Nothing like a long-awaited fabric delivery to de-rail your sewing plans! I’m a big fan of The Lord of the Rings (even read that massive tome…and The Hobbit, too), so when a pre-order came up for different LOTR fabrics I pounced on it.
After waiting the required several months for the order to close and then get delivered it finally arrived last weekend. It had been a long few days away from the family, in setting up and putting on the charity benefit for Deb, so it was a fun sight to be greeted by that box when I got back home. Into the washer the fabric went!
Of course, I didn’t have the right color coordinates, so I had to make a stop at the fabric store. I hadn’t been there since before Christmas, so OF COURSE I bought way more than I intended. I am all ready for sewing up some LOTR, and some summer stuff now.
I started easy with the fabric, and made a Bram Raglan from Wardrobe by Me for my son. Seriously, this was the main reason I pulled the trigger on this fabric. Fits him perfectly.
I just wish these fabric designers would make extra fabric that matches the panel. I hate having to find matching fabric. I used a solid chocolate colored cotton-lycra for the back, and a jersey/lycra for the arms.
Onward to what I wanted to make for me!
This was the initial drawing for it:
I’m using my Sneha hack for this, with the front overlay. Yes, again.
The front fat-half panel ended up at about 33″, so it shrunk 3″ in the wash. 🙁 This meant I wasn’t able to cut it out at the length I wanted, so I ended up doing a high-low hemline. I kept the hem to a minimum, too.
The back was an overlay that I matched to the front overlay on the side seams. I wanted it to have some extra volume in it, almost like a short cape, so I pulled it out from the fold line about 6″ and went down to mid-back for the curve. I decided I wanted a downward curve after the initial draft I drew.
The hood is a shortened version of the hood pattern I shared here. I just took about 6″ off the bottom, and added a band to the edge that was a little bit narrower than the opening. I also lined the hood with the rib knit, since it was white on the backside of the green fabric.
Ribbing tends to stretch a bit more than most, so I wish I would have decreased the length on ALL the bands I used. .
The hood is a little tight on the neck, so if I make another one, I will increase the width of the hood and scoop out the neckband a bit more. So if you make your own version, take note.
I was indecisive about the arms. Initially, I was thinking of adding the faux lacing on the arms like I did for my daughter’s dress. I was having issues putting eyelets into the knit, since my eyelet setter was broke and the kittens ran off with the parts. >:(
I decided to add pieces that looked like the Elvish leaves vambraces.
Just in knit. I didn’t want them to overlap the whole way, since it would add a lot of bulk. I just overlapped the seams and called it good. I hand-stitched them on, so it had a more authentic look.
Here are the pattern pieces if you want to use them. There is about a 1″ overlap.
I used the Ninja leggings pattern from 5 out of 4 Patterns for the leggings. I cut up the pattern, and added seam allowances when I cut the pieces. I serged and top stitched one piece wrong, so they are a little wonky. Oh well. I fixed it well enough, and they are a bit patchwork so it is hard to tell.
Retail will be up on Wednesday this week, I believe. Site: Moonbeam Textiles
I couldn’t resist, and had to a Shire composite (New Zealand).
Background came from Trey Ratcliff. He had this on his Flickr account under Creative Commons usage (non-commercial). He does some impressive photography.
You look great in green! I swear, you must never sleep with the amount of things you do and create!
Thanks, Rachel! I do tend to stress myself out a bit with my to -do list. 😉
I’m trying to get better, though.
Cin are moed beautiful híril, as many Elves would agree with me.
Thanks, Isis! 🙂 🙂
So darn cute! I love the cape-like part of the back!
Thank you Karen! It was fun making this one. 🙂