FOUNDATIONS REVEALED COMPETITION ENTRY
Rose’s Travel Clothes
(click images to to enlarge)
https://youtu.be/sXgfAinfO6Y
Other Credits
Photographer - Greg Kimberling
Outline the story …
“East” by Edith Pattou is a retelling of the Norweigian folktale “East of the Sun, West of the Moon.” The father, a former mapmaker, designed a windrose for each of his children when they were born. The cloak is based off of the one that Rose, the main character, weaves using her windrose design. It is described to have a polar bear shaped cloud at the North, where I have placed the hood. I wanted the swirls inside the polar bears to invoke the idea of clouds. To the East, it is described to have a rising Sun. The South is a mountain because Rose stays in a castle that is carved into a mountain South of where she grew up. There is a moon to the West as a nod to the folktale.
Polar bears play a large role in the book, so I included white fur trim. In the center, I placed a Runic Compass. The imagery, depicted in red thread, is believed to be a viking symbol used to protect the wearer from getting lost. Rose’s mother is a very superstitious woman, so it made sense to me that the father would include something in his design that would protect his youngest daughter. Rose’s travel clothes were inspired by the traditional Norweigian folk dress called bunad. While the book takes place in the mid 16th century, and the bunad did not come into play until the 1800s, I thought Rose’s clothes could be a precursor to the more embellished bunad.
Outline the construction…
The Windrose Cloak is hand embroidered on a wool blend fabric. I lined the cloak with a white fleece material. I used two panels sewn together to make sure it was wide enough to reach all corners of the cloak, and I had a separate piece for the hood section. I attached the lining to the edges of the embroidered wool and then tacked the two together in various places. I attached the faux fur trim of the cloak to the edges with a combination of machine and hand sewing.
Rose’s Travel Clothes are three separate pieces. The underdress is constructed like a shift would have been, using rectangles and squares with side gores. I used a mandarine collar pattern from pinterest, and a hook and bar closure to hold the collar shut. I chose a decorative button in place of a broach. I used elastic to gather the sleeve cuffs, and finished the buttonholes on the cuffs by hand.
I used a bodice pattern from MaxPattern on Etsy, and altered it so that it could have the neckline and closures that I wanted. I whip stitched the seam allowance to the lining fabric to finish the seams and finished the neckline and arm holes with machine topstitching.
I used the skirt from Simplicity’s vintage 9008 pattern. I altered the pattern so that I could use less skirt panels and finished the seams with french seams. The waistband was a bias cut strip, with a hook and bar closure.
Oh look, someone else who knows this book! I love the polar bear motif you used.
Thank you so much! I’m glad someone else knows the story!
Congratulations! I love your ensemble– especially the front bodice closures and the cape! The embroidery looks like magic spells.
Thank you so much! I was debating on whether to submit everything or if I should just do the cloak. I’m glad I ended up doing the whole ensemble
That cape! It’s just the most wonderful thing. I love the whole outfit, it’s beautifully done. But the cape. Best of luck x
Thank you so much ! Out of everything, I’m definitely most proud of the cloak!
So imaginative and beautifully sewn.
Thank you!!
The cape and the embroidery – Woah, beautiful! The whole ensemble is wonderful.
Thank you! I’m really happy with how it all came together!
I need that cloak. Absolutely gorgeous outfit <3
Thank you!! <3 🙂
Lovely ensemble! I like the naturalness of the travel clothes.
Thank you so much! I wasn’t sure if I would do the full ensemble, and then I found the fabric and it was too perfect to not do the travel clothes in it!
The cloak is so impressive I just love it!
Thank you so much!! 🙂
Oh wow!!!!!
I just adore this cloak. It’s so beautiful and your embroidery is amazing.
The bears are brilliant. 😀
Thank you so much!! The bears were one of the last things I embroidered. It was fun to do something different than the straight lines of the mountains 🙂
I love everything about this. Full stop. That bear design is breathtaking.
Thank you!!
Wow, I really love this! That embroidery is sensational! Thank you!
THank you!! I’m so happy with how the embroidery turned out
I adored this book as a child! (in the UK it was published under the title North Child, but I knew the story immediately from your description) The entire outfit is gorgeous, the cloak is incredible, the embroidery is just absolute perfection!! Love this so much!
Yes! I wanted to include the UK’s title in the description but ran out of space and I didn’t want to compromise on the description.
Thank you!! I’m so glad you like it! I wasn’t sure how many people would know the story 🙂
Wow…..I love your whole outfit, but that cloak oO serious envy here, now I want to make one for myself…. Gorgeous work !
Thank you so much!!
I’d wear this outfit on a heart beat! Great job!
Thank you!! I definitely wanted to be able to wear the skirt out and about and I’ve already gotten some nice use out if 🙂
This was one of my favorite stories when I was about 8 or so. I love how you incorporated the compass and the polar bear fur. Nice work!
Thank you!! 🙂
I read this book such a long time ago that the details are fuzzy, but I remember it fondly.
The cloak you made is stunning. I love the shape and how it moves and the embroidery!
Beautiful, the cape (both the concept and execution) is insane! 😍 As a Norwegian, my eyes ZOOMED towards your thumbnail and immediately saw the bunad inspo! 😀 Beautifully made, and a really good fabric choice!
I love this outfit! You obviously put so much thought and effort into every little detail of it. Amazing job!