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This is why we age fabric
Jul. 7th, 2010 09:01 amI have a piece of fabric I bought almost 10 years ago. It’s beautiful stuff – 90% silk, 10% linen, creamy brocade with little gold fleurs-de-lis on it. It’s a perfect fabric for a sumptuous 14th century dress. I’ve been hanging on to it for a long time, waiting for just the right project. After a while, fabric speaks to you, and tells you what it wants to be.
The problem with figuring out what I wanted to make was that I only had five yards, it’s single direction, and only about 45 inches wide. I could squeak out a 14th century dress with short sleeves, but the gores would definitely have to go the wrong way, and I couldn’t get over that. I know I should, it’s fine, but it was a mental block. I wanted this fabric to turn into a *perfect* dress.
I pulled the fabric out at the La Belle meeting, since we were talking about spiffing stuff up. After admiring it, I decided to check the yardage. I unfolded it, and it’s more like 54” wide! WIN!
Then I started measuring length. Yard after yard I pulled out. After yard after yard. Er, I have almost EIGHT YARDS of it! Not five!
This is why we let fabric age. It GROWS!
Now, I still am left with a decision on what to make out of it. I need to find some similarly colored gold silk for the lining. A white lining makes the dark stripe of the gold show on the right side. An orange silk lining shows through the light parts and also looks striped. And now that I have EIGHT YARDS of it, I have to decide if I want to make a short sleeved 1380s gown with tippets, and have the gores all run the right way, or make a 1410s gown with floor length flap sleeves (or even something fuller), and never mind the gores.
FABRIC GROWS!
The problem with figuring out what I wanted to make was that I only had five yards, it’s single direction, and only about 45 inches wide. I could squeak out a 14th century dress with short sleeves, but the gores would definitely have to go the wrong way, and I couldn’t get over that. I know I should, it’s fine, but it was a mental block. I wanted this fabric to turn into a *perfect* dress.
I pulled the fabric out at the La Belle meeting, since we were talking about spiffing stuff up. After admiring it, I decided to check the yardage. I unfolded it, and it’s more like 54” wide! WIN!
Then I started measuring length. Yard after yard I pulled out. After yard after yard. Er, I have almost EIGHT YARDS of it! Not five!
This is why we let fabric age. It GROWS!
Now, I still am left with a decision on what to make out of it. I need to find some similarly colored gold silk for the lining. A white lining makes the dark stripe of the gold show on the right side. An orange silk lining shows through the light parts and also looks striped. And now that I have EIGHT YARDS of it, I have to decide if I want to make a short sleeved 1380s gown with tippets, and have the gores all run the right way, or make a 1410s gown with floor length flap sleeves (or even something fuller), and never mind the gores.
FABRIC GROWS!
I have pictures up from the weekend. I didn't really get out of camp at all, so these are mostly from La Belle, with just a sprinkling of Grey's Retinue (the great-grandkids).
I was strong, and managed to get some pics of people OTHER than just the kids I think are the awesomest in the whole wide world. It was difficult, but I managed. :-)
The funniest moment this weekend *wasn't* caught on film, though. As you can tell from the pics, Edward was REALLY into the armour. On Saturday afternoon, he put on a breastplate, a couple of gauntlets, and walked around with a buckler. We all went about our business, until suddenly everybody noticed him laying in the middle of the field, flailing about, unable to get up.
So, that myth about knights falling over in their armour and not able to get up on their own? Only if you're THREE. Poor boy!
And now, on to the pics. Oh, the full set is available here.
( La Belle Compagnie, teasers )
I was strong, and managed to get some pics of people OTHER than just the kids I think are the awesomest in the whole wide world. It was difficult, but I managed. :-)
The funniest moment this weekend *wasn't* caught on film, though. As you can tell from the pics, Edward was REALLY into the armour. On Saturday afternoon, he put on a breastplate, a couple of gauntlets, and walked around with a buckler. We all went about our business, until suddenly everybody noticed him laying in the middle of the field, flailing about, unable to get up.
So, that myth about knights falling over in their armour and not able to get up on their own? Only if you're THREE. Poor boy!
And now, on to the pics. Oh, the full set is available here.
( La Belle Compagnie, teasers )
Marching Through Time
Apr. 18th, 2010 10:18 pmThis spring's reenacting season has been fanTAStic. Jamestown was busy and warm, and our Marietta Mansion event this weekend was busy and cool. I think this is the first year in a long time where all of us made it out to both events both days, without staying home for somebody or other being sick or not wanting to be out in dreadful weather. Hooray!
This weekend was my debut event as Lady Joan Peel, taking over the role from![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
ichseke. I eased my way in gently by being Lady Joan's daughter-in-law at Jamestown, while shadowing ichseke. I still have a lot to remember and figure out, but I'm comfortable talking with visitors, and I'm able to extemporize in character.
The boys had a wonderful time as well. We had a bit of crankiness and tantrums, but that's kind of to be expected when you're out working and playing so hard. The boys continued what they started at Jamestown, actually interpreting to the guests. Henry LOVED being "the teacher", and said that the best part of the weekend was playing with the kids that came into camp. We were really rocking and rolling with the family friendly and history-is-fun atmosphere. :-D
For once, I took the camera and made an effort to get around and take pictures. But I'm working on uploading them, and I'm going to touch them up and crop a bit before posting, so in the meantime, I'll give you a quickie I took with my phone on Saturday morning:
And now, I'm exhausted, and about ready to fall into bed. It was so luxurious to just sit on the couch and do NOTHING tonight. Tomorrow will be plenty of laundry and clean up.
This weekend was my debut event as Lady Joan Peel, taking over the role from
ichseke. I eased my way in gently by being Lady Joan's daughter-in-law at Jamestown, while shadowing ichseke. I still have a lot to remember and figure out, but I'm comfortable talking with visitors, and I'm able to extemporize in character. The boys had a wonderful time as well. We had a bit of crankiness and tantrums, but that's kind of to be expected when you're out working and playing so hard. The boys continued what they started at Jamestown, actually interpreting to the guests. Henry LOVED being "the teacher", and said that the best part of the weekend was playing with the kids that came into camp. We were really rocking and rolling with the family friendly and history-is-fun atmosphere. :-D
For once, I took the camera and made an effort to get around and take pictures. But I'm working on uploading them, and I'm going to touch them up and crop a bit before posting, so in the meantime, I'll give you a quickie I took with my phone on Saturday morning:
And now, I'm exhausted, and about ready to fall into bed. It was so luxurious to just sit on the couch and do NOTHING tonight. Tomorrow will be plenty of laundry and clean up.
Before I forget it all
Mar. 22nd, 2010 11:07 pmI'm exhausted. But in a good way. It was that kind of a weekend (week, month, several months...).
As you all know, I've been busy sewing in a mad dash to finish Jeff's doublet. I took of Thursday afternoon to make progress, and Friday afternoon so that we could get there in time to set up. While there's still work to do, I finished the last stitch on the last eyelet (that I was planning on) AS we pulled into the parking lot at Jamestown. Fantastic.
Despite some mild confusion at the beginning of the weekend with various bits and pieces, everything seemed to fall into place quite well. At the end of Saturday, I felt that we were totally ON all day. Apparently, the judges thought so too. Military Through the Ages is a judged living history event, and we entered three categories: costuming, camp demonstration, and cooking. We took home blue ribbons in the first two, and second in cooking!
Highlights:
Lowlights:
Just plain weird:
All in all, a fantastic event. I felt really good about our impression, and learned a lot, and at the same time realized how very much I have yet to learn. There's SO much that I have to figure out by the time I can comfortably answer most questions.
Now, I'm looking forward to MTT in less than four weeks. I'd like to get two dressed made for myself by then, so that I can more appropriately portray Lady Joan Peel. Oy! Tonight, I worked on cleaning the dining/sewing room, so I can have a fresh sewing start. I need at very least a new overgown, but I will need a new foundation garment for underneath. I'm debating which silk to use, and for what layers. Anybody know where to find silver or gilt buttons?
I'm going to try and finish uploading pics of the doublet progress, but that'll have to happen on another evening...
Here's a side shot of Jeff in his doublet, kind of in the background.
I have found ONE shot of me on Facebook:
( ichseke and I in Sir Geoffrey's tent )
As you all know, I've been busy sewing in a mad dash to finish Jeff's doublet. I took of Thursday afternoon to make progress, and Friday afternoon so that we could get there in time to set up. While there's still work to do, I finished the last stitch on the last eyelet (that I was planning on) AS we pulled into the parking lot at Jamestown. Fantastic.
Despite some mild confusion at the beginning of the weekend with various bits and pieces, everything seemed to fall into place quite well. At the end of Saturday, I felt that we were totally ON all day. Apparently, the judges thought so too. Military Through the Ages is a judged living history event, and we entered three categories: costuming, camp demonstration, and cooking. We took home blue ribbons in the first two, and second in cooking!
Highlights:
- Boy clothes! stitchwhich and her apprentices did all of the finishing on four boy tunics and a G63. I really could not have gotten everything done without them. And they looked great!
- Edward was apparently paying quite a bit of attention to the rest of the camp. Midday on Sunday, I looked out and saw him in the middle of a crowd of children, holding a (wooden) sword, passing another wooden sword to another kid, and then controlling the tip of the other sword, just like Sir Geoffrey did all day. Tonight, Eddie told me that he wants to "be a grown up who teaches other people to swordfight." Awww.
- By Sunday, both boys were engaging the crowd, handing out swords and toy horses to the kids, and showing how to play with them. Henry was telling kids to try on the maille shirt, "because my daddy makes everybody do it."
- smiep was the "nurse" to the Peel boys, so I was a lady in the tent all day. It was weird. I worked on small projects, talked to people, and had to come up with completely different things to say than I normally do. The boys have always been the subject of my interpretations, so I had to find other things to talk about.
- Interpreting this scenario was fun. ichseke and I had a great time coming up with new ways to be distressed about camping in a tent like soldiers. *sniff*
- Coming up with first person ways to explain who we were was also fun. In response to "what war are you reenacting?" I came up with "We've been at war with the French since my grandfather's time, it feels like this could go on for a Hundred Years." Watching people nod knowingly and act like they were predicting the future at me was amusing.
- The weather was good and bad. The good is that it was not raining, it was not cold, and it was not miserable. Yay! According to weather.com it hit 82 on Saturday, and 79 on Sunday.
- I managed to get Edward to nap on Sunday. He was so cute sleeping in the tent, and nobody asked if he was a real baby!
- Henry and Aaron seemed to really bond when it was just the two of them. They ran off behind the tent, drew pictures in the dirt with sticks, and had a grand time.
- Chatting with the costume director (I think?) from Williamsburg, who showed up in a gorgeous polonaise, with perfect hair and hat. I just wanted to shrink her into a doll and take her home with me. So pretty.
Lowlights:
- The weather. It wasn't cold and miserable, but it was pretty warm and VERY sunny. The boys ended up with quite the heat rash all over their bodies, despite liberal applications of SPF 85, and pretty lightweight clothing. It was simply too much time in the sun.
- I didn't get ANY pictures. Since we were walking in from the car carrying what we needed, the only modern thing I brought into camp was a tiny tube of sunblock. No camera. A few pictures have shown up on facebook, but if you see any, please point me in that direction!
- Chocolate ice cream. Yeah, it's a lowlight. When you're talking about a three year old eating it while wearing a light green wool tunic. *sigh*
Just plain weird:
- Crazy re-encarnation girl! We get all sorts of people in camp. One girl just stood around quietly for a good long time, and then started peppering me with questions about knights. She was asking about "typical" knights, and kept persisting when I mentioned that typical could be a lot of different things. She eventually asked me "can you tell me everything that you know about knights?" I finally foisted her on poor ichseke to field the questions I couldn't answer, but at that point, the girl informed us that she believes in reencarnation and was certain that she was a French knight following around Joan of Arc in a former life. Oooohhhh-kay. I'm not one to say that somebody is wrong, per se, but she just. wouldn't. stop. Oy. ANYway. She stuck around for well over an hour asking the same questions over and over and over and over...
All in all, a fantastic event. I felt really good about our impression, and learned a lot, and at the same time realized how very much I have yet to learn. There's SO much that I have to figure out by the time I can comfortably answer most questions.
Now, I'm looking forward to MTT in less than four weeks. I'd like to get two dressed made for myself by then, so that I can more appropriately portray Lady Joan Peel. Oy! Tonight, I worked on cleaning the dining/sewing room, so I can have a fresh sewing start. I need at very least a new overgown, but I will need a new foundation garment for underneath. I'm debating which silk to use, and for what layers. Anybody know where to find silver or gilt buttons?
I'm going to try and finish uploading pics of the doublet progress, but that'll have to happen on another evening...
Here's a side shot of Jeff in his doublet, kind of in the background.
I have found ONE shot of me on Facebook:
( ichseke and I in Sir Geoffrey's tent )
(no subject)
Mar. 18th, 2010 01:15 pmMy new purse is here! It's so cute! And I got a discount because it had a TINY snag! SQUEEEEE!
Progress Pics
Mar. 16th, 2010 06:18 pmI took some pictures of the arming cote last night and the night before, but I don’t have a lot of time to add construction explanation. I have a lot more pictures between the last I posted and these, but I’ll get them up eventually. Or, maybe I’ll just do a “POOF! Something Magical Happens Here!”
Hee hee!
( Don’t worry! He WILL be wearing pants! Well, hose. )
Hee hee!
( Don’t worry! He WILL be wearing pants! Well, hose. )
Briefest of updates
Mar. 4th, 2010 11:43 pmNo time to post pictures of the arming doublet, and I haven't made all that much progress to make it interesting. The upper sleeves are all sewn together, and the other night I cut and fit all of the innards, the padding pieces in there. That was tedious. Now, I'm debating on whether I sew the sleeve into a tube before I quilt or the other way around. The layers will shift once it's a tube, so that would make me want to sew before I quilt. But quilting and marking quilting will be a lot easier when it's still flat, so that would make me want to quilt first. At this moment, I'm leaning towards marking the lines, but not actually quilting it until I sew it into the tube.
I wish I was further along. I think I can get this done, but it'll be tight. I really wish I had time to make little fur-lined caps for the boys before Jamestown!
But, the last two days, I haven't been making progress on the doublet. Instead, I cut and am still in the process of putting together a boy G63 and four tunics. Two of the tunics are lightweight wool, and two are in a somewhat warmer flannel, as I'd like them to have the option of wearing layers. I went with rather higher class colors for them, so as to distinguish the "Peelings" (the Peel grandkids) as higher class. I wish I could do more with fur for them, like I did for 15th century last year, but the purfell doesn't tend to be as deep in this century. More research necessary.
The G63 and two of the tunics are completely assembled, and just need finishing work. The other two tunics have the neckline done, which is most of the work. The neckline is MUCH easier to finish completely when the garment is still flat, before it's been sewn together. So there was a little extra hand-sewing there.
Now, sleep.
I wish I was further along. I think I can get this done, but it'll be tight. I really wish I had time to make little fur-lined caps for the boys before Jamestown!
But, the last two days, I haven't been making progress on the doublet. Instead, I cut and am still in the process of putting together a boy G63 and four tunics. Two of the tunics are lightweight wool, and two are in a somewhat warmer flannel, as I'd like them to have the option of wearing layers. I went with rather higher class colors for them, so as to distinguish the "Peelings" (the Peel grandkids) as higher class. I wish I could do more with fur for them, like I did for 15th century last year, but the purfell doesn't tend to be as deep in this century. More research necessary.
The G63 and two of the tunics are completely assembled, and just need finishing work. The other two tunics have the neckline done, which is most of the work. The neckline is MUCH easier to finish completely when the garment is still flat, before it's been sewn together. So there was a little extra hand-sewing there.
Now, sleep.
Arming Cote for Jeff
Sep. 9th, 2009 10:19 pmI started planning Jeff's 14th century arming cote the other night, and was wishing like crazy that I'd taken notes the last time around.
( So I will this time. At least until I forget to keep writing or fall too far behind. )
Hm. Need a new icon for this project.
( So I will this time. At least until I forget to keep writing or fall too far behind. )
Hm. Need a new icon for this project.
Fur, paint, and zombies, oh my!
May. 18th, 2009 03:00 pmWhat stands out most in my head from this weekend, is that when the zombie apocalypse happens, I want Jeff by my side. That is all. If you were there, you'll know why. :-D
Saturday, we visitedthatpotteryguy and smiep who were hosting the La Belle meeting at their house. Typical meeting, boys played, ate lots of food, etc. etc. Of note, I purchased 70 squirrel skins that were being sold for somebody getting out of reenacting. Pretty white bellies! The back skin is reddish brown, not grey, so it's not the preferred 14th century squirrel fur, but Veale (In The English Fur Trade in the Middle Ages) mentions other varieties of squirrel, including a reddish-brown one (redwerke), imported from Southern Italy. Now, just to figure out the cutting and the piecing that results in the right look, plus not a lot of waste. 70 little squirrels is not all that much, and I want to make the most of them. I have a couple of ideas, but the most economical way to get a basic vair look means that the fur will not all be running in one direction. I have yet to figure out if this is an issue (Veale doesn't seem to say). I'm leaning away from that, and dealing with waste. On the bright side, a more miniver path looks like it'll be less sewing. *sigh* More research... Naturally, googling for more info turns up articles that *I* wrote. :-D
The boys were... busy... but altogether pretty good. Henry had a grand time helping throw sticks on the big bonfire. He likes to help (and when it's just him, he can). We should have brought a longer shirt for Henry, as we let him run around naked from the waist down all weekend. My apologies to our friends, but ( Oh noez! Scary (not really) potty training stuff! ) We really needed that.
Sunday I painted my closet. ( Do I really want matchy matchy in there? Wood color conundrums. (just cut to take down the length a bit) )
Saturday, we visited
thatpotteryguy and smiep who were hosting the La Belle meeting at their house. Typical meeting, boys played, ate lots of food, etc. etc. Of note, I purchased 70 squirrel skins that were being sold for somebody getting out of reenacting. Pretty white bellies! The back skin is reddish brown, not grey, so it's not the preferred 14th century squirrel fur, but Veale (In The English Fur Trade in the Middle Ages) mentions other varieties of squirrel, including a reddish-brown one (redwerke), imported from Southern Italy. Now, just to figure out the cutting and the piecing that results in the right look, plus not a lot of waste. 70 little squirrels is not all that much, and I want to make the most of them. I have a couple of ideas, but the most economical way to get a basic vair look means that the fur will not all be running in one direction. I have yet to figure out if this is an issue (Veale doesn't seem to say). I'm leaning away from that, and dealing with waste. On the bright side, a more miniver path looks like it'll be less sewing. *sigh* More research... Naturally, googling for more info turns up articles that *I* wrote. :-DThe boys were... busy... but altogether pretty good. Henry had a grand time helping throw sticks on the big bonfire. He likes to help (and when it's just him, he can). We should have brought a longer shirt for Henry, as we let him run around naked from the waist down all weekend. My apologies to our friends, but ( Oh noez! Scary (not really) potty training stuff! ) We really needed that.
Sunday I painted my closet. ( Do I really want matchy matchy in there? Wood color conundrums. (just cut to take down the length a bit) )
Two weekends in a row
Jan. 19th, 2009 10:10 amAfter every busy weekend, I feel like I need a weekend to recover. I have it! Whee! We got back from the La Belle winter gathering last night, and I have today and tomorrow off to do nothing. Blissful nothing!
The LBC gathering was productive for me. On Saturday, I got two boy shirts made, one 14th century and one with a 15th century neckline. The first was machined on the main seams, but then they were otherwise completely hand worked. I finished off two loafs of bread for dinner that I should have done earlier in the day. I started another shirt yesterday, then did a dress fitting, and supervised another pair of dress fittings. I also played lots of legos with Henry. Next Christmas. Totally.
Today and tomorrow, I intend to finish the neckline of the shirt and machine the main seams. I want to get a sewing area put together in the basement. Then I will start my new fifteenth century underdress that I've been planning for a while. Something for ME! I think it's been two years. I mean to have that done by Jamestown in March.
If we're going to Pennsic, and taking the boys, I have a lot of sewing to do.
The list:
boys
10 linen shirts for the boys (give or take)
10 linen tunics/gowns for the boys (give or take) (G63, Bocksten, other Herjolfsnes stuff)
*I mean to crank these all out on the machine, then set them aside and hand finish as possible, or a couple of weeks before Pennsic just cheat and use the machine.
2 wool G-63 for boys
2 wool bockstens for boys
Lightweight wool doublet for Henry (to match Jeff!)
Joined hose for Heny
Points
10 pairs of braies
Acorn hat for Henry
Jeff
Finish Teal G63
Lightweight wool doublet (to match Henry!)
Another linen F63
Linen Bocksten
Start 14th century Arming Doublet (after Pennsic)
Me
Feminine Agropeasant alternative
Red late 15th century underdress (by Jamestown)
Finish the seams on the blue v-neck (by Jamestown)
Dream: stays, petticotes, Laton jacket, smock
I'd better get busy...
The LBC gathering was productive for me. On Saturday, I got two boy shirts made, one 14th century and one with a 15th century neckline. The first was machined on the main seams, but then they were otherwise completely hand worked. I finished off two loafs of bread for dinner that I should have done earlier in the day. I started another shirt yesterday, then did a dress fitting, and supervised another pair of dress fittings. I also played lots of legos with Henry. Next Christmas. Totally.
Today and tomorrow, I intend to finish the neckline of the shirt and machine the main seams. I want to get a sewing area put together in the basement. Then I will start my new fifteenth century underdress that I've been planning for a while. Something for ME! I think it's been two years. I mean to have that done by Jamestown in March.
If we're going to Pennsic, and taking the boys, I have a lot of sewing to do.
The list:
boys
10 linen shirts for the boys (give or take)
10 linen tunics/gowns for the boys (give or take) (G63, Bocksten, other Herjolfsnes stuff)
*I mean to crank these all out on the machine, then set them aside and hand finish as possible, or a couple of weeks before Pennsic just cheat and use the machine.
2 wool G-63 for boys
2 wool bockstens for boys
Lightweight wool doublet for Henry (to match Jeff!)
Joined hose for Heny
Points
10 pairs of braies
Acorn hat for Henry
Jeff
Finish Teal G63
Lightweight wool doublet (to match Henry!)
Another linen F63
Linen Bocksten
Start 14th century Arming Doublet (after Pennsic)
Me
Feminine Agropeasant alternative
Red late 15th century underdress (by Jamestown)
Finish the seams on the blue v-neck (by Jamestown)
Dream: stays, petticotes, Laton jacket, smock
I'd better get busy...
