Thanks to Jaquelinne, I have a more-different-other obsession to pursue. (heh)
Because of my gold and green brocade obsession, I'm completely prepared for this project. :D
Here's the original damask, and the top two picks:
(The first one has the best drape, and has a richer tone, though the gold is more bronze. The second and third are the same fabric, right and wrong sides.)
The smocking is going to take a whole lot longer than construction of the gown, so I think I will have plenty of time to decide which fabric to use.
I've spent a great portion of today researching the gown and drafting out the smocking pattern. The smocking is really interesting - it's satin stitched, rather than a 'normal' smocking stitch. I'm a bit nervous about it, but the more I look at it, the more I think I'll be able to do it. (After a bit of practice!)
Thanks to the miracles of graph paper, Photoshop, excel and paint, I've drafted up a pretty good pattern (if I do say so myself.)
The major downside of going with the exact pattern is that there is a reversed swastika. See it?
So, here's the dilemma - do I carry around a picture and explain it any time anyone says anything about it and do a faithful re-creation of the pattern, or do I find some other pattern to fill the square? Hm.
