FOUNDATIONS REVEALED COMPETITION ENTRY
The Enchantress
(click images to to enlarge)
Other Credits
Photographer- Mike Ladd
Outline the story …
There is a scene in Time of Contempt by Andrzej Sapkowski where the hero Geralt goes to a council meeting with his love, the mage Yennefer. The outfit does not have much description besides being black and white. Over the last several years, Yennefer has become one of my favorite heroines and one I've been daunted by when it comes to creating something based on her. The spencer jacket pattern from the Costume Coalition came out around the same time as the competition's theme and my mind went straight to what you see here. The design is in keeping with Yennefer's black and white theme with all of the black trimming done in pleather since leather is a signature of all the character's looks. This pattern for the spencer jacket felt like a very realistic shape of a jacket she would pick out as well. It is elegant, clean, and has just enough edge for my favorite mage.
Outline the construction…
As mentioned previously, I used the Hamilton Spencer jacket pattern from the Costume Coalition. I watched Bernadette Banner and Sewstine's YouTube videos almost religiously when making this jacket. I made a muslin of this jacket first then proceeded onto the real thing.
There is rouleaux trim for the leaves, double piping around the collar/lapels/sleeve puff bands/sleeve hem, the collar/sleeve puff bands/belt are all quilted with contrasting white thread for added flare, there is a beaded trim that runs along the hem of the belt, and the inside is also lined with that same black pleather. All of the piping, rouleaux, lining pieces, and beaded belt trim were hand sewn on.
Going into this project, I had never made a jacket before or anything this intricate. With what few sewing skills I had going into this, I had to do a lot of learning when it came to making the piping and rouleaux trims. I also have never hand sewn this much in my life! There were many, many times where I doubted if I would be able to do this and feared I had gotten in over my head but overall I am thrilled with how this has turned out and all the time I have put into it over the last two months has been very well spent.
YEN YEN YEN (sorry…I’m a big fan of The Witcher books/series)! This is gorgeous and I agree, this is absolutely something Yennefer would wear. I can see her rocking this walking into the council meeting with Geralt smirking behind her. Your Spencer looks amazing; the details are just stunning.
I am also a BB fan, watched her make the spencer jacket, but would NEVER have attempted to construct it since it looked so complicated both in decoration and fit. This is beautiful and a real accomplishment, not to mention your courage in just undertaking this project!!
This kind of decorations are really difficult to sew. You really took risks, but the result is good. Congratulation
The details are awesome! And the jacket’s shape is really great❤
I am so glad you challenged yourself and finished this project. It looks marvelous!