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Arachne’s dress
(click images to to enlarge)
Outline the story …
My design was inspired by the story of Arachne in Ovid's "Metamorphoses". A weaver of fabrics, Arachne, is known to all (amongst humans and gods alike) to be the greatest at her art. The poem goes into the detail of her weaving and embroidery. It ends with Pallas so envious of her art that she turns Arachne into a spider so she would have to weave for all time.
I took a design of clothing that would have been common in that era and chose purple fabric that the poem mentions Arachne using and I created a spider web embroidered belt as a way of hinting at what would become of Arachne by the end of her story.
Always being a great lover of ancient literature as well as eight legged creatures, I couldn't resist the call of her story as I begin my adventure into the realm of sewing and garment creation.
Outline the construction…
I used linen as at the time of the myth fabric of linen or wool was woven. With the climate being quite warm I figured linen would be best. I chose to hand sew the entire piece to go for a bit of historical accuracy.
In creating the belt, I chose to embroider the spider web design onto the fabric. I knew I wouldn't be able to do metalworking that traditionally the belt would be constructed out of so instead, I chose a thread coated in metal. This was probably my biggest challenge. As I embroidered the metallic fibers tangled and split often and also created pulls in the the delicate linen. This was truly my first project I've ever sewed so every task was a learning experience and me doing it for the first time.
This is amazing! I love the color palette and your embroidery work on the belt, it’s amazing. Great work!
Great work! Also, wink twice if you are reincarnation of Arachne.
I love the colors and design of your piece. It is simple and beautiful and the little spider web embroidery is so lovely and sweet. I adore your characterization of Arachne.
Very elegant!
What a beautiful interpretation! The colours are wonderful and I love the way it fits you~ The hand woven web detailing is perfect and I admire the patience that must have required! 🕷✨
The colour choice is so pretty and i love the spiderweb decorations! Really embodies the story well!
Lovely work! Everything is so well-considered, and you look great wearing it.
Excellent! Love the embroidery. Great job!
I love this, very pretty, perfect for history bounding, and I love the story of Arachne!
Such an awesome portrail of the charecter, LOVING the golden spiderwebs- very clever
Very well done, I love the spiders web embroidery.
What an impressive first sewing project! I really love the way you’ve stitched the top seams of the sleeves, allowing little “cold arm” slits to be loose between caught seams stitched together. The finishing there looks very neat. Thank you for sharing your dress.
I really like the colour of this dress… I instantly saw ancient Greece in it. Congrats on the feat conquered.
I think this is wonderful. It looks like Greek Theater.
What a beautiful first project! And a lovely interpretation of one of my favorite stories from myth.
beautiful story and I love the webs
The dress is fantastically evocative and the embroidery really takes it to the next level!
The color is beautiful. I love the flow too its very nice. For a very first garment, you did exceptionally well! Way better than I could! Thank you!
What a splendid color and the embroidery is amazing. Bravo!
Goodness – what a challenge you set yourself for a first project and it turned out so well. I’ve just worked with metal thread and it is a challenge whatever stage you are at I can assure you! I love the loose, drapy feel that you have accomplished that links to the ancient world so well. Fabulous.
Thank you for reminding us of our foundational traditions. You made a real garment that fits and suits you using a difficult fabric. A lesser designer would have been left with a grain bag (not a potato sack, of course — grin)
This is so well done! I love the color choice and the spider webs on the belt are such a wonderful nod to the myth!