FOUNDATIONS REVEALED COMPETITION ENTRY
Meriadoc Brandybuck
(click images to to enlarge)
Outline the story …
My entry for the 2021 Foundations Revealed Competition came about in a very 2020 fashion. I had watched the 2020 winners revealed in awe, then the 2021 theme announcement with envy. I had very little time, negligible budget and I had never sewn a garment (sewing badges onto a Scout uniform was my sewing specialty.) Simultaneously, the pandemic shut down the world and my life was busier than ever. The competition disappeared off my radar for months. October came, and as my son had just read, and subsequently watched The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien, he decided that he wanted to be a hobbit, Meriadoc Brandybuck, for Hallowe'en. Armed with very limited sewing experience, some theoretical knowledge acquired by watching Costube videos, and a touch of pandemic fatigue, I decided to sew his costume.
While I drew ideas from the books, as well as the movie (particularly the costuming segments of the appendices), I was greatly inspired by the historical costuming community for style, patterns, and methods. I decided to focus my efforts on the two pieces that would be key in creating the desired look - a hooded cloak and waistcoat. And thus my competition entry began, though I hadn't yet decided to enter. When the official announcement was made in December that the competition was open, I felt that Cathy Hay was talking to me as a beginner. I decided to swallow my fears, try my luck, and enter the hobbit costume that my son is already out growing.
Outline the construction…
As the project was a Hallowe'en costume for a growing boy, the budget was limited. Luckily, I found several clearance fabrics that had the desired texture and drape though they were undoubtedly polyester and probably upholstery/drapery fabric. The outer cloak fabric has a soft wool-like texture, the inner fabric is a heavy satin. The waistcoat material is a textured woven, while the lining is a regrettable thin polyester lining.
The cloak and waistcoat were drafted from the International System of Garment Cutting by J.P. Thorton - the half-circle shoulder cape, pointed hood and the no collar vest. As a beginner sewer, drafting the patterns was a little daft but here my years of graphic design came to my rescue and I was able to enlarge the pattern appropriately.
The daunting bit was the sewing. While most of the long seams were stitched by machine, I did a lot of hand sewing especially when it came to flatlining and sewing in the linings. Thankfully, I had learned, from watching many Costube videos, to take my time to prepare, mock up, baste, sew then un-sew and re-sew as needed. And to press all the seams.
My greatest challenge was where the cloak hood and front met the facing and lining. Luckily, Bernadette Banner's Sherlock Holmes coat inspired some problem solving, and in the end I was thrilled with the results.
Though this project was a steep learning curve, I really enjoyed the process and have already started on more advanced projects.
Hello, fellow hobbit dresser! 🙂 It looks great, and Meriadoc is just perfect. Best of luck x
Thank you!
It is lovely. This Meriadoc is perfect!
Thank you.
Vest, cape and clasp are beautiful and well presented by the young man.
Thank you. The clasp was a lucky find indeed. I love how it finishes the cloak perfectly.
So cute! And very well made. Well done!
Thank you.
It really looks like it came out of the books! That’s exactly how I pictured Merry, and the garments are really well done! Good job!
Thank you. My son really likes Merry. A leader with a tendency towards mischief.
A very dashing hobbit! I really like both your neat waistcoat, and the swooshy cloak!
Best wishes from from another hobbit, Rosie Cotton, in my case!
The hobbits have inspired so many people this year. It’s great to see.
He really looks like he belongs In the fellowship. A real hobbit.
Thank you. He had a lot of fun running through the woods with his swishy cloak.
Your young Merry’s smile says it all: You nailed it! The lining of that cloak is a wonderful detail.
Thank you. My son loves it. Flat lining the cloak was a challenge with all the fullness but I was very pleased with the result.
So well done! This came together so well and looks very authentically Hobbitish!
Thank you. I learned a lot and my son’s a happy hobbit so it’s a win-win
This costume is awesome! Such a lucky kid! That cape might well transfer into something else once he’s bigger! Sweet costume and well done. Thank you!
Thank you. There’s quite a bit of fabric in the cape so I’m sure it’ll have another life after he’s outgrown it.
Well done on completing your first sewing project, very convincing hobbit attire! Lord of the Rings was my favourite series growing up, so it makes me very happy to see this character reinterpreted! Your son makes a wonderful Merry Brandybuck!
Thank you. It was wonderful to be able to introduce Lord of the Rings to him.
This is such a lovely Merry!
Thank you. My son was so happy with the costume.
I love the little hobbit! You did a great job! 😀
Thank you. ❤️