FOUNDATIONS REVEALED COMPETITION ENTRY
Jane Eyre Inspired Cape With Hand Tatted Lace
(click images to to enlarge)
Outline the story …
I was inspired by "Jane Eyre" released in 1847 by Charlotte Brontë. Jane is someone who is punished for who she is, and who escapes into the world of books. She observes the people around her a lot and doesn't understand what she did wrong when she is chastised, something I recognize from my own childhood growing up with (then undiagnosed) autism.
Jane is fiercely obsessed with things being fair. With her brief time described first with her aunt and then at the boarding school she is sent to, we see that the things that anger her the most are cases where she feels someone is unjustly treated, just like the teachers she admires the most are those she considers fair and just. This continues as she gets a position as a governess at Thornfield Hall, where even though she falls in love with the owner, elects to leave when she discovers he has a wife.
For this competition, I wanted to take Jane a few decades into the future after the events in the book took place. We hear about her black merino cloak in the book, but since it might have gotten lost in either the fire at Thornfield Hall or when she forgot her luggage. She mentions Norway twice in the book, so I allowed myself to imagine she might have visited us. I elected to make a long wool cape that I thought befitting Jane Eyre, while still keeping me warm in Norwegian winters.
Outline the construction…
I chose a dark grey mottled wool fabric of medium weight for the main body with a thin natural white wool for the lining and a scrap piece of beautiful black wool jacquard for the collar lining. I cut the pieces with inspiration from Keystone Guide to Jacket and Dress Cutting, but with the back piece longer than the front, and with an eye to maximizing fabric use with minimum waste (I think frugality befits Jane). The cape was sewn up simply by hand and several deep pleats taken at the center back between the shoulder blades to retain heat. A handful of small cartridge pleats were done at the front to distribute the weight of the cape more evenly (this took much finagling to get even). The collar was the most difficult as it is so easy to notice if a collar is done poorly I did my best at drafting a collar from Keystone that could be used both raised and folded down, using the measurement of the pleated cape It ended up fitting just barely, so I am glad I added an extra inch in cutting!
For decoration, I wanted something understated. I chose to make the 6.5 meters of tatting lace needed to go all around the cape by hand using dark grey silk thread. This was absolutely not wise as I had only done all of 20 cm of tatting lace previously and tatting is not a technique conducive to tight deadlines!
Oh, the appliqué. Its beautiful!! And all hand sewn. fabulous *chef’s kiss*
Thank you! It is very comfortable too, I’ve worn it a lot since (except on the windiest of days).
The details, and colour of this are so perfectly in tune with each other! It’s perfect.
Thank you so much! The light grey on dark wool turned out better than I could have hoped for!
I’m so impressed with tatting! It is mesmerizing to watch. Beautiful cape.
Thank you! It was my first big tatting project and I am already a big fan. 😊
The collar details look so good! Great job❤
Thank you! It was definitely the most daunting part!
What a lovely cape! Your attention to detail is impressive. Particularly your time committed to completing all the tatting! I also love the cross-stitched date and initials inside. I have found older garments where this was done (names, in particular) and have always thought it charming.
Thank you! It has seen much use since it was made. I love the initials and dates too, we still see it by a few crafters where I live on things like hand-turned wood and decorated sheepskin fleeces (and old houses almost always have it). It seems such a cute thing to bring back!
Fine cape! I like the understated quality of this. Excellent lace detailing!
Thank you! I love the kind of details that look completely understated, but if you know the technique/take a closer look you know how time-consuming it is.
TATTING IS HARD. Not only did you do it, you did a lot! And it looks great! Go you!
Thank you! I was more than a little nervous I wouldn’t finish the tatting in time!
A beautiful garment! Also I’m completely biased since it’s my favorite book!
Thank you! And I would have to agree, I love Jane!
I love your interpretation of Jane. The cape is so beautifully done and the hand tatted lace is absolutely stunning 🥰
Thank you! I am really enjoying the new cape! 😀
This is so lovely! How imaginative to take Jane into the future. Thank you!
Thank you very much! It was a lot of fun. ^^