So I’m going to Bristol, labor day weekend.
So I’m at it again.
This time there WILL be progress.
This time there WILL be completion.
This time there WILL be dresses.
I’m trying a new technique for my time management. I’m setting mini deadlines, and not breaking stuff down day by day.
First Mini Deadline- To have a completed Kirtle, Gown, Sleeves, Coif, and Hat by July 12th.
I wanted to do some quick and easy sewing in the evening while Pete is out of town. I don’t really have the time during the week to do any really extensive projects, such as kirtles and gowns.
I had enough medium weight linen for two ankle length petticoats. I dyed the fabric two colors that looked very promising and very different on the rit dye website, but both turned out screaming orangey melon colored. I’ve decided to make them up, and then run them through the washer with some dye remover, and re-dye them using a slightly more expensive, but decidedly better quality dye from Jacquard products.
I’m also working on my blackwork cuffs for my high necked smock. I also purchased enough crinoline braid to make 3 suits of ruffs, ala “The Renaissance Tailor” demo.
Okay, so apparently I’m am really good at dropping off the face of the cyber earth. Since I last post, I successfully skipped TRF, Scarby, you know…the big fairs. I SUCK..in letters 10 feet high.
Granted life has been kind of busy.
I have a nephew now…my sister went and got hitched…oh…and I crossed to the dark side and joined the SCA.
So I’ve been thinking of a persona. I’m thinking some nice, demure, upper middle class/gentry English woman from the mid 16th century. I’m ironing out the kinks. Once I do, I will update the “about me” pages of this blog and the website proper.
I have been working on stuff. Just not a whole lot of clothes. This will probably change this weekend, depending on my schedule. I am so burnt out on upper class silky stuff, that I’m going to set it aside, till I can bear looking at it again, and work on some middle class woolies. Oh, and it looks like I’ve recruited my friend “Crazy” Dave Scott, to join with me and he is going to need some garb too. Really it is a case of so much garb so little time.
Finished Eyelets in the front of the Effigy Corset. Start on the back tonight. Only took about 2.5 hours. Hopefully I will finish the corset tonight so I can start on the gowns, as I am behind schedule…but I think I can catch up.
Okay, change of plans. I am going to concentrate on finishing the corset. I should have it finished by Friday and then push hard to complete the coppery tawny dress this weekend. I just don’t think I am going to get an accurate fit without the bodies, obviously, and really don’t like the lines I am getting with my old corset. Both parts are almost entirely bound, the exception to this being the top part of the second half. I wager I can get this knocked out tonight. Then I can work the eyelets on Wednesday and Thursday. At my average rate of one eyelet per 8 minutes (blech) I can get this finished in less than seven hours. Going to work on paring this down to 5 minutes per….I think I can if I pre mark where the eyelets are going. Really questioning my sanity at this point.
It looks like Daphne attempted to post…as there was a blank entry, that I don’t remember.
Last night I faced the saffron kirtle. Decided to decortate with two bands of silk ribbon. One is about 1.25″ inches, the other is 0.5″ inches. I think it looks great. The coppery ribbon is a very nice, yet relatively subtle touch.
I purchased a double needle which, in theory, should make sewing the narrow band down alot faster. Considering that I am going to be using alot of 1/2″ ribbon in the future, I think it was a wise investment.
Last night was also spent marking the hem and “stitch witching” it into place. So hemming should be a breeze.
I finished the first half of my effigy bodice binding, and my brown kirtle. Tonight I am scheduled to face the saffron kirtle. I discovered that the bindings are already pinned in place, so really I just need to sew them down. The chocolate brown kirtle lacks any really decoration, So I think I will have to put some sort of band on the saffron kirtle.
I also need to hit the fabric store tonight or tomorrow, so I can purchase some items that I need for the next two weeks worth of projects. I need lining for the two gowns, cotton drill for the two gowns and the toffee kirtle, not to mention thread and other sundry notions.
The brown kirtle has been completed. I have also nearly finished binding the first half of the effigy bodies. Just a corner remains. So for now I remain ahead of schedule.
As promised….The Whole Time Management Enchilada. Posted in a rather narcissistic manner, because who, besides me really cares about my overly detailed to do list. I posted this so that I would be accountable for this schedule. And might actually get the things on this list accomplished. GO TEAM!!! However for the sake of sanity. I am only going to post the current week directly on the blog. You can see the whole Pre-Songwood/Pre-Scarby To Do List on the Page titled “Pre-Songwood/Pre-Scarby To Do List”, funny how that works.
January 14th-January 20th
Objectives
Monday-
Hem Chocolate Kirtle and connect shoulder straps.
Tuesday-
Finish binding first half
Wednesday-
Face Saffron Kirtle
Thursday-
Hem Saffron Kirtle
Friday-
Saffron Kirtle eyelets
Bind corset
Saturday-
Bind corset
Sunday-
Bind corset
