to lace the sides but time again was a factor and I opted for sewing them together for a snug fit as I did with the purple one. I purchased 100% silk dupioni in a deep red for the dress and white for the sleeve linings.
There were more pieces as I created this dress for two reasons: 1. The fabric was not as wide requiring multiple gores to be cut instead of large ones and 2. I added gores to the back to create fullness. On the purple dress, the fabric drapes nicely due to the weight and hand of the fabric; however, the silk tended to lay flatter and not hold the full shape without the addition of more material. The dress was machine sewn and all flat-felled by hand using all silk thread that matched the color of the dress. I did trim the arm seam with a commercially produced embroidered trim that fits the time and place appropriate to the gown although the trim should be moved up the arm somewhat.
My plan is to embroider a piece to add to the neckline as well as new bands for the arms that will place them in a more appropriate location. As a side note, I should have used my circular veil for this instead of the rectangular one. I used this one because of the material (silk) but should have opted for the better shape.
Update: After losing some weight, I found that I need to completely alter this dress.