Anyway! Having helped make a bliaut with a gathered skirt for coronation, I felt a little more confident about the construction. I figured out the most thrifty cutting diagram I could use for the sleeves, including the maunches, and basically used every last bit of the rest of the fabric for the skirt. Inspired by this image from Boethus, I decided to pleat my skirt on to my waist band. Most bliauts I've seen have gathered skirts, but this image looks kind of like box pleating to me. With such stylized art it can be hard to tell, which gives you room to experiment.
I started this dress on Monday the 22nd of June and finished the construction sewing by Wednesday the 24th. The rest of the sewing (hemming on bottom seams and side openings, attachment of lacing cords, turning under and sewing down trim ends) was all done by hand in the car on the way to Avacal coronation. More on that in a future entry. Here's a photo of the finished product. I definitely want to use hand-made lacing on my next dress, and will keep tweaking the design. The neckline's a bit off, but I haven't decided if it's enough to make me take off all that trim and redo it. hmm...
Photo: Hastings Sanderson