Eowyn
“I am no man”.
You know, I used to be a major Scrooge about things like dress ups and costumes. But things have changed, and in recent years I have actually enjoyed making my daughters their book week character costumes. And I have to say, I think that this year is my absolute FAVOURITE.
Clare chose Eowyn as her character months and months ago. Let us confess right up front here that Clare hasn’t actually READ the Lord of the Rings trilogy – but she has read The Hobbit, and there weren’t any female characters in it that she was interested in going as (I did suggest that she didn’t have to go as a female character, but she would have none of that). So Eowyn it was. Clare googled images from the movies, and had a clear picture in her mind about what her costume should be like. She wanted it based on the green dress that Eowyn wore in The Two Towers. Enter Burda 2463 for the dress and vintage Style 1034 for the collared undershirt.
All the fabrics and trims came from Darn Cheap Fabrics, with the fabrics from the $2 per metre table or the remnants bin. The dark green woven appears to be a cotton blend and was very easy to sew, gather and press. The lace overlay is a stretch lace. Originally I was looking for a jacquard, but after cost comparisons decided that the lace worked well over the green anyway. The undershirt is a black chiffon base with gold printed all over it.
We mixed up the pattern views a bit, using the double layered skirt from one view with the longer sleeves and plain upper sleeve puff from the other. The lower sleeve was lined with the stretch lace, and the underskirt has a stretch lace overlay. This gave a similar look to the film photos, remembering that we were inspired by the film for the costume but weren’t trying to reproduce it completely faithfully. Lace trim was zig-zagged to the neckline after the bodice was constructed – it is fully lined – but before I inserted the lapped zipper up the back. There was only just enough of the trim to get around both the neckline and the waistline. It was meant to be!
Halfway through constructing the dress I realised that I had only cut out one lower sleeve, and was out of the green fabric. So while I was at work, I sent my husband back to Darn Cheap on a mission to buy one more metre. Luckily they still had it in stock! He also went on a sword hunting mission, locating this rather appropriate piece of plastic at a $2 shop.
The overskirt at the front was lifted at two points and secured under the lace trim with a zig-zag. Fortunately this also provided a handy place to store her sword. Who’d have thought!
The undershirt is a modified version of the vintage Style pattern. I cut it off at hip length, left off the sleeves, sewed up the centre front to the bottom of the collar rather than using a zip, and kept the collar edges with one point instead of being notched. Clare could just slip it on over her head, then use a safety pin to adjust where the collar meets in the centre front once the dress was over the top.
Clare centre parted her hair damp last night, and slept with clips keeping each side in place. We spent half an hour or so with the curling iron in the morning, and before long she was looking a lot like the Eowyn we know from the films (if anyone knows Miranda Otto and wants to send her a link to this blog post, please do!). She still had some henna painting on her hand from an Indian themed night at Guides a couple of days earlier, and thought that it added nicely to the overall look.
Overall, this costume probably cost us less than $30 in materials, including the pattern, zips and other notions. The dress used loads of fabric, but that’s not a problem when it comes from the $2 per metre table! But in terms of the hours spent making it? Possibly about 8 hours in total, I suspect. It could have been a little less. I didn’t really keep track. In terms of sizing, the undershirt was size 8 and rather roomy, and the dress was in size 9 which matched up with Clare’s measurements. It is a great fit.
I love that Clare chose such a gutsy character to dress as for book week, and that the entire family enjoyed the dressing up process so much. She’s really finishing off primary school with a bang!
Gorgeous! Together you have created an amazing outfit. Fantastic Eowyn!
Lara, this is amazing! In awe of your book week skills 🙂
The dress is so beautiful, it’s absolutely lovely. I can’t believe how grown up Clare looks. I hope she had a great time 🙂
Lara it’s fantastic. You’ve done such a great job and she looks fierce! Love it.
Magnificent! What a fabulous costume.
Amazing costume. I am in awe.
This is SO awesome. I want one for myself. Plus sword. Your daughter has a very cool Mum.
This is my most favourite thing that you’ve made for Clare. Ever. Big call isn’t it! She looks absolutely amazing. Perfect.
SUCH an amazing costume, Lara! She does an amazing job of channelling Miranda Otto’s character, right down to the hair and the steely look of determination 🙂
What a terrific costume!
Amazing work Lara, you have created a very impressive costume. I particularly love that Clare has picked a strong female character instead of a princess (where I’m still sadly at). And yes Clare definitely looks like a young Miranda Ottoman
She looks spectacular! Fantastic job on the costume!
She is the spitting image! Please tell her she has a fan. I love Eowyn, and she has captured her spirit perfectly. The dress is amazing. Your daughter is very lucky! I once made my son a Siberian lynx costume. Kids know how to work a mom who can sew.
Gorgeous!
Aaah! This looks wonderful! I bet it was loads of fun to wear. Clare looks so strong and determined and beautiful in this! so grown up too! such a great costume idea and just perfect for her! Seeing this brought a lump to my throat, such a kind and generous thing to do together.Clare looks so perfect in this!
Brilliant costume, and Clare is looking so grown-up in it. She is lucky to have a sewing mother!
A gorgeous costume! I don’t want to let my daughter see this, because there is no way I could make one this nice…
That’s amazing Lara. Great job by both you and Clare.
Fabulous warrior maiden costume. I am sure it will be treasured for a long time.
Wonderful! Well done by both!
That is seriously a GREAT book week character. Your daughter is my hero right now!
Best book week costume EVER!!! And I love that your beautiful gutsy girl wanted to be a female character – you Rock Clare!
Wow! Amazing costume! My eldest just watched “The two towers” movie yesterday so I showed him the photos and he was very impressed with your creation! One of my big disappointments is that our primary school doesn’t “do”book week. Years ago, the school I taught at always did a book parade, and I remember one family – parents- in tears because their youngest child was in grade 6 and so this was their last book parade ever! (and if I remember correctly, their son was dressed as Gandalf!)
You should enter this is some sort of competition. Clare looks just amazing and I even had to show my husband the pics on facebook! Great work Lara and I am sure Clare felt pretty special too
So great! Love this costume, especially the way the sword is accomodated too 😀 It’s interesting to see how you adapted ordinary dressmaking patterns in this and your other daughter’s costume. Thanks for showing them.
You did a fabulous job with this costume, but your daughter’s girl power attitude is the best accessory. Love it!
She looks fabulous in that outfit. I can’t believe how grown up she’s getting, the time is just flying by.
Just stumbled across this while searching for Éowyn quote t-shirts for my 4-yr-old daughter who we named Éowyn! And my name is Clare. Definitely inspired for future book week costumes.