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Description
Over 100 hours of work have gone into this costume so far, and it's still not quite done. (Can you tell I'm a fan?) I've dreamed of having an authentic replica of Catherine's (Katran's) costume to wear ever since I first looked at the Museum Replicas Limited brochure that was in the box with Riven: The Sequel to Myst. I couldn't afford it when it was available, but I've recently discovered it wasn't all that accurate anyway.

This was the first full clothing project I ever did on my own and at the time I didn't even have a sewing machine! The vest as you see it here is completely sewn by hand, without a pattern. I am considering using a machine when I add the lining, which will have to wait until the last of the embroidery is finished, but that almost seems a shame considering I've gotten so far without one. Also, the Rivenese people don't seem to have had sewing machines.

This underdress was a placeholder until I could sew and age-stain a proper, single-piece dress, which I have done and still need to take a really good photo of.

Being such a stickler about details in my replicas, I was distressed at how tough it is to find clear reference pictures of the original costume. I spent far too many hours poring over the patterns of embroidery in game stills, production photos, and photos of the original on display at Cyan Headquarters (some of which I took myself, without the foresight to imagine how hard it would be to find good pictures later >.< ). The pattern on this vest is verrrry similar but not an exact duplicate, and I've since puzzled out a better draft of it, but too late to improve this vest any further. If I ever make another one, it will look much closer.

I tried styling a wig I had, but it just didn't look right, so for now I braid the strings of beads (also closely referencing detail shots of the original wig) into my own hair. My hair is much lighter and finer than Katran's so it's not quite right, but at least it looks natural on me.

Please check out the rest of the pictures. There is a lot of detail! (And if you read this whole commentary, I appreciate you.)
Katran costumes are pretty rare, so if mine has pleased a fellow Riven fan, I'd be delighted to hear your comments!

Detail images and construction notes of the embroidery:

An updated image showing the finished underdress: [link]

Description
Over 100 hours of work have gone into this costume so far, and it's still not quite done. (Can you tell I'm a fan?) I've dreamed of having an authentic replica of Catherine's (Katran's) costume to wear ever since I first looked at the Museum Replicas Limited brochure that was in the box with Riven: The Sequel to Myst. I couldn't afford it when it was available, but I've recently discovered it wasn't all that accurate anyway.

This was the first full clothing project I ever did on my own and at the time I didn't even have a sewing machine! The vest as you see it here is completely sewn by hand, without a pattern. I am considering using a machine when I add the lining, which will have to wait until the last of the embroidery is finished, but that almost seems a shame considering I've gotten so far without one. Also, the Rivenese people don't seem to have had sewing machines.

This underdress was a placeholder until I could sew and age-stain a proper, single-piece dress, which I have done and still need to take a really good photo of.

Being such a stickler about details in my replicas, I was distressed at how tough it is to find clear reference pictures of the original costume. I spent far too many hours poring over the patterns of embroidery in game stills, production photos, and photos of the original on display at Cyan Headquarters (some of which I took myself, without the foresight to imagine how hard it would be to find good pictures later >.< ). The pattern on this vest is verrrry similar but not an exact duplicate, and I've since puzzled out a better draft of it, but too late to improve this vest any further. If I ever make another one, it will look much closer.

I tried styling a wig I had, but it just didn't look right, so for now I braid the strings of beads (also closely referencing detail shots of the original wig) into my own hair. My hair is much lighter and finer than Katran's so it's not quite right, but at least it looks natural on me.

Please check out the rest of the pictures. There is a lot of detail! (And if you read this whole commentary, I appreciate you.)
Katran costumes are pretty rare, so if mine has pleased a fellow Riven fan, I'd be delighted to hear your comments!

Detail images and construction notes of the embroidery:

An updated image showing the finished underdress: [link]