FOUNDATIONS REVEALED COMPETITION ENTRY
Narnian Dryad
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Outline the story …
My design was inspired by the classic childrens book series Narnia. My design is based off of the dryads, Narnian tree spirits. They are described as beautiful humanoids, tree gods that awakened with the dawn of Narnia.
In the voyage of the Dawn Treader, a Dryad sings to Reepicheep the prophecy he bases his life on:
"When I was in my cradle a wood woman, a Dryad, spoke this verse over me:
"Where sky and water meet,
Where the waves grow sweet,
Doubt not, Reepicheep,
To find all you seek,
There is the utter East."
I was very inspired by nature, using oak leaves in my designs and floral fabric with a dense busy print to mimic the clusters of leaves dryads are described as being comprised of.
The design of my gown is not specific to any time period, as Narnia isn't, I wanted to embody the timeless fantasy feeling that is in the books and the movies.
I was inspired as well by wrought iron designs which I based my soutaching off of, as an iconic Narnian symbol is the iron lamppost.
Outline the construction…
I learnt a lot of new skills while creating my gown. I had never drafted my own patterns before, and I patterned everything, including stays to help smooth and strengthen my garment lines. I learnt how to put in a placket, using youtube tutorials as well as 18th century drafting methods to draft my stays.
On the bodice is soutaching/rouleaux. It is made of tiny bias tubes stitched closed then stitched onto the garment in a design. The rouleaux took me about 50 hours to complete, it is a mirrored design across the centre front and a simplified version across the middle back.
The entire project was made with thrifted materials, the main fabric being an old pair of curtains. The entire costume cost only $20.40 for every layer.
I had never previously done much handstitching before and my skills have just about tripled as well as my speed.
I like the design. Very suitable for Narnia
Whoa. Just. . . whoa.
Love the bodice details! And the fabric is lovely♡
I adore your fabric choices and the detail you added to the bodice. Incredible job!
The dress is wonderful! I really like your fabric choices and the embroidery.