A few weeks ago my eldest niece and me spent some time together to finish her Tudor Costume. She wanted to add it to her school project on the Tudors.
It was entirely her own idea to do this. She wanted to design a costume; knew I had a tailor's dummy and would spend time helping her; and she wanted to give the girls in her class the opportunity to try on the costume too. As a bonus the costume can be used as evidence for her sewing badge in Brownies.
Now everyone at school and Brownies has had a chance to see it, the costume has been returned to me to photograph and share with you.
By the end of the first day we had completed the design, bought the material (some curtains we found in a charity shop) and made the Tudor Jewellery (see Tudor Jewellery).
We had a pretty good idea of how we wanted the costume to look and which material we would use for the dress and which to use for the jacket.
Day two we decided to make a top and a skirt rather than a dress.
We went through my pattern collection and found this skirt pattern. I think its an old one of my Grandma's. We gave it an elasticated waist so it would fit better for everyone who tried it on.
For the jacket we adapted a pattern for... an angel costume.
The sleeves on the over-dress were perfect for the jacket...fitted on the arm and much wider at the wrist.
We adapted the pattern for the slip-dress to use for the top.
By the end of day two we had cut out all the pieces and started sewing them together.
Add in lessons on pattern cutting...weave on material...pinning the pattern to the material...cutting your material...how to thread your sewing machine...how to use your machine...and some good old girly chat!
A day three was needed...there had been quite a lot girly chat...these things must be fun too!
My niece sewed the skirt pieces together. I completed it for her.
She decided on some dark green braiding for decoration on the top.
This is the back view of the jacket.
It has a full skirt, a nipped-in waist and long angular sleeves.
We made the centre back panel lower to give it a more decorative finish.
The jacket is slightly longer than the skirt so it flows on the floor behind as you walk.
The Tudor Jewellery finished the costume perfectly...
It just didn't find its way back to me in one piece...the large bead is all that is left...
I think the necklace didn't pass the durability test with all the trying on... As long as fun was had that's what counts!
It was quite a project to take on for a 10 year old so top marks for a Grade A niece!
Until tomorrow,
Nic xx
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