2 posts tagged “sew”

So I've been working on a circle cloak lately, since about January 1st, using a pattern I took from the Known World Handbook.  Because the wool I'm using it so thick, I ended up hand-sewing the entire thing.  I don't mind--I find hand-sewing rather relaxing--but it does take a long time.  However, I'm finally seeing the end of the tunnel and am now just doing the edging in a blanket-stitch, as you can see below:

To give an idea of scale, each of those squares on the cutting board is one inch, so yeah, it's taking awhile!  I'm almost done, but I'm running low on light-blue thread, so must wait until I can get some more before I finally finish.  Very frustrating!

Also finished up on a card-weaving project that I've been playing around with forever.  I do my card-weaving on an inkle-loom--this project is being done on the smaller loom.  Don't mind the cat in the picture.

The design is very simple, but I'm just starting out.  Here is a detail.  If you look closely, you can see where I made a mistake!
If you look on the lower trim, right in the middle?  Yeah, I forgot which way I was turning the cards and it showed up very clearly on the pattern!  More practice is obviously needed.

My next project, which I'll probably start on tomorrow (since it's snowing too much to get over to the fabric store for that blue thread!) is a set of two kosode to match an uchikake that I made a couple of years ago.  Here's a pic of the uchikake fabric that I took when I was making it (the red is what I lined it with):

The fabric I'm using for the two kosode are both linen/cotton blends, in colors that I'm hoping matches the fabric above:

My sewing basket is going to stay busy, ne? ;-D

Since silent_bunny said that she hadn't seen any of my sewing, despite me talking about it, I decided to share some pics. I don't like having my picture taken, so there are not many of them. And alas, I can't locate the one pic I had of me in the pink Uchikake, but I'll keep looking for that one and post it later.

Austrian Garb Yes, proof positive that I really was skinny at one time. This actually was what I made for the Ren Faire--with a lot of help. I made the skirts and the chemise, a friend made the bodice and designed the sleeves--I did the handwork (trim, etc) on those.

Sweetie The handsome blond guy in green is my husband. That was one of the early Norse tunics I made.

Marshalling That's me, with my skirts pulled up and my headdress falling off, doing marshal training at Armorgeddon.

QPT Me at Queen's Prize a few years back. My headdress is in my lap, being sewn upon. Not pleased with this outfit--the fabric seemed okay, but didn't do as I wanted it to.

Early Riverwatch pic Here are the early members at a picnic at the Julian Dubuque Monument overlooking the Mississippi River. That's me in the wimple.

Riverwatch Picnic Same day as the other RW picture--we were having our first picnic. That's the Mississippi behind us. The cloak is one of my early works. It is unlined, but I did all the embroidery myself. Not sure if I still have it--I think I lent it to someone coughwendycough and she never gave it back.

Irish Fest Bob and myself at the demo that Riverwatch did at Irish Fest. Note that I like to mix and match tunics. More looks, less work. ;-D

Warbitches Ah, yes, my fighting days. That's me on the left, with the burgundy bandana. Yes, I made that armor (you can't see the fancy stuff, but trust me, it's sweeeet and the tabard.

uchikake with yellow and purple kosode Yes, the obi is wrong for the garb--I borrowed it. Also, I look weird because everyone else is wearing starched cotton yukata. But the teachers were all impressed that I wanted to learn about wafuku by actually sewing it. The two on the right are Hayashi-sensei and Ohashi-sensei and they taught the class I was in.

uchikake with pink and white kosode Yes, some of us are wearing beaks. We were supposed to be birds. ;-D Ai-chan is wearing my yellow and purple kosode, but the obi was just a scarf to tie it closed and the kosode kept slipping. Note to self: cheat and add ties.

Normal Me This is pretty much what I look like normally. Hair color subject to changing at any time, to any color except black. That's Hayashi-sensei working with me--very sweet gal. Need to write her and see where she is now and how she's doing.

So there you have it, my career of mediocre sewing. The better costumes were the ones that I had help with--back in Louisville and Texas, I had friends who were good at sewing and showed me where I was going wrong AS the sewing was going on, so I could fix it. Plus, I was thin and the clothes just fit better. But here, I've been on my own, so the results aren't as nice-looking, I think and I tend towards more loose-fitting garb due to the weight-gain. Also, I'm trying to be more authentic, and sometime authentic doesn't equal good-looking to modern eyes.

EDIT: Found and Added the uchikake pics.