OK, LJ Brain Trust, What's Next?
I'm polling you so that I know which of two gowns I should do first--I love both, and will eventually do both, but I am torn as to which to do first. I want to get started on the project in question this week, so vote quickly! Arguments for each and pictures of inspiration portraits and fabrics are under the cuts.
Poll Spring Sewing
click here to see Venetian Gown; not working right otherwise
This is a court/revel (read FANCY) gown, but since most of the SCA and Adrian events I attend are in nicely manicured parks or in lovely clean halls, I can wear this without too much fear of its getting ruined, no matter where I wear it. I have 8 1/8 yards of the fabric and 40 3/4 yards of the trim--certainly enough to do this gown, and more than enough trim. I would be seriously considering swapping out the floppy leafy ruffs with the ruffs in this picture, which is of the same period (1570's). To do the entire gown in the second picture, I'd need about twice as much trim, and it would ruin the design of the fabric. I love the fabric, so that would be just dumb. The fabric was a reward for having gotten a job, which is, unfortunately on hiatus, but which will be coming back. I love the elegance of this gown, and I love the pretty light green. Note the cute little whales for Mobi on the trim. Yes, the green in the trim is a really close match to the green in the fabric.
This one is out of much more sturdy fabrics, appropriate to a tourney gown (they are fine wale corduroy). I found this picture years ago, and found the checkered corduroy probably even longer ago. It's true that it isn't an exact match, but it is so evocative of the portrait that I can't imagine using it for anything else. I have 3 yards of the checkered and 5 yards of the striped fabric. Again, plenty for the project. Until I found the stripey fabric for the skirt, I worried about how I would finish the gown, as I only had enough of the checkered fabric for the bodice and sleeves. It's such a surprising gown that I have been longing to do it, just to freak people out. It's a much earlier gown (1503-1504) but it's a kick in the pants. The lady in the portrait is Elisabetta Gonzaga (1471-1526), Duchess of Urbino and wife of Guidobaldo da Montefeltro, renowned for her cultured and virtuous life. I love that a woman with that reputation wears such a wild fabric. Oh, yeah. The skirt fabric will be running with the stripes lengthwise. No way am I going to emphasize my butt that much. I may end up adding some metallic gold thread to the checkered design because I can't leave well enough alone, but I'm not positive about that.
So, my peeps, what shall it be?
Poll Spring Sewing
click here to see Venetian Gown; not working right otherwise
This is a court/revel (read FANCY) gown, but since most of the SCA and Adrian events I attend are in nicely manicured parks or in lovely clean halls, I can wear this without too much fear of its getting ruined, no matter where I wear it. I have 8 1/8 yards of the fabric and 40 3/4 yards of the trim--certainly enough to do this gown, and more than enough trim. I would be seriously considering swapping out the floppy leafy ruffs with the ruffs in this picture, which is of the same period (1570's). To do the entire gown in the second picture, I'd need about twice as much trim, and it would ruin the design of the fabric. I love the fabric, so that would be just dumb. The fabric was a reward for having gotten a job, which is, unfortunately on hiatus, but which will be coming back. I love the elegance of this gown, and I love the pretty light green. Note the cute little whales for Mobi on the trim. Yes, the green in the trim is a really close match to the green in the fabric.
This one is out of much more sturdy fabrics, appropriate to a tourney gown (they are fine wale corduroy). I found this picture years ago, and found the checkered corduroy probably even longer ago. It's true that it isn't an exact match, but it is so evocative of the portrait that I can't imagine using it for anything else. I have 3 yards of the checkered and 5 yards of the striped fabric. Again, plenty for the project. Until I found the stripey fabric for the skirt, I worried about how I would finish the gown, as I only had enough of the checkered fabric for the bodice and sleeves. It's such a surprising gown that I have been longing to do it, just to freak people out. It's a much earlier gown (1503-1504) but it's a kick in the pants. The lady in the portrait is Elisabetta Gonzaga (1471-1526), Duchess of Urbino and wife of Guidobaldo da Montefeltro, renowned for her cultured and virtuous life. I love that a woman with that reputation wears such a wild fabric. Oh, yeah. The skirt fabric will be running with the stripes lengthwise. No way am I going to emphasize my butt that much. I may end up adding some metallic gold thread to the checkered design because I can't leave well enough alone, but I'm not positive about that.
So, my peeps, what shall it be?