The boring part

Putting together the skirt portion of my brown-and-green kirtle involves sewing a little under 9 1/2 yards of flat felled seams before I can even begin to think about tackling the double box pleats or sewing the front seam closed.  As of right now, I have a tad over 7 yards left to sew.

Brown and green kirtle, part 1

Now that Macie is well and truly finished, and I've had some time to relax and recover ...
It's not like I took my sweet-*ss time finishing that gown or anything ...
It's time to get rolling on the next big thing.

Tor an Riogh is hosting Crown List in November and I could use one more utilitarian outfit by then.  I've tested my bodice pattern in muslin and drafted it onto butcher paper, complete with notes.

Bodice muslin

As promised ...

Front-opening bodice, laid out flat

Bodice folded in half - right side

Bodice muslin pinned shut, hanging up

I'll be adding a clearer patterning diagram in the very near future.

Maths for the fabric addict

Popping on for a quick check-in.  Macie is officially on tap to be showcased at an SCA demo back in my hometown next month.  I'm really excited that there's an active group up there, so I have someone to play with wherever we land in a couple more years.

Full circle

In late June 2010 I ordered a fantastic piece of "Kermit-the-Frog green" bargain linen.  By August I had decided on a project, and now I am pleased to announce it is finally DONE.  And the peasants rejoiced.

An eyelet for an eyelet

Finally reached the point where I could stand to touch the Maciejowski gown again, and I've restocked my supply of gold buttonhole silk, so the last of the hem embroidery and finishing micro-stitches are under way.  I had gotten about halfway around the skirt when the first spool of silk ran out.

While I was making a supply run, I also picked up some 1" wide twill tape to make reusable lacing strips, which I hear are very helpful when trying a new pattern for a fitted garment.  As I have several on my "To Do, Sooner Rather Than Later" list, I figured it would be worthwhile to get cracking on the strips.

Some of the stash

Clockwise from the top left:
Dark brown and Kermit-the-frog green linen for a sleeveless kirtle
Cream linen for a chemise (already cut), apron and new Cheater Birgitta
Red and black linen for a parti-colored cotehardie  Gleann Abhann ... Awe Hail!
Red wool/wool-blend hood, in progress
Natural linen for another sleeveless kirtle
Olive linen for a cotehardie/GFD

Shopping

JoAnn recently opened a new store, so I paid them a visit yesterday.  Didn't hurt that they had linen on sale for 50% off ... Not a fantastic selection compared to the last time I went fabric shopping at Hancock, but since I'd been dropped off and didn't want to try walking through the traffic and sketchy weather I stayed put and picked up 3.5 yards of mid-weight natural linen and some matching silk.

Productive failure

I've spent a good portion of the day testing an experimental dye I boiled out of althea blooms.  The dye turned out a slightly-darker-than-storebought-honey color, so I figured it would take a long soak for any textile to show much of a change.  I soaked some scraps of unbleached muslin, slightly off-white linen and white fisherman's wool in an alum solution last night, since flower pigments are supposed to be rubbish on unmordanted fabric.

In my own backyard

Last year I was reminded that I have pecan trees in my yard.  Several of them.  And they're very mature and very productive, by the look of things.  I picked up a nut that had been prematurely knocked off the branch, hull and all, and started to play with it.  In the process I got quite a bit of hull juice on my hands, and I later discovered it is not an easy stain to remove.  Thus began my mild fascination with dyes that can be made from materials that can be found in the garden (or the grocery store, for cheats) at little to no cost.