The mists of Avalon

One of the movie I like is The mists of Avalon with Julianna Margulies and Angelica Huston.The movie is base on the book of Marion Zimmler-Bradley.I like the way the story is presente with a touch of magic and religious believes.There is so many beautiful dress in it , it's quite impossible to not be inspired by it.Some costumes are simple other are so colorfull.

I made this dress at my beginning as a sewer.My godmother offer a sewing machine ( Kenmore)and I did start enjoy doing things alone without help.This sewing machine was for real beginner , it can do 10 differents points and can't sew anything heavy .
The dress is made with mccall 3663 and is inspired by the one wear by the character of Ygerne when she go to the court at the begining of the movie when she met Uther Pendragon.The fabric is suede , which is hot , the trim is from Calontir trim.The dress have no zipper or lacing so as you can imagine , it's not very adjust.

With the dress I also made a sleeveless coat which is made from mccall 4340 , the same pattern I use for doing my harry potter coat.The fabric is very heavy , reversible (fur /suede) and let me tell you it's not all sewing machine that can handle that.My little Kenmore can't , the industrial machine of my mom can do it but she broke a needle or two .It wasn't easy.

The idea behind the coat is I wish to have something that will looks like or help to give some richness to the dress.

If you didn't see seams on the side of the coat , it's because there are none on the side or on the back.The only seams are at the shoulder.It was difficult to sew , adding a lining will surely not help .So I thought I should find a way to have less seams or if I could possibly make it in a single piece .The fabric was large enough .I put the piece of the pattern on it and realize it was possible to do it like this.I choose to not add anything to close it and show a little of the inside.
A classical mistake of the beginner I was , an horrible seam inside the sleeve which is visible when I wear it.I think it's worst because I didn't have an overlock machine at the time .When I realize how bad it looks , I did not have any extra fabric to make new sleeve .I can possibly add a lining .

The fact is the adjustment of the dress is not well and I have decided to transform it to make it more confortable and look better.Don't be surprise to find it in the transformation section before the end of the year.

A must to have

Any people who like medieval fantasy or doing live roleplaying game need a cloak.You will be able to find a lot of pattern depending of your need and amount of fabric you are ready to use.

My cloak is made from mccall 8937.The front is close with two buttons (for decoration)and a cord.I did not use the hood from the pattern and make my own because I don't like it and for me , it's too big and did not stay in place.

The fabric is two layers of polar and a cheap lining.It's very warm.Basically it wasn't suppose to be an heavy(because yes it is) cloak but only a single layer of polar.

When I buy the fabric , which was on sold , I didn't realize everything it touch , it leave tiny fibre on it.After I pay , my mom told me to look at my t-shirt.From white it has become black.

Because the fabric was on sold , I buy more then I need , enough to make two layers for the cloak.In any case , I do not wish to use it for something else.After , I buy a cheap lining to be sure none of my clothing will be hairy.

The lesson to learn from that : being carefull when buying polar , it could be tricky.

finally

Those project were start a few years ago and had stay unfinish until today.A question of time and an hope to find a better way to finish it.

The white dress have some medieval inspiration , it has nothing to do with the middle age but was more like what it could be found in store at the shopping center.It was thought to wear alone or as an underdress.It was not finish because I don't like metal eyelet and I decided to wait until I was able to find another solution.I buy last year a new sewing machine which can do eyelet.

The dress is made of a blend of linen and which probably include spandex because it is so extensible.The hem is blue to make a touch of color and was done with the overlock machine.The back have eyelet made by the sewing machine and the lacing is done with a wax linen cord.The flower on the sleeve are appliqué and fix with the iron , pattern mccall 3663.The shawl which is not very clear on the picture is a green tartan made of wool.

The black coat are inspire by those wear by the teacher of Hogwart in the Harry Potter movie.My honey wear it for the order of the phoenix we saw in movie theater.I can say for sure he want someting which will not attrack too much attention , my friends and I do it enough.

The coat is made of black cotton and with mccall 3789.It was not finish because my honey probably decided to have a costume at the last moment .The only missing thing was to finish the hem .My honey is not on the picture because he don't like to see himself on the web specially when it's public.

At the beginning

The first time I do camping it was for a live fantasy roleplaying game(LARP) with elves and mostly all creature you could possibly imagine.The major point of the week was a great battle at the end. At the moment I did not have a lot of skills .I choose to be a celtic women, a warrior.

The pant were suppose to be a skirt-pant but I never read instruction with pattern and I change my mind during the process.To be a warrior and to be part of the battle it is easier to wear pants so finally it become pant with an elastic at the waist.Now with years of practice and wisdom , I am not sure how I really did it and when the skirt dissappear.All I know is the result give me very large pant which a friend like to call my clown pant.

The shirt were made with mccall 3789 using different linen and linen blend.I wish to give the illusion of  wearing two layer of shirt .I create a long and short sleeve , a band at the bottom and at the neck of a different color.The sew is hide by the trim .I never see women wearing that but I like the result and it's comfortable .

Accessoiries

The belt and the purse are made of leather , heavier for the purse.The brooch and the torc (necklace)were wear by celtic people and are historical.It was made by Crafty Celts which made different celtic accessoiries .It can looks like a little expensive for some item they sell but it really deserve it .I buy a purse for my honey as a gift , I do not regre it.

The dress is made of linen blend with mcall 8937.The tabard is a linen look(which mean something synthetic) and is a simple rectangle I made.The belt is also the same.

What I will do differently now if I had to do it again? A real pair of pant , a shawl and a two shirts to wear one over the other .Wearing many layer give a different feeling difficult to describe , a feel of authenticity I guess.The shirt to wear over I could probably made a few in wool (heavy)for cooler day with wind and for sunny day linen is good because it can breath.

The dress is ok for something fantastic but the tabard I will prefer another dress to wear over it or making a cotte and an open surcot or lace at the front will be more pretty .

To finish someting I mostly always forgot , an hat to protect my head from the sun.