For my final major project (level 6) at the Arts University of Bournemouth I entered into the Costume Society's Patterns of Fashion Award. The challenge was to reconstruct a garment from one of the patterns in Janet Arnold's Patterns of Fashion books. I was one of four finalists in the 2018 award ceremony. 

 

The gown consists of a bodice and skirt. The gown is from Janet Arnold's Pattern's of Fashion 2 book and is a reconstruction of the original. By using Janet Arnold's instructions and photographs of the original gown (found at the London Museum)I was able to recreate the gown using historical techniques. 

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The gown was made from a silk taffeta and velvet which is all backed in silk. It features pleated sleeves, beaded edges, a gored skirt with a center back pocket, and a padded roll hem. For the bodice: each bead is hand sewn using a back stitch, raw edges have been whip stitched, bone channels have been stitched using a running stitch, the facings and binding have been whip stitched, and all hook and eyes have been buttonhole stitched. The label on the waistband has been hand painted and was attached by flossing. For the skirt: each dart was sewn using a back stitch, the waistband was added with slip stitching, the skirt loops were attached with whip stitching, and the hook and eyes were attached with a buttonhole stitch. Along the lining hem was a gathered frill pinked, gathered and attached with a running stitch. 

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