slooow

Working on attaching the binding on the bottom of the corset is slow going the joys of sewing with a Thimble and a set of pliers

catch up

It's been a couple of days since I last posted.  Things have been a bit insane prepping for known world heralds and scribes this coming weekend and I just got the ok to travel back to Colorado next weekend to visit my baby event golden Thimble.

The corset had been giving me fits the silk and linen refused to lay right so I had to keep trying again and again so that it wouldn't bubble. The joys of having material stretch differently  when under tension.  Finally I got it as close as I could, stitched the boning channels on the silk and now I sold be ready to do the eyelets and binding.  Just cut the silk to create bias tape.

Between migraines and the kiddo being sick I've not gotten much done the lady few days.  Trying to work out a way to travel to golden Thimble in two weeks which is complicated. Thinking is time to take a new motto
Parlare di meno, sorridere di più
Bonus points of you can guess the translation and where it is from

corset

Corset boning is done.  Lining, eyelets and binding to go

Carcanet

http://www.trulyhats.net/ has beautiful ouches and so I decided I wanted a Carcanet of my own.  Truly shows some beautiful examples of carcanets in many italian paintings.

 I love how my carcanet came out and I think one day I would love a chain of office with these beautiful ouches

knit bag done!

knit panel

My first attempt at color work is almost done I just need to stitch it into bag form

Pattern is taken from a book of tapestry  patterns from 1597 there is a great website which has a great catalog of the patterns
http://gwydir.demon.co.uk/jo/tapestry/index.htm

Now to stitch it into a bag and make some lucet for a drawstring

knit bag

Almost to the half way point with the bag! Starting to see the design take shape! 

it lives

And I'm no longer tearing my hair out. Finally it looks good and seems to be knitting up right!

It's not much to look at right now but trust me its working

Linen arrived today so if all goes well I can finish the corset in the next day or two

scrap that idea

Finally got the knitting to behave but I hate the way it is looking it's very thick and heavy so I'm going to scrap it and try something else.  I'm going to try a simpler color work knitting technique still new to me but might give me better results

false starts

Since I'm waiting on the linen for the corset and more ouches for the necklace I thought I would start work on the little sweet bag I've been thinking about trying the last couple of days.  Normally I do a set of pockets with my gowns as I love pockets and Anna bit of a pocket pusher bit to mix things up I thought I'd knit a little sweet bag.  I don't have any fine yarn atm  so I'm going to use some basic stuff I have in my stash. I'd say I'm an advanced beginner when it comes to knitting.  I can follow a pattern and I've done socks and shawls.  I've never done any type of color work so I thought I'd try something new and do two color double knitting and make the pattern myself. I did some research into the technique and think I have a good idea of what I'm doing and I found some knit bags pre  16th century that show some color work.

I'm currently starting this knitting project over for the 5th time. Tension issues and not paying close enough attention to what I was doing are the causes.  It's ok it is a new technique for me and I'm learning more every time I  rip it back to stay again.  Hopefully I get it this time.

Pics once I have something to show off the project

day 2

Finished the white lucet for the corset and started the black and gold chords for the underdress

started playing with the ouches that will make up my necklace ended up not having enough for the length I wanted so ordered more

Continuing work on the corset hopefully the linen will arrive tomorrow so I can line it, bind it and add the eyelets in the next few days

day one

Couldn't sleep so I got started right at midnight (the countdown felt like new year) 5... 4... 3.... 2.... 1.... go

First on my list was a corset. Cut the canvas sewed the body together took a nap then started boning channels.  Cut and placed the boning (zip ties ). First time I placed them I forgot to think about the curve that often happens with zip ties because they are stored wrapped  in a circle. Went back and flipped every other bone and problem fixed.

Took a bit of a break and started lucet cords

Inspired by the dorethea corset seen above

Corset cut and boning channels in front done

Close up to see the channels

Making lucet 

4 hours to go time

Hubby is working 8:30pm till 5am tomorrow so I can do some work tonight. I still think I'm crazy considering we are still living in only 2 10x10 rooms with my mother in law so my sewing space is either my sewing machine on a TV tray or balancing carefully on my bed but this may encourage me to do more basting and finishing by hand. 

The goal tonight is to stay work on the corset as that will be the foundation item all other items will be fitted around.  Sadly I can't find the linen I bought for the lining so o ordered some and fabric-store. Com is usually really fast with the shipping so hopefully it will get here just in time for me to need it although I have some other little projects to fill time if that is not the case

I'm hoping for a strong start to make up for the space issues I will have as well as the plan to find, buy and move into a house before the end of the competition. Add to that some huge sca events and this will truly become an exercise in descipline and time management. 

3 days to go

I'm ready for the IRCC not as rested as I would like but I've gotta good idea of what I want to do and I've been gathering my supplies.  Fabrics are washed and ironed.

Month by month plan

Month 1
Corset
Necklace
Bodice of gown fitted
Bodice of gown trimmed
Bodice sewn together
Skirt cut
lucet

Month 2
Skirt attached trimmed hemmed
Sleeves
Chemise
Finish anything in underdress not finished in first month

Month 3
Cut and fit over bodice
Finish over bodice attach skirt
Hem
Applique
Lace

Month 4
Panic
Finish what needs to be done
If time allows work on extras

new tunic

Neil loves his new tunic