FOUNDATIONS REVEALED COMPETITION ENTRY
Mystery of the Maelstrom
(click images to to enlarge)
Other Credits
Photographer IG: @jakeisacoolbean
Outline the story …
Edgar Allan Poe’s "A Descent Into The Maelstrom" is my chosen inspiration for this competition. The story opens in Norway with two men climbing to the top of a mountain to catch a glimpse of the horrific, ship-swallowing whirlpool. This epic, natural occurrence happens regularly with the tides and it’s deadly lore is told throughout the land. From the summit, the “old” sailor recounts the tale of how he miraculously escaped the maelstrom. The allegory seems fitting in 2021 with the world watching the chaos continually unfolding before us, unsure if we can believe our eyes and simultaneously finding creative ways to survive. The original story was written in 1841 and, like most Poe stories, has a moody and ominous theme. I wanted to create a dark, mysterious outer garment that could be worn just as easily by fantastical explorer or Edgar Allan Poe himself. A cape seemed like the perfect fit! The finished garment is a blend of the traditional Norwegian bunad with regal, Western European military details.
Outline the construction…
I modified a 1970s cape pattern (Vogue 8416) for a double layer garment, cut the main fabric from navy wool suiting and the lining from a silkscreened, Japanese silk blend. The pattern, fabrics, and buttons were from my inherited vintage stash; the only thing I purchased for this project was the green trim. I hand basted the two layers and machine sewed them together, leaving openings for the pockets Then pressed and hand finished both sides of each inner seam There are seven main segments of this cape and from the inside, they beautifully arc together like a cathedral buttress at the shoulder seams. After attaching the collar and finishing the bottom hem, came the giant task of adding trim. I used a total of 10 yards of trim and hand felled both sides to the garment so that it would lay nice and flat. There are approximately 15,000 hand stitches throughout this cape and it weighs nearly five pounds. Several of the techniques I was using for the first time. These include flat lining the garment, basting, hand finishing seams, and hand sewing trim. I now have a better appreciation for these practices; basting and flat lining really helped the two layers of fabric act as one. The finished garment drapes like a dream, without wrinkles. Many of these bespoke practices were learned via YouTube. I absorb the most about construction and process from Bernadette Banner and get motivated to push past my sewing insecurities from Micarah Tewers.
Beautiful work!
That trim though.
WOW, this is STUNNING! All of the gorgeous details you included made me swoon. I love the choices you made for the color palette and what you did with the trim along the back. It is also so deeply satisfying how the insides are just as beautiful as the outsides. What a magical garment!
So beautiful!
That’s a mind boggling amount of hand stitches. Good work. Lovely colors of green and blue together and that lining. Love it!
Wow, I really, really like this cape. Beautiful work, well done! Thank you!