Taming The Garden

"Taming the Garden" was originally for the 2006 Hoffman Challenge but I wasn't able to complete it on time. I think if you look real close you'll see why. I entered it in both the Alaska Fiber Festival 2010 (did not win), and the Bernina University fashion show, (first place in Category) New sewing machine. "Love Bernina"

The gown is almost all cotton. The colors were chosen from the challenge fabric which the main part of it is the skirt and one shoulder. The bodice is all individually cut and sewn Bias strips that were sewn into tubes and turned right side out and ironed flat. Then woven together. Each color is a different size. They start out at the shoulder at 1/4" wide and go to 1" wide and then back down in size again. The reason for this is because a single size of bias would not form to the body the way I wanted it to. When I was originally done weaving the bodice it stood up practically on its own. At each cross point where four pieces of fabric connect there is a seed bead of matching color. Sorry the picture does not show the shine very well. It looks great in the lights on the runway but a still shot just doesn't do it justice. What was fun about this gown was teaching myself the old Millinery style of making silk flowers. Circa 1930's-40's and a bit beyond those dates. Instead of using the stamens you can buy I used crystals and beads so the dress is matchine washable but I would be very careful doing that. Needs to be in a washing garment bag and then gone over with a fine tooth comb to make sure nothing has come loose in the wash. I top stitched the challenge fabric with an iridescent metallic green thread to make it sparkle just a little more and the shoulder and the skirt are hand cut so the leaf work will pop a little bit more. ( I damaged a nerve in my thumb doing this). I am selling this gown but haven't decided on a price yet. It's about a size 14 women's. I had a larger bust then so as far as measurements go, it fits a bust 39-40" and waist 30" give or take an inch or two. Longer torso too. There is only one of these as I don't think I will be ever making another. Any thoughts on how much I should ask for it would be welcome.