FOUNDATIONS REVEALED COMPETITION ENTRY
Lúthien Tinúviel
(click images to to enlarge)
Outline the story …
Lúthien Tinúviel was the daughter of Thingol & Melian, rulers of the elven kingdom of Doriath. Lúthien is most well known for her part in ‘The Lay of Leithian’ which tells the tale of her love of Beren, a mortal, and their quest to reclaim a Silmaril from the dark lord, Morgoth.
I found this iridescent shot silk sari a few years ago at a second hand store, and have been waiting for a project that would truly showcase its beautiful colours. When I read the description of Lúthien in The Silmarillion by J. R. R. Tolkien, I knew I had found my project.
“Blue was her raiment as the unclouded heaven, but her eyes were as grey as the starlit evening. Her mantle was sewn with golden flowers, but her hair was as dark as the shadows of twilight.”
Being an extremely visual learner, having little in the way of direct inspiration was a challenge, but it also allowed me the freedom to explore and design in my own style. I was inspired by the drape of the elvish gowns designed by Ngila Dickson for Lord of the Rings, but took my design in a somewhat different direction, recognizing that even among elves, fashions would change somewhat in the millennia between The Silmarillion and Lord of the Rings.
Outline the construction…
My project began with a Butterick pattern, with deviations both aesthetic and functional. The sleeves I drafted myself, using the pattern’s measurements as a starting point, and are trimmed with border from the sari.
My biggest challenge came with fitting the bodice, as it is only my second time attempting something so tailored. While my mockup fit beautifully, the dress itself had some fitting issues which required creative thinking. I ended up putting in an extra piece down the entire back and adding darts at the shoulder blades. I’ve done darts a couple times before, but am still a long way from being comfortable figuring them out, especially when they’re not in the original plan. I altered the dress pattern from back lacing to side lacing to better tailor to my body shape, reinforcing the lacing seams with interfaced taffeta. This project also gave me the opportunity to learn how to set in grommets, something I have never done before.
Not wanting to waste any of the fabric, I turned more of the border into a belt, backed with a sturdy linen for structure. The sigil is my rendition of Lúthien’s heraldry, as designed by JRR Tolkien. It was embroidered and beaded entirely by hand. While I have done cross-stitch before, this was my first time embroidering and beading a complex pattern.
Overall, this project was quite a learning experience, but one I’m eager to continue.
You really captured an Elvish feel with this garment, especially the embroidery!
Thank you so much!
Oh my goodness, have you seen the belt?!?! Drop down gorgeous!! Stunning
Thank you! That was one of my favourite parts to make 🙂
The embroidery (beetle wings?) at the collar ist beautiful. And the belt and everything … you have an eye for details.
Thank you so much!
That belt! And the colors also look wonderful❤
Everyone is talking about belt, but those sleeves are incredible! Great job!
This is really very nice. I love the belt and the sleeves! Well done! Thank you!