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Dragonskin Slippers Project
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Outline the story …
Based on the book Dragonskin Slippers, by Jessica Day George. Creelisle Carlburn was heading to the big city to forge her own path, along the way she has a great adventure, meets a dragon named Shardas and surreptitiously obtains possession of a pair of slippers that make her feet itch. Creel found work as an apprentice dressmaker in the city and became known for ability to rework old gowns into new with embroidery and skilful re-cutting.
The slippers were actually made from the hide of a Dragon Queen and were eventually stolen from Creel by a foreign princess, in an attempt to control the Dragons and destroy the Kingdom. Creel and her new friend Prince Luka work together to save the Kingdom, and the Dragons from the Princess. Creel becomes known to the Kingdom as the “Heroine of the Dragon Wars” and is offered in marriage to the Crown Prince, Luka’s older brother, but she politely refuses. All Creel wants is a dressmaking shop of her very own.
The book ends with Creel and Luka forming a romantic attachment and here is where I join the story. I like to imagine that Creel and Luka married soon after and having had nothing so grand as her royal wedding dress ever before in her life, Creel wasn’t about to wear it only once! I think Creel would take her gown and tweak it just enough to make it suitable for daily wear in her dress shop parlour to entertain her customers.
Outline the construction…
Inspired by the yellows and blues from the cover art, I found a pair of damask style curtains in a pale yellowy and a blue quilted bedspread on a local bartering Facebook page. Combined with some pieces from my stash and about 600m of thread, Creel’s outfit was born. First I created the white based wedding outfit, then proceeded to reimagine the everyday version. The outfit consists of a chemise, partially boned quilted stays, bum pads, quilted petticoat, two under skirt panels, one white, one flowery, one embroidered stomacher, a linen kerchief and finally the outer dress with ruffled trim.
I worked vaguely toward the 18th century for the silhouette, and drafted my own patterns with a lot of help from the internet. Working with second hand materials not made for dressmaking was a challenge. The thickness and weight was hard to manage and I did have a few fit issues from this along the waistline which I was mostly able to overcome. I did Cartridge pleating for the first time which was hard to master but worth the overall effort. I had a lot of trouble with the sleeves and I eventually had to redo them 4 different times. I think I learnt a lot about sleeve fitting in the process. The main outer dress itself has an internal lacing panel, internal boning and a front lacing configuration from my own imagination, as I detest sewing hooks and eyes. All the seams are either felled or covered with tape.
I love your costume – you’ve put in so much work and the result is beautiful! I’m also feeling inspired to read the book. I read your comment on dressmaking using upholstery fabric with interest as I plan on doing that myself.
It’s so whimsical and pretty. I love the ruffles and the flower pattern. It makes me think of fairies. <3
I love how colorful this is! Dragonskin Slippers is a fantastic book; I would recommend looking up the sequels when you get the chance! Creel actually does end up having several difficulties with her own wedding gown, so your theme of improvisation and repurposing materials fits perfectly!
I love that book! Wonderful job with the dress interpretations, your project(s) look lovely!!
So many different pieces! You did a great job, it looks wonderful❤
So beautiful! In love with the quilted stays and petticoat!
Oh my….this is simply beautiful! very well done, thank you!