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Mercy Please
(click images to to enlarge)
Outline the story …
I choose to make an outfit for Mercy, the eccentric roommate of the main character in Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo. The book chronicles freshman Alex Stern’s interactions and attempted oversight of the magic societies at Yale University. Though most of the students at Yale wear jeans and a t-shirt, Mercy has a colorful and floral but sophisticated fashion sense. Her fashion icons are Coco Chanel and her Korean grandmother. During her freshman year, Mercy is assaulted which both sets in motion the plot, and encourages her to change her fashion sense to fit in with her peers more.
I choose to create a costume for Mercy as she is coming back into her confidence but still wearing more muted colors and prints. She returns to wearing vintage-inspired timeless pieces as an ode to Chanel but sticks to neutral colors as if she is attempting to blend into the buildings of Yale. I choose to make a Mercy costume because her strength inspires me. Despite the terrible events of her freshman fall, she still shows up when Alex needs help. Mercy prevents Alex from giving up and helps her solve the mysteries of the book.
Outline the construction…
Making this outfit was my first time sewing anything and I am very proud of the work I completed. I created a basic pleated skirt by pleating two rectangles of wool fabric and attaching a brown cotton sateen waistband. I used French seams for the construction. I added a large pocket to the right seam - what college student doesn’t want to be able to carry their phone? I paired the skirt with a white linen shirt. For this I lightly modified the “pirate shirt” from Bernadette Banner’s youtube video . I used a smaller width, shortened the neck slit, and left off sleeves for a slightly more modern look. The arm holes and shirt bottom are both finished with hand rolled hems. The side and shoulder seams are hand felled for a flat finish. Both pieces were hand stitched for two reasons. First, I didn’t own a sewing machine for much of this project. Second, I learned that I like the feeling and control of hand stitching.
Bernadette Banner's "Pirate Shirt" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ql9r8UKIvZs)
Beautifully done. And all hand stitched. You should be very proud. Good luck x
that’s a nice achievement for a first sewing project. Congratlation
Well done, you can be proud. Not every one can wear the first sewing project (speaking for a friend).
The pleating on the skirt looks great ! And the overall look is wonderful, good job !
Lovely and becoming. Definitely a work to be proud of.
Lovely work! That houndstooth is the perfect choice for the headspace you describe for the character, and what a striking modernization of that historical shirt.
this is a really nice and wearable ensemble! and you’re right, handstitching is really nice! You’ve done very good! love the fabrics <3
Nicely done! The inspiration shows through clearly in your design!
Wow, so nicely done. I love this whole outfit! Thank you so much! You should be very proud of this!