New overlocker :-)

Just went for a walk during my lunch break and bought a new overlocker - Janome 8002DX :-) My other one has been broken for a while and was a good excuse not to sew (it was over ten years old and bought second hand at the time). So.......no more excuses :-)

Long time no see :-)

Well, it has been nearly twelve months since I have posted anything here - in line with not doing any projects since that time :-)

I had a lot of stuff happen in the 'real world' so haven't been doing much else. I am starting to feel motivated again and taking a new lease on life in general. I have lots of projects in the back of my mind but of course it's 'only two weeks to Festival' so I need to get cracking!

I have a family history project I am working on to get as much info together as possible before my dad goes to visit his brother on the 9th February. My uncle is very ill with cancer so this has to take priority!

I haven't made myself any new dresses for years so have decided that I need to re-focus and this may encourage me to do more :-) I have decided Cotehardie's are still my favourite (and my husband's) so I am going to make some new ones. I have been inspired by some pictures and websites and have a stack of beautiful buttons I bought at Festival last year that would be fantastic for sleeves! I also have some gorgeous brocade that I can use on the lower sleeves :-) First things first though, I need some chemises! Anyone have any good sources for easy to make chemises that will sit nicely under a cotehardie?

Coffee break over, back to work!

Festival is only 2 weeks away!

Actually, it's about 2.5 weeks away but still scarily close! I am excited but nervous at the same time - it has been 3 years since our last visit, lots has changed but some things are still the same! LOL It will be the 5 of us plus Ranif and Johanna making up the Radburne contingency.

Both Conrad and Wolfstanus need to re-authorise and Wolfstanus can now authorise as an Archer, hope they are both successful! T is also thinking about fighting alongside Ranif - is taking his armour anyway. Will depend on mood/how things go if he fights or not. We decided to get the local saddler to make leather gorgets - still waiting on them but we have been promised they will be ready in time!

The new armour Terry has made looks awesome - can't wait to see them all kitted up! Gryffen still has ten months to go before he can authorise as a banner bearer so I plan to try and do lots of stuff with him so he doesn't get too bored ;-) Need to make sure I take the camera etc too! I still have some sewing to do but mum is helping so it is more manageable ;-) I haven't been well for about the last month so haven't been doing much - I spent all afternoon tracing patterns and cutting them out, need to get off my feet though for a bit as they are painful again. I don't want to jinx myself but at least this Festival won't be spent on crutches!

I think we will be better prepared for Festival this time around but I am still nervous about the whole thing - T is more involved with the SCA now so hopefully should be better. He enjoyed Spring War even though he didn't get to fight so I am more hopeful this time but don't want to get my hopes up too high - less chance of being disappointed then ;-)

T has also made a take down double bed (timber) which means no air mattress and no sleeping on the ground! Huzzah! The boys all have bigger tents too now they are older which will fit their stretchers and gear. We also have a common tent for the group so should be better.

So what is on the list for the next two weeks:
* Make cotehardie for T
* Make cloak for T
* Make cloak for me
* Make chemise for me (extra one)
* New shirt for Conrad and Wolfstanus (mum is doing those for me)
* Finish T's banner (if I get a chance)
* Pre-cooking for Festival (things that can be frozen such as soups/stews etc)

Not too bad, will keep me out of mischief anyway! Really looking forward to catching up with people! Looking forward to seeing who wins Autumn Crown too as they will be Royalty for November Crown which Radburne is hosting!

Wow, it has been a long time!

Hmm, haven't been here for a while have I? I have completed the Italian Renaissance Dress, made several doublets, almost completed my husband's banner, made cotehardies.....I really should take some photos and put them up, along with my latest project!

It's completed!

I have been meaning to post this here for a while - I finished Gryffen's banner about 1 month ago. It is actually bottle green and white although the photo doesn't show the colour up very well ;-) There is a combination of machine stitching (for some of the seams) but the rest is hand sewn. (The banner wasn't quite finished when I took this.)

Gryffen's banner has been started

although I am struggling to get motivated I must admit. After a very hectic day at work today the brain just couldn't get switched on so I took the dogs for a walk instead in the beautiful, cool fresh air! Unusual for this time of year so I took advantage of it! The photos don't show it particularly well but the banner is dark green and white, not black and white as it looks. The lion's heads will have more detail sewn on as well. Princess decided to help pull the pins out!

Not much to see here..........

Haven't really been doing any sewing or planning - too hot! Will try and get motivated again in a few weeks ;-)

Started cutting out a banner for Gryffen on the weekend but I got too hot and couldn't get motivated ;-)

Wow, it has been longer than I though!

Life is crazy and busy, tiring but good. I still haven't finished the Renaissance dress but I have done some hand sewing! I'm still trying to decide on embillishments (if any) and closures (although will probably do lacing holes). I am hoping to have it done to a wearable stage (no sleeves) by this weekend - not sure it will happen though ;-) I have the two new patterns as well which remain unopened.

I did buy a stash of velveteen the other day as it was reduced from $14.95AUS per metre to $6AUS per metre :-) I got 10m of green, 10m of blue and 10m of black - I am hoping now with the warmer weather and wanting to stay in the air conditioning I will get some sewing done. I must admit I have not been motivated lately :-(

Didn't quite get there..........

I got Wolfstanus' and Gryffen's doublets done (after sewing until 1am both Thursday and Friday nights) but it just wasn't physically possible to get Conrad's done. He was very understanding though! His will be on the top of the list now to get done. Here are two photos although they haven't got the tie on sleeves on them. (It was quite warm through the day). Will try and get better ones after they have been cleaned - oh the dust!!

Oh the plans.........

Just need a break from spread sheets so here are a few ramblings.......
* Get the boys doublets finished by this weekend
* Next step is new shirts for Conrad, Gryffen and Terry
* Do blackwork embroidery (learn to do it first) on all the boys shirts
* Finish my Italian experiment
* Create a German Renaissance gown - probably view II or V on this......I have some Burgundy velveteen that has been recycled from an old Elizabethan I pulled apart itching to be made ;-)




* Once all the spiffy gear is made, get a family portrait done!

One almost done.........

and two more to go in two days! Got Gryffens almost done - the trim turned up yesterday. Huzzah! I haven't got time to upload photos etc at the moment so will try and do that next week when things aren't so crazy! I'm really happy with it - I just need to do lacing holes on the main body and on the sleeves, sew the sleeve caps on and sew on the frog closures and it is a done deal! My mum is going to help me with the hand sewing over the next few days so we can hopefully get them all done! I have tomorrow off work but with all the running around I need to do to organise the event it is going to be tight ;-) At least I am not the only one! Terry and Pete still need to finish off their armour before the weekend! LOL

You know you're in the SCA when..............

Wednesday update

Got the hand sewing done on Gryffen's doublet (took a couple of photos but will need to upload them from home), got the sleeves lined and now I cannot go any further until I get the trim. Fingers, toes and everything crossed it turns up today!

Worked on Wolfstanus' doublet - cut out the lining from the pattern I have for his dad. Naturally it was way too big! Put it on him and marked the new seam lines and used the lining as the pattern. Then cut out the interfacing and fabric - pinned the lining together ready to sew. I hope to get the sewing done this evening (as then I need to wait for, you guessed it, the trim).

Will make a start on Conrad's tomorrow!

Progress at last!

Got a fair amount done on Gryffen's doublet last night. The collar is on, the peplum is on and the main body is together and fully lined. I just need to hand sew the lining on the inside to 'seal it up'. The lining is pinned to the sleeves so will sew it tonight and the sleeve caps are sewn to the point where I need to put on the trim. Now if the trim would just arrive things would be great!

Tonight will be sewing sleeves and lining as well as cutting out Wolfstanus' doublet and pinning. Wednesday night will be cutting out Conrad's doublet and pinning (and hopefully the trim will turn up or I'm screwed). Thursday night is household grocery night so probably won't get a lot done. Friday is shopping for the feast, acupuncture, picking up hospit gear, portaloo and finishing sewing all doublets 'cause Saturday is setup, archery, feast and tourney on Sunday. Nothing quite like a tight schedule is there?

So far the doublet looks great - it is lined with navy blue linen and the main fabric is black velveteen. With Gryffen's red hair it works well :-) I'll try and get a photo of the progress tonight.

Beginings of a doublet for Gryffen

I actually managed to get a little bit done last night until the headache took over. Got the fabric cut out (black velveteen) and the interfacing cut out and ironed onto the fabric pieces. Pieces have been pinned ready to sew of the lining and the main fabric. The issue I have at the moment is there is only so much I can sew before I need to put the trim on before completing the rest of the sewing. I got an email last night to say there had been a hiccup with my order - the online store thingy let me order more frog closures than was in stock - oh bother. I was asked if I would like to wait one or two weeks for the new stock to come in or if I would like what they had now sent and send the remainder when it arrives - I opted for the second option! So, it doesn't look like I will have my trim by the weekend now - oh bother! Murphy's Law of course - my fault for leaving it to the last minute! I can see a few late nights next week! The other problem of course is we only get mail Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Hopefully the trim will arrive by Monday otherwise it is going to be awfully tight! If worst comes to worst, I'll just sew the doublets together plain and attach the trim when it arrives - a little bit more mucking around but doable! Have I learned my lesson? Time will tell! LOL

Slow start

Got the lining for Gryffen's doublet cut out and realised I also need interfacing *sigh*. Went to spotlight and got some medium weight iron on stuff (because I am pressed for time) - should do the trick. Given the lining is linen and the fabric is velveteen it should hold the shape nicely (I hope!). Was a bit sore and headachey after the chiro last night so only did that bit and had to stop. I hope to get the interfacing and fabric for Gryffen's cut out tonight. Probably won't get time for anything tomorrow night so if I can get the other two cut out on Friday night will be great! I have a house-full this weekend so it is going to be interesting getting all of this done! Hopefully the trim and frog closures will turn up on Friday - then I think it will be late nights all of next week! At least I have next Friday off work to get all the stuff done for the feast and tourney. Oh boy!

Patterns arrived.........

that I ordered - the Italian Renaissance one and the German one (listed in a post somewhere below ;-)). They will need to wait for a bit though until I get the doublets done.

Hope to start cutting out material tonight.........

Why do I leave things to the last minute?

Because it is my nature I guess. I think I have plenty of time and it just creeps up on me!

So, a brief update:
* No more work done on the Italian dress due to working on chook pen (see Chickadee Chirpings)
* Remembered I had promised my three sons I would make them new doublets for the Radburne Anniversary Feast on the 16 May
* Bought velveteen (Conrad is having Navy Blue with white trim - his colours, Wolfstanus is having black velveteen with red and gold trim - his colours, and Gryffen is having black velveteen with gold trim - his dad's colours 'cause I couldn't get green velveteen which is Gryffen's colours)
* Went - 'OMG, how will I get this done?'
* Ordered trim from Odds n Sods in Newcastle because I cannot buy it locally. They have always got orders to me quickly so hoping it will be the same this time!
* No longer need to make T's tabbard in a hurry as he doesn't really need it until August now (phew!!!)
* I will wear my Cotehardie and Sideless surcoat for the feast as it is warm - the new outfit can wait a bit longer ;-)

Back to work - coffee break over!

No new news........

Haven't done any more work on the dress - too busy working on the chook pen and reading ;-) Hope to work out the sleeves over the next few days.........

Day two of the project

12/4/2009
Fabric cut out as well as lining (I used calico from my stash) and iron on interfacing. I used lightweight interfacing as that is what I had in my stash but heavy should be used. Sewed the bodice and remembered to leave the armholes un-sewn but forgot to leave the bottom hem open! Unpicked the hem......I had only one length of material left to make the skirt - luckily it was long enough and wide enough! It isn't particularly full but I still needed to pleat it to fit the bodice. Sewed the skirt to the bodice. Now I need to hand sew the armhole lining to the bodice and the bodice lining over the seam of the skirt where it attaches to the bodice. I also put boning in the front closure to stop the lacing holes pulling too severely. I also need to do the lacing holes.
Still need to decide on sleeve style which is the next part of the project!

And we begin.......

Step 1
Got mum to assist with measurements and wrote them into booklet

Step 2
Remembered I already had a chemise from my Elizabethan experiment - it is a little tight under the arms but perfectly fine for this experiment! I still want to make a new one complete with blackwork embroidery, but it can wait for now.

Step 3
or decisions, decisions!!
Decided on a square neck bodice with front lacing so I can 'dress myself' and thought this would be easiest for a first attempt. I also decided on detached sleeves for flexibility. Still deciding on exact style of sleeve though.

Step 4 or more decisions!
Picking material! I went through my stash and found some very pale blue silkish looking material (it is not silk - not sure what it is but I got it courtesy of Aminah - thanks Aminah!). I also found some gold coloured brocade material for the sleeves.



Step 5
Making the bodice pattern
- draw the pattern onto brown paper using measurements taken with mum in step 1 and following instructions in booklet
- drafting the pattern was very difficult for me! After double checking some measurements (it just didn't look right) and a few goes later I finally had a paper pattern! Still not convinced it is correct ;-) Cutting out of scrap material (remembering to leave a seam allowance) and then adjust fit on. Update Pattern did not work very well - goofed it somewhere! The back was way too short! Back to the drawing board! I have a number of commercial patterns but I want to do more than that! I will be ordering Historic Patterns 'Italian Renaissance Gowns C 1470-1505' and 'Women's German Puff and Slash Gowns C 1500-1545 AD'. The Cotehardie one was good as was the gambeson one - unfortunately I just do not have the skills yet to draft a pattern!

Take 2
I didn't want to give up so went back and redrew the back piece of the pattern. I then cut it out of scrap, sewed it together and tried it on. I got my husband to mark the changes needed to the armholes and neckline. I adjusted the fit along the bust and then cut myself out of the toile. I unpicked the seams and traced the pattern back onto paper so I could re-use it. Hopefully I have it right this time!. I will now cut out my fabric.......