The Goal | Catiua was an indulgent, fast project that I busted out to prepare for a special shoot at the National Cathedral. It was also a bit of a sewing challenge, as it was my first boned bodice and a chance for me to play with more vintage JRPG silhouettes and learn 3D modeling.

The Materials | The materials include a recycled silk matka from silk baton in Medici for the pants, a basketweave poly/cotton blend for the jacket, and a linen and cotton lined bodice. The armor is 3D printed, and the gloves are faux stretch suede.

The Bodice | I used IndigoJinjo's 3 Hopes Hilda pattern for the bodice, which I had already sized for my own Hilda, and re-used it here. I did shorten it and alter the back, which I turned into a lace-up system since I had weight fluctuations, including a modesty panel for adjustments. This is fully flatlined with a canvas strength layer to make it stiffer and boning channels, and rigilene for the boning.

The Jacket | The jacket is a commerical pattern with altered sleeves to make them fuller and gathered cuffs. The inside is bag lined in a similar red cotton as the bodice and top stitched edges.

The Pants | The pants follow a commercial pattern that has an altered rise for my long crotch area. They are flat-lined with the muslin mockup I made as well as serged on the inside, with a fully functional fly, belt loops, and pockets.

The Accessories | The headband is an old headband that's been wrapped in tea-dyed cotton fabric. The gloves are turkey hand gloves in faux suede. All items have been weathered with Dirty Down spray for a bit of wear and tear and sandpaper on seams.

These was my first ever 3D modeled objects. The gauntlets started as rough block outs in Fusion 360 in the Form tool, before bringing it into the standard workspace and carving out the layered plates and little bevels at the wrist. The dagger was a case of the sketch tools and rotate to round it out, with some tweaks. The gauntlets were printed and heat-formed over my arm to be snug. Both were painted with Liquitex acrylics and dry brushed with rub n buff as highlights. The gauntlets feature pleather straps with elastic that look nice but will always fit with fluctuations.

I 3D modeled the necklace as a separate necklace band and gem. The gem was printed and finished before being molded and casted in epoxy resin, backed with alumium tape and cast with foils and glass stones and acrylic inks. The actual necklace is a one part mold and cast using MoldStar and cast in 45D flexible resin with a gold cold cast powder (Goldfinger) from SmoothOn for comfort.

Sword loaned from @solaheika

Build thread can be found here.