After seeing screenshots for the game and one for the dress-I knew I had to make it. It was so beautiful and detailed. I knew it would be a challenge but I also knew that it would prove to be a good learning experience, seeing as I had only made one dress prior.

Since the game had not come out yet, screenshots of the dress were limited so I had to make due. I did end up finding a lovely youtube video of gameplay that gave a nice close up of her bodice, though and that helped greatly.

I used the dress pattern I had used once before, but altered it because as it was, the skirt was too short and the top too low. I don’t think I would have been able to do it without the dress form my Nanny gave me (thank you!!). Constructing the dress itself wasn’t too har, with the exception of the sleeves. I had no idea how to make the red pop out from beneath the brown fabric. I cut slits into the brown so the red would show through, but didn’t know how to keep the two pieces together after. I tried gluing, using iron on and finally just resolved to handsew. It looks good in pictures but if you get up close it isn’t too pretty.

The detail is where it got to be a real pain, though. I could find no ribbon anywhere that had the same patterns. So I resolved to make them myself! Using fabric paint, I transformed both solid white and gold ribbon to have black stripes running the length of them. I cut a thick gold ribbon into squares and applied it to a length of black ribbon to give the checkerboard effect.

My hobby horse has a broom handle inside of it, and I cut cardboard for the basic design. Onto the cardboard I applied large amounts of spray insulation foam. I then carved it with an exacto knife to get the shape and details that I wanted. I covered it all in plaster, sanded and then painted. Next time, I think I’ll try to find some way to eliminate all of that weight-it got to be a pain to carry around!

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