It has been an age since I last posted to my blog. My knees healed and rehabili
tated as much as they are likely going to, and I returned to work. Life has a way of sweeping us away, sometimes. But now here I am again, all full of creative joy and anticipation of......sewing! I love to sew, and it has been such a very long time since I actually had, or made, time for it. After a recent after-church lunch with one of our church members' family, we got into a bit of a discussion of fabrics, and sewing. I mentioned that I had always longed for a Kinsale cloak, but knew that I could never pay the price that the little shop in County Cork asks for one. Sister Laura simply said, "Why don't you just make one yourself?" Shazaam. Now, why didn't I think of that?? So after a brief internet search, I found THE pattern!
Which, of course, led to looking at OTHER lovely patterns that I found along the way....
Such as this delightful, romantic long dress pattern at the left. I think of it as a Juliet gown. What puzzles me is that the pattern companies call these patterns "costumes". I think they are just simply lovely dresses. Perhaps it is their modesty that makes them odd to modern-day aesthetics. If so, then give me the 'costumes', say I!
Or how about this gorgeous dress on the right? Long, clean, simple princess seaming (this works very well for me!) I love the sleeve options on this one as well. What lovely whimsy the bell sleeves lend to the garment!
Now, I admit that this one on the left is definitely a costume. No doubt about it. But somehow, the dress on the left hand side just really appeals to me! I can see this done in muslin, or perhaps linen or a linen-blend.
Of course,
if I am going to make this dress, it will need a leine, or chemise!
And voila! The very garment, to the right! How did we ever get away from garments of such grace and dignity? I suppose it was the demands of the times that passed, economic changes, and practical matters that all intervened with the passage of time. But I find myself drawn to, and longing for, garments of times passed, that have beauty and grace, dignity and charm.
How many Lord of the Rings fans are there out there? I am
definitely one. And when I beheld this pattern, I nearly fell over with surprise and delight. It is none other than Arwen's gown that she wore on her journey from Rivendell toward the undying lands, when she saw a vision of Aragorn, and their son, and thus returned to confront Elrond. I remember being enchanted with that gorgeous gown she wore, and here is the pattern for that very dress!
It is the view on the left upper hand side of the pattern pic to the left.
Now, if I can just find a pattern for Susan Pevensie's archery dress that she wore in the first Chronicles of Narnia movie......
I have found absolutely the most gorgeous fabric in all creation to line my planned and much anticipated Kinsale cloak project. Isn't it simply divine! Oooh I can hardly wait to get it here from the fabric place and see it up close. The outer portion of the cloak will be a chocolate brown wool-blend. I can just envision it in my mind's eye!
