Pericles

William Shakespeare Utah Shakespeare Festival 2021 May 2021-June 2021

Designer: Karin Kopischke

Draper: Steven Schmid

First Hand: Caitlin Leyden

Pericles Coat

This coat is made from polyester fabric with gold trim and pearl embellishments and lined with a polycotton broadcloth. To construct this garment, I had to dodge all of the pearl embellishments. Once the pieces were cut, I had to flatline the lining and exterior. The patterns were laid on the bias. I single-thread hand basted each piece together. I had to remove the pearl embellishments within 1" of the raw edge to allow for stitching. Once flatlined I drew and cut 3/4" bias strips, and began binding the raw edges with the Hong Kong technique to reduce bulk.

After the edges were bound, I could remove the basting and begin assembling the garment. Machine bastes were put in at the hem and center front opening for fitting purposes.

The collar and cuffs were made from gold poly-satin and interfaced with mid-weight interfacing, and fusible horsehair interfacing. I eased the trim in and began machine stitching it on with a khaki thread and stitched with a narrow zig-zag stitch.

From there, the cuffs were lines with the same blue broadcloth as the lining, and bagged and slip stitched shut.

A center front placket was added and rigged shut with size 4 snaps covered in polyester broadcloth.

A second coat was made with slight differences. Used in the procession of the story. Wears the second coat in the second act. Build process was the same as the first.

Thaisa Dress

This dress was made from a sparkle fluted, stretch material. The drape was made from knitted stretch material and had mirror trim added on.

The silver drape was tricky to construct. We couldn't use any straight pins, in the fear it'd get caught in the fabric and ruin it. The trim had to be hand basted with a mesh netting placed over the trim to prevent snagging on the fabric. From there I could zig-zag the trim on with a zipper foot and narrow stitch.

The drape connected to the dress by a strap underneath the drape that looped under and snapped to the dress at the shoulders.

Pleated Velvet Coat

The bodice and caps of the sleeve were stabilized with a silk organdy. I had to first hand basted the silk to the velvet and then stitch down every other pleat. Then I could assemble the garment.

Helicanus Coat

This used the same pattern as Pericles Coat. The tunic took me around 6 hours to make, and it was closed with a zipper in the center front.

Red Coat

This coat was laid on the bias. The collar is built into the pattern and not a separate piece.

Embellishments and collar facing done by Caitlin Leyden.

Fisherman Tunic

This was made from a similar material as the pants and tunics. It opened on the right with a large hook and eye. The side-seam was sewn and then elastic casing was added to the waist, and it was tied around the shoulder.

Fluted Stretch Pants and Tunics

The pants took me 2 hours to make each and the tunics took 3.5 hours to make each.

Each seam was first stitched with a serger and than taken to a machine and zigged over with a walking foot to reinforce the seams. The serge was done to stabilize the seam, otherwise the sewing machines would just start eating them because the material was thin.