Since first seeing them, I loved the gowns that Cersei's handmaidens, women in King's Landing, and later Shae wore. Looking at them, I realized that they were really quite simple--a giant tube with drawstrings at center front and back and belted at the waist. Mine is made from about five yards of silk taffeta from
Renaissance Fabrics which I washed to change the drape of. My belt is made of Worbla based on
this tutorial by Jak Cosplay. I learned the hard way that you should read the description carefully on your chainmail rings and make sure they're not for jewelry.
After figuring out my dress, I did a search to see how others had done them. I found a sketch that someone who had come to the same conclusion had done, but haven't been able to find it again. I also found
a post on the Game of Thrones Costuming Facebook group with a similar technique.
More pictures of the dress can be found
here
Being me, I hand embroidered the front panel, used fingerloop braiding for the ties (using the videos seen
here. I used 5 loop flat for the drawstring and 5 loop square for the tie. I finished the ends with gold rings from
Fire Mountain Gems by sewing them to the ends and wrapping the join with thread), and hand sewed the seams. However, this can be a very quick project! You can see some progress pictures using the
hashtag got_handmaiden_k on Instagram.
But onto the dress! First, a video of putting it on. I also have pictures at the bottom of the post, but the video shows it more clearly. And obviously I don't wear a camisole or underskirt when I'm wearing it, but it was necessary to do something for pictures!
