Primavera

Has anyone else got an artist whose work you love so much it results in Bad Decisions? For me it's Kinuko Y. Craft. The first bad decision was finishing a book that was really not very good because of her gorgeous cover art; the second was starting to read the sequel. Third, I paid an exorbitant amount of postage to have an expensive-in-its-own-right book of her art shipped to Australia. And lastly, or rather, most recently, I decided I had to make one of the dresses I saw in said artbook. While I am supposed to be finishing up writing an album. 

By coincidence, the theme for the Canberra Show craft competition this year is Myths and Legends, giving me some justification and a two-month deadline.

I have taken a break from looking through the book because it was making me crazy. Got to finish this dress first.

Google informs me that this dress is from the cover art of In the Forests of Serre by Patricia A. McKillip which I have not read or heard of in any other context. I have no idea if this character is actually a fairy, but that's what I thought of when looking at it, so I am making a fairy dress. I am also working in a very different colour pallet that feels more me.

Maybe this could be another bad decision. Or. Perchance. A good one.

I have divided the outfit into three garments: the Overdress, the Jacket and the Underdress. The underdress could have been a blouse and skirt, but I decided I liked the idea it being a functional dress on its own and then the other layers could be added when leaving the house/castle/bower. My other executive decision was that fairies have invented elastic – or at least have ensorcelled cords to have stretch. (Having a ribbon in the underdress neckline was very uncomfortable.)

Patterns I am drawing from:

• Kwik Sew 2102
• Simplicity 6746
• McCalls M4861 as adapted for my Tia Dalma costume
• McCalls M4378 from which I previously made the cape for a Barbie party
• My self-drafted cuff pattern from my ice goth outfit 

The overdress will be made from this lovely brocade I found in Spotlight. If I hadn't happened upon it the whole dress would probably have stayed a mental design exercise. I got 4 metres. Part of me is sure this is plenty but another part of me is deeply worried.

After picking out the brocade I was pretty sure I had some perfect stash fabrics to go with it. For the jacket I am using a heavy silver satin I'm pretty sure I got from a curtain shop. While it doesn't match the rose gold threads in the brocade, it shares a reddish undertone so they coordinate well. I was slightly concerned I had misremembered after pulling out 2 dark purple satins that didn't match at all but then I found the one I was looking for. I think it came from a warehouse in Redcliffe. I have 3m, so this one's going to be tight. I might end up having to piece some of it. The brown and beige are for linings. The sheer fabric will need to be purchased (wish me luck!) I'm thinking pale pink.