FOUNDATIONS REVEALED COMPETITION ENTRY
The Gifts of the Musketeers
(click images to to enlarge)
Outline the story …
Story Inspiration: Alexandre Dumas, The Three Musketeers
The Character: D’Artagnan
We enter this scene, near the conclusion of this book; “[Athos] took a quill, wrote the name of D’Artagnan in the commission, and returned it to him.” (p 642) While D’Artagnan despaired of ever having friends again, the three other men decided to help see the young man off with gifts.
Athos, Porthos and Aramis each gave the young man a small gift—since we all know how fortune was grand in gesture, but light in coin for each man at that moment.
Athos gave a linen shirt, last small bit of the wardrobe of the Comte de la Fére. While the shirt was a bit large for D’Artagnan’s frame, he did not want to alter it at all; it being the finest shirt he had ever owned.
Aramis gave D’Artagnan lace enough for a collar. As he was planning to retire to a convent, Aramis did not want reminders of his military life. Planchet, D’Artagnan’s lackey, handily sewed the lace on a patched bit of cloth to create a tidy collar.
Porthos gave a hat he claimed was far too plain for marriage to his duchess; and gave it to D’Artagnan with his blessing.
Outline the construction…
The linen shirt and lace collar are hand sewn—inspiration came from the Victoria and Albert archives. The shirt is simple straight grain rectangles, sewn with waxed linen thread. As I made the shirt, I found that the body was too large, so I ended up cutting out 2 inches on each side. Getting the button hole stitch right was frustrating.
The collar took three tries to get it large enough--historical collars are all lace, which D'Artagnan could not have afforded So once I got the size correct, the sewing was easy The lace is modern commercial, mostly cotton which I applied with linen thread to a vintage cotton/linen napkin, already needing mending—so it has several patched holes for "authenticity."
The hat was a first time for me: it is a wool felt --stretching a wool felt caplet (that is not big enough,) was a new skill--maybe if I create two or three more hats I'll feel more competent is made from a wool felt caplet, stretched and sized myself and trimmed with polyester grosgrain ribbon, wire; along with marabou and ostridge feathers.
I love the fact that you kept the mending on the collar. Nice result, congratulation
The photo with hat, collar and blouse, my first thought was “scaramouche”. Perfect!
Those tiny pleats at the cuffs!!! I just love it! I’m so glad to see more 3Musketeers on here, you did a great job interpreting this work❤
I once thought about making a hat but got intimidated when I saw all the work. You are incredible. Respect!
This looks very suitable for a Musketeer and it´s wonderfully made!