I present: 1 motif of what I’m calling “Bard’s Broken Heart Lace”
OK, not quite, but still a cool design.
Inspired by this post from Tumblr user @loki-is-my-kink-awakening
https://www.tumblr.com/loki-is-my-kink-awakening/723753602720661504/oh-my-gods-are-these-the-hearts-hidden-on?source=share
Who noticed that the trim on Jaskier’s shirt in Season 3 Netflix Witcher is little hearts! And a reply (sorry OP, I can’t find it now) noted that they’re very symbolically, hearts that are divided!
So anyway, I got crafting-obsessed and had to try to figure out how it was made and attempt to recreate it.
Which lead to research on historical lace-making and needlework.
[Disclaimers: this is all my best guesses as an amateur crafter, not a historical expert.
I know my stitching is uneven, especially the pin-picots, which I just learned last week]
by the way, crafters or fic writers looking for historical fibercraft reference, check out Project Gutenberg’s (free!) The Encyclopedia of Needlework by Thérèse de Dillmont https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/20776/pg20776-images.html
SO much fascinating stuff!
First, based on the clearest photos I can find (ie not very) I’m guessing the actual trim was machine-made, because a) the stitching is really even and smooth and tiny, b) handmade lace would be extremely expensive, and c) TV/Movie costuming needs multiples of every garment, especially for something like a delicate chemise Jaskier wears running all around the continent for a whole season.
My first guess and attempt was crochet, which wasn’t it, then thought it might be tatting or bobbin lace, which also weren’t right once I looked up images.
I finally settled on whitework cut-work embroidery with some needle lace techniques for the edging. Which I think gave me a kind of close facsimile. This one is about 1-½ x the size of what he wears (because that’s the limit of my aging hand steadiness, crafting magnifiers, and the materials I had.)
This one motif took me probably two hours, including many screwups and tangles. Not including drafting, blocking and snapshots. With the right materials and one done for practice (as it was only my second project in whitework and first try at needle lace!) one heart would take around an hour. For someone whose lifelong job, all day every day, was embroidering lace trim, they’d probably manage a meter/yard or two of the actual size trim, which I’m guessing is how much is on that shirt.
So in-universe, this still wouldn’t be a cheap piece of clothing, with at least a full day of skilled craftswomen wages for just the lace, plus finely woven, printed fabric that (I think, historically, that would have been block printed by hand), and additional seamster time to make it up. Modern-day equivalent would probably be easily USD $1000 if not 2x that. Our boy is making good money as a now-famous bard! (I suppose in a universe with magic, it could have been magiked, or magically duplicated after an expert created a template, but I suspect that would cost as much as handcrafting anyhow)
If I get bored and the crafting bug hits me again, I might try to make a whole edging this, maybe on a handkerchief.
Now, what do I do with one lace heart? I settled on starching it and attaching a safety pin back, so I guess if I ever go to a convention I can wear it as a pin so fellow Witchercrafters and Jaskier fans know how much of a nerd I really am.
I could write up direx with step by step pictures if anyone else really wants to try it.
WitcherCraft Mod (1.20.1) | The Witcher series For Minecraft
Imagine stepping into a Minecraft world where ancient magic and fierce beasts intertwine, where every step echoes with the lore of the Continent. The WitcherCraft mod isn't just an addition; it's a transformative experience, bringing the very soul of the Witcher series into your blocky realm. Feel the power of the Signs flow through you—ignite foes with Igni, shield yourself with Quen, or lay cunning traps with Yrden, each spell a brushstroke on your adventuring canvas. But it's not just about flashy magic; it's the subtle art of alchemy, crafting elixirs like Blizzard for blinding speed or Cat for night vision, turning mundane ingredients into vital survival tools. And the gear! Oh, the gear. Don legendary Witcher school armor, each set offering a unique playstyle, from the swift strikes of Cat School to the defensive might of the Bear. It's about finding your path, honing your skills, and truly becoming a monster hunter in a world you thought you knew. This mod doesn't just add features; it adds feeling, depth, and countless hours of exploration and discovery, inviting you to forge your own legend in a familiar yet wonderfully reimagined landscape. It's a creative playground for any fan, waiting for your story to be written.
Source: WitcherCraft Mod (1.20.1) | The Witcher series For Minecraft
